R31 is set to deliver "an array of stunning new features, enhancements and library additions, many of which were directly requested by accomplished wysiwyg professionals". These improvements will save huge amounts time and money by solving problems and delivering brand new functionality, consistent with CAST's mantra and its steadfast determination to dramatically improve the workflow and user experience of wysiwyg - Release 31 will be testament to this philosophy, says the company.
Among the extensive list of the additions to R31 are some striking visualization enhancements - perhaps most significantly the new Material System in Shaded Views, which will allow material properties to be applied on a per-element level to any object in the file, adding more realism to real-time visualization, meaning more screenshots and fewer renderings, therefore saving hours of time.
There are also a number of new material properties including: Specular Level, Specular Gloss, Specular Colour Source and Light Reflection, delivering 'really virtually real' images to enhance the creative process. R31 will include the first phase of the Material System, with the second phase projected for completion in R32.
(Jim Evans)
