Corel announced the newest edition of the company's technical graphics software, CorelDRAW Technical Suite X6. Formerly known as Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite, the latest release of the complete visual communication suite includes new precision tools integrated in Corel DESIGNER X6 and the most recent graphic design suite, CorelDRAW X6. Designed for technical illustrators and technical graphic users, CorelDRAW Technical Suite X6 adds more power, speed and new XVL technology for working with 3D models including importing, adjusting, modifying and online or mobile publishing. CorelDRAW Technical Suite X6 retails for $999 US and $499 US for the upgrade version (available to Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 and X5 customers). For CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 users, a "CorelDRAW Technical Pack" is available for $499 US to upgrade to the full tool set and components of CorelDRAW Technical Suite X6. [source]

E-on software announced the immediate availability of LumenRT 4 Studio. LumenRT 4 Studio is a comprehensive system for transforming 3D models and designs into rich, nature-filled videos, images and real-time immersive experiences. With LumenRT, ideas come alive and designs are more fully understood by all participants. By presenting and sharing a more complete design experience, LumenRT users have reported transformative results with higher client win percentages, improved quality, and fewer downstream errors. Version 4 adds new capabilities and enhancements including: Bentley MicroStation integration, Revit plug-in, generic 3D file import, animation editor, night-time skies, moving vehicles as well as enhanced and expanded plant library, and more. LumenRT 4 Studio retails for $795 US for single user licenses with discounts available for multiple user and corporate licenses. The optional LumenRT Publisher retails for $995 US with discounts up to 90% for multiple user quantities. For Windows and Mac OS X. [source]

The LightWave 3D Group, a division of NewTek, Inc., announced a new Architectural Design Bundle that couples LightWave 11.5 3D modeling, animation and rendering software with WTools3D's LWCAD 4.5 CAD tools for LightWave. The bundle includes a powerful set of features that architects, set designers and interior designers can use to cost-effectively create professional 3D visualization and animation for the most demanding design projects. The Bundle is now available priced at $1545 US. Customers who purchase this bundle will download LightWave 11.5 directly from the LightWave website and receive a coupon code to download LWCAD 4.5 directly from the WTools3D website. All software and support for LWCAD 4.5 is provided directly by Wtools3D. Registered LightWave customers can upgrade to the Architectural Design Bundle for $745 US. [source]

WTools3D released a new version of its popular LightWave modeling plug-in, LWCAD. It offers a complete set of standard CAD tools with an advanced snap engine; version 4.2 adds a new smart UV mapping tool Quad Mapper UV, new Point Tools designed to add points into geometry, and more. The plug-in requires LightWave 3D versions 9.x-11.x to function, supports both Windows and Mac OS X versions of the host application, and costs $299 US. Upgrades from LWCAD 3.x are $149 US, while owners of LWCAD 2.x licenses will pay $225 US. [source]

E-on software announced the immediate availability of LumenRT 3 Review, a software tool that converts architectural designs into real-time environments. LumenRT 3 Review adds the immersive media functionality allowing clients to become part of the action by navigating and interacting with models and scene elements; faster procesing; one-click instant previewing; rich material effects; as well as the ability to enrich designs with natural elements. Also released was an optional pack of high-quality, pre-optimized content including animated trees, animals, characters, vehicles, buildings, and backgrounds that extend the new digital life and nature capabilities of LumenRT 3. LumenRT 3 Review retails for $295 US and the Content Pack for $195 US if purchased separately. LumenRT 3 Review is also available bundled with the Content Pack for $395 US (a $100 savings). LumenRT is a 32 & 64-bit application, designed for Windows XP, Vista and 7 as well as Intel Mac OS X platforms (v10.6+). LumenRT 3 Review works with both SketchUp Free and SketchUp Pro (7 and 8). Users of LumenRT 1 or 2 Review are eligible for a free upgrade to LumenRT 3 Review until September 15, 2012. Ordering and download instructions are sent individually. A free Trial Version of LumenRT 3 Review is available at try.lumenrt.com. A version for Autodesk Revit and Autodesk 3ds Max is in development and is expected to be released in Q3 2012. [source]

Act-3D B.V released version 2.5 of Lumion, its Windows-based, real-time 3D architectural visualization tool for architects, urban planners and designers. New version adds a new hand-held camera effect with dust and scratches (Lumion Pro only), new Underwater effect, as well as 59 workflow improvements and bug fixes that will make Lumion easier to use than ever. With Lumion 2.5, Act-3D also released the free Lumion Educational version for schools, colleges and universities. Also available is the non-commercial edition Lumion Free (requires registration; differences between all the edition are compared here). Lumion 2.5 sells at a price of 1499 EUR, while the Pro version is 2999 EUR. [source]

Luxology announced the immediate availability of Power SubD-NURBS for modo, a plug-in that allows designers to automatically convert Subdivision surface meshes into NURBS-based CAD formats that can be exported directly to standard CAD systems. Developed for Luxology by San Diego's IntegrityWare, Power SubD-NURBS bridges the worlds of highly flexible Subdivision surface modeling and CAD-accurate NURBS representations. The plug-in exports IGES, SAT, STEP, and Rhino file formats for compatibility with leading CAD packages. Additionally, modo materials assigned by the designer can be used to derive surface boundaries in the resulting file for maximum control. Power SubD-NURBS for modo 601 is available for Mac OS X and Windows (32 and 64-bit) at $595 US. The plug-in can be purchased on the Luxology website or via authorized Luxology resellers worldwide. [source]

E-on software, makers of 3D nature technologies, announced the immediate availability of LumenRT 2 Review, the second generation of the company's interactive visualization product for architectural projects with full physical lighting. The product, currently compatible with SketchUp, is being ported to other platforms. LumenRT 2 hoards a plentiful number of new features and enhancements, including complete physical simulation of light, physically accurate reflections, adjustable time of day, anti-aliasing and motion blur, soft shadows with varying softness, water and underwater effects, photo-realistic skies, and more. LumenRT 2 Review for SketchUp works with both the free and the Pro versions of SketchUp. LumenRT 2 Review for SketchUp retails for $195 US (introductory price, SRP is $295 US) and works in 32- or 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista and 7 as well as Intel Mac OS X (v10.6+). Users of the first generation of LumenRT Review for SketchUp are eligible for a free upgrade to LumenRT 2 until February 29, 2012. To support this major release, e-on software also publishes a free trial version of LumenRT 2 for Mac OS X and Windows, available now for download from try.lumenrt.com. [source]

Spanish developer Next Limit Technologies released a 2.6.1 patch for its unbiased 3D rendering engine Maxwell Render. Version 2.6.1 brings improved sub-surface scattering algorithms, multi-step motion blur for camera movements, speed optimizations, enhanced GUI (the ability to input simple math operations into numeric fields and more), improved SDK, several bug fixes, and more . [source]

Autodesk has acquired certain technology-related assets from T-Splines Inc., a privately-held surface modeling software company, based in Utah. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "The technology acquisition will strengthen our Digital Prototyping portfolio with more flexible free-form modeling and will help achieve even closer integration between industrial design and engineering workflows," said Buzz Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry at Autodesk. "T-Splines technology will benefit designers and engineers that require watertight surfaces for downstream analysis and manufacturing." [source]