New Features Include:

• Interoperability - More support for AutoCAD, Revit and DWG files than ever before, making it possible to import large files with complex scenes and a large number of objects.
• Rendering Enhancements - New rendering technology for visualising architectural spaces means users finally have a simple, fast workflow to produce stunning photo-real imagery.
  
• Performance Enhancements - Performance enhancements increase interactivity with high-density geometry and complex scenes, and improve file I/O, working with splines, geometry modelling, viewports, and xref.
• Learning - Dozens of integrated tutorials make getting started with VIZ easier than ever.
• External File Referencing (Xref) - Continued improvements allow artists to better interact with linked assets using xrefs. If a scene is modified or its maps or materials are changed, all artists working on that scene will be working with the latest version. This allows a team to optimise its workflow and easily manage collaboration among members of the team.
• Xref Object Improvements - Many enhancements have been made to xrefs in VIZ 2008. Artists can now reference the following aspects of an object or scene: geometry, materials and slave/master controllers; the software tries to maintain dependencies between xref’d items as much as possible. The flexible xref system lets artists preview, merge and xref operations, providing more control over how xref objects are used.
• Support for Xref’ing Transform Controllers - In VIZ 2008, it is now possible to xref the transformations of objects, such as position, rotation and scale, into a master file. In addition, a transformation offset can be set in and persisted with the master file for any xref’d controller. The offset gets combined with the source transformation on update, so that the masters modified transformation is maintained.
• Snap and Align to Scene Xref - Objects loaded as scene xrefs can be used as snap and align targets. This allows artists to interact with different objects in a scene without having to either merge them into the scene or load an entire scene.
• Support for Relative Paths - Migrate projects from one system to another without having to deal with issues associated with drive letters and absolute paths. The ability to strip a path from all asset types (including xrefs) or assign the correct path to the asset, makes it easier to move or make corrections to a project.
• MAXScript Support for Asset Management - All new functionality related to Asset Tracking, Asset Repathing and Relative Path is now supported in MAXScript to allow for automation of common tasks.
• Update SDK for Least User Rights and Mesh Performance - SDK now allows third-party developers to use the same classes and methods VIZ 2008 uses internally to support Least User Rights. New mesh methods and porting guides will help developers improve the viewport performance of their plug-ins.
• .NET MAXScript Integration - Developers can now integrate the huge number of .NET controls available into their scripts allowing for more advanced UI. In addition, when creating custom tools for Autodesk VIZ 2008, developers can take advantage of .NET programming languages and use MAXScript to integrate their components.
• Improvements to Memory Management and Compiler Support - Plug-ins compiled for VIZ 2008 will have their memory management re-routed to VIZ 2008. This is a first step towards streamlining the VIZ 2008 memory management scheme to benefit both artists and plug-in developers. The new memory management scheme allows third-party plug-ins to be compiled with either VS 2003 (VC++ 7.1) or VS 2005 (VC++ 8.0).
• Easy Access to Subscription - Access Subscription services, such as e-courses and technical support, from a new link in the Autodesk VIZ 2008 help menu.
• Improved SDK Documentation - The SDK documentation now offers better samples, making it easier for new developers to get up to speed and harness the power of VIZ 2008.

Minimum System Requirements:

Software

• Autodesk® VIZ software requires one of the following 32-bit operating systems: Microsoft® Windows® Vista, Windows® XP Professional (SP 2 or higher) (recommended), or Windows® 2000 Professional (SP 4)
• Autodesk® VIZ software is supported, but not compiled, on the following 64-bit operating systems:Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional x64, Microsoft® Windows® Vista x64
  
• Autodesk VIZ software requires the following browser: Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 6 or higher
• Autodesk VIZ software requires the following supplemental software: DirectX® 9.0c (required), OpenGL® (optional)

Hardware

• At a minimum, Autodesk VIZ 2008 32-bit software requires a system with: Intel® Pentium® IV or AMD Athlon® XP or higher processor (dual processor machine recommended)
  
• 512 MB RAM (2 GB recommended)
  
• 500 MB swap space (2 GB recommended)
  
• Hardware-accelerated OpenGL® and Direct3D supported
  
• Microsoft® Windows® compliant pointing device (optimised for Microsoft IntelliMouse®)
  
• DVD-ROM drive
  
• Apple® computers that are based on Intel processors are supported when used with the minimum software requirements for Autodesk VIZ 2008.

*Note: Autodesk VIZ 2008 32-bit software also runs on 64-bit hardware.

Educational Pricing:

The Autodesk Subscription Program is a software maintenance and support offering that ensures you stay up-to-date with the latest version of your licensed Autodesk software. For an annual fee you can have access to newly released upgrades and software extensions, consistently benefit from the most advanced design technology and can extend your product capability with helpful program information, training, and support.

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