Users of Alias|Wavefront's Maya and Discreet's 3ds max or Studio Viz can use ART's RenderPipe plug-ins in conjunction with Pure to render imagery within their modeling and animation applications. ART also offers a generic RenderMan interface that allows the board to be used in environments such as film studios that may already operate under a RenderMan-based production work flow. Other users, such as manufacturers using CAD, can program their own RenderMan shaders in order to incorporate Pure with their software and processes.
Digital artist Dave Slama, who works for Bombardier Aerospace at the Learjet Com pletions Center in Arizona, used a beta version of Pure for visualizing interiors and exteriors of business jets. "The RenderDrive [with many more processors] is faster, but I was still impressed with Pure's speed," says Slama.
The Pure board costs $3699. The full-length card is designed for workstations running Windows NT or 2000 and requires one free slot. (Advanced Rendering Technology; www.art-render.com) -Jenny Donelan