3ds Max 2009 now available

Autodesk has started to ship the latest version of its flagship 3ds Max graphics package, 3ds Max 2009.

New features include Reveal Rendering, which allows objects or regions of the framebuffer to be excluded or isolated during the render, and enhancements to the biped system to facilitate the process of making quadruped animations.

Also featured is better OBJ and FBX support to improve interoperability between 3ds Max and other apps such as Mudbox, MotionBuilder and Maya; improved texture map handling for Mudbox imports; a new spline UV mapping facility and support for Microsoft’s .NET framework in the SDK.

3ds Max 2009 has a suggested retail price of £2,600 (or 3,900 Euros), with upgrades clocking in at £675 (1,000 Euros).