ANN: Python Computer Graphics Kit v2.0.0alpha4

[Matthias Baas]

The fourth alpha release of version 2 of the Python Computer Graphics
Kit is available at http://cgkit.sourceforge.net


What is it?
-----------

The Python Computer Graphics Kit is a generic 3D package written in
C++ and Python that can be used for a variety of domains such as
scientific visualization, photorealistic rendering, Virtual Reality or
even games. The package contains a number of generic modules that can
be useful for any application that processes 3D data. This includes
new types such as vectors, matrices and quaternions. Furthermore, the
package can read and store 3D models in memory where they can be
manipulated by Python programs. The kit comes with tools that can be
used to display the scene either interactively or by rendering it
offline via a RenderMan renderer.


What's new?
-----------

- The render tool can now also be used to bake texture maps (using the
  technique from the Stupid RAT Tricks 2001 by J. Litt and D. Goldman,
  so no special renderer functionality required). A tutorial is
available
  on the web site:
http://cgkit.sourceforge.net/tutorials/baking/baking.html)

- PLY import and export using Diego Nehab's RPly library

- A Maya .ma file parser and partial support for importing the
contents
  of a .ma file (polys without history, cameras, lights, skeletons,
...)

- The near and far plane of the cameras can now be controlled
explicitly

- New RMLightSource object that wraps a RenderMan light source shader

- A new MEL script to export ASF/AMC files

+ several other enhancements and bugfixes (see changelog)


Windows binary versions are available for Python 2.3 and Python 2.4.


For more information, visit:

http://cgkit.sourceforge.net


- Matthias -