Foundry releases Katana 3.0 | www.CGHOW.com |

by Ashif on June 05, 2018 in 3Delight, 3Delight for Katana, Cryptomatte, Foundry, free, GUI, Hydra, interactive rendering, Katana, Katana 3.0, Lighting, look dev

Foundry has released Katana 3.0, a major update to its look dev and lighting tool, bundling in a new plugin version of the 3Delight renderer, and introducing a new viewport based on Pixar’s USD Hydra technology.

Performance has also been significantly improved: as well as the speed boost resulting from the new viewport architecture, Foundry claims that Katana 3.0 “loads files 1.5x faster” than previous versions,

New, faster viewport based on Pixar’s Hydra architecture
The headline feature in the update is the new viewport, which is based on Pixar’s Hydra technology.

Hydra, Pixar’s OpenSubdiv-based real-time rendering architecture, is used in Pixar’s own in-house tools, and forms part of its open-source Universal Scene Description technology.

The major benefit of the change is raw performance, particularly when working with large scenes: Foundry claims that the new viewport is “7x to 10x faster” than its predecessor.

However, there are also a few other design changes, including “a set of artist-friendly transform handles [and] a rich API for creating custom object drawing and manipulators”.

Comes bundles with the new 3Delight for Katana plugin
Katana 3.0 also now comes bundled with a new plugin version of the 3Delight renderer, previously used in production on a range of big visual effects movies and animated features.

We discussed the integration when Foundry previewed it at NAB, so check our original story for details.

Foundry also now has a dedicated webpage summarising 3Delight for Katana’s major features, including its new Nodal Scene Interface (NSI).

As well as a powerful real-time preview and live light mixing system, the renderer offers “robust” OSL support, and support for key pipeline technologies, including Cryptomatte, XGen and Yeti.

Workflow and performance improvements
Other improvements include a revamped UI, intended to let artists “get more information … at a glance”.

The changes are quite specific, but there’s a list here, and before-and-after image on Foundry’s website.

General performance has also been improved, over and above the new Hydra viewport, with files now opening “1.5x faster than previous versions”, and the rest of the program improved by “similar amounts”.

Pricing and availability
Katana 3.0 is available for Windows 7 and CentOS/RHEL 6 Linux.

Foundry’s new website doesn’t list a price for the software, directing users to contact its sales team, but version 2.5 cost $8,144 for an artist licence, and $468 per render licence.

The new 3Delight for Katana plugin is free for interactive rendering, although batch rendering requires a paid-for licence. Again, pricing is currently listed as ‘Contact Foundry’.

Read an overview of the new features in Katana 3.0 on Foundry’s product website

Read a full list of new features in Katana 3.0 in the release notes