SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 Released

SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 Released

Avid’s Softimage Co. today announced the worldwide availability of SOFTIMAGE|CAT version 2.5, the latest update to its popular plug-in for Autodesk’s 3ds Max animation and modeling software. Made part of the SOFTIMAGE product line with Avid’s recent asset acquisition of Character Animation Technologies Ltd., CAT is a complete character animation system designed to enable artists to animate quickly in a flexible environment.

Included among the new features in SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 is a new system for manipulating CATRigs. CAT now includes gizmos to manipulate CATRigs faster and easier. With one click, a gizmo can be added to a CAT bone to give a rig a clear, streamlined set of controls. Users can also copy and paste poses and other layers for key frame animation, and utilize a unique procedural walk-cycle system that includes ‘walk on spot,’ ‘walk on line,’ and ‘path node’ modes. CATMotion also includes controls for gradient and direction, allowing artists to design a broader range of cycles, and additional tools for previewing a larger range of motion. In addition, the release offers a pose mixer for bone-based facial animation. The new tool is designed to provide a fast, intuitive workflow that allows artists to animate their characters’ faces in the same way they would using morph targets. Poses can be loaded, mirrored and blended onto the facial bone hierarchy.

SOFTIMAGE|CAT V.2.5 also includes updates to CAT’s capture animation tool to provide a faster, more responsive workflow. New pipeline tools include a batch importer to import data into CAT, and a new, customizable script-based batch exporter. A new Wiki for CAT documentation is now available at http://cat.wiki.avid.com.

SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 is a free upgrade for customers who have purchased CAT v.2.0 and above. The upgrade can be immediately downloaded at http://www.catoolkit.com/. Customers with a license of CAT v.1.0 can purchase an upgrade for the suggested retail price of $295 from the CAT website at http://www.catoolkit.com/purchase or from authorized resellers. New customers can purchase SOFTIMAGE|CAT v.2.5 for $995.