Graphics hardware manufacturer NVIDIA is giving away a version of its high-end visualization rendering software, Gelato. The basic version of Gelato 2.0 includes features such as anti-aliasing, smooth motion blur, raytracing, global illumination and the inclusion of plug-ins for Autodesk Maya and 3DS Max software.
Gelato software is GPU-accelerated, final-frame software that renders high-quality computer-generated images. Originally developed to render film and broadcast visual effects and animation, NVIDIA says Gelato software can be used for any 3D software application that requires advanced rendering, including architecture.
Today’s announcement shows that NVIDIA, a hardware manufacturer, feels the need to expand its marketing in a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) economy, by giving away basic utility and charging for specialized support and advanced features. NVIDIA is choosing a model that does not require a live web site acting as the connection point for using the software. By offering a complementary version of Gelato software to customers, NVIDIA extends the feature set of its GPU products into a broader market, and (it hopes) creates demand for the more-powerful upgrade to Gelato Pro.
Elements missing from the free version, but available in Gelato Pro 2.0, include advanced production-grade rendering functionality, the Sorbetto interactive relighting engine, network parallel rendering, multithreading, 64-bit support, and comprehensive support from the vendor.
Gelato 2.0 software incorporates Frantic Films’ Amaretto plug-in for advanced rendering functionality with Autodesk’s 3ds Max software, complementing the existing Mango plug-in for rendering with Autodesk’s Maya software.
Gelato 2.0 software and Gelato Pro 2.0 software currently support Windows XP and Linux operating systems. Gelato software runs on NVIDIA GeForce 5200 graphics processing units or higher, or any NVIDIA Quadro FX solution.
Gelato software is available for download at http://www.nvidia.com/get_gelato.
--RSN