Introduction to The Foundry Katana 3.1

Katana, developed by The Foundry, is a robust 3D rendering environment that allows artists to customize and control the appearance and lighting of 3D data without compromising on performance, even with large datasets. Its non-destructive, rule-based approach enables parallel work among modeling, look development, animation, and lighting teams. Initially developed by Sony Graphics Image for complex workflows, Katana has evolved through continuous efforts and user collaboration into a flexible product that can integrate with any pipeline and renderer.

Key Features of The Foundry Katana 3.1

• Reduced downtime for artists with immediate access to data through delayed loading and processing techniques.
• Streamlined workload sharing through a highly flexible node graph and rule-based workflow.
• Artist-friendly asset management that accommodates last-minute changes without the need for baking assets into render formats.
• Parallel work capabilities with lookfiles and material instructions that can be packaged as separate resources for independent updates.
• Compatibility with various renderers including Renderman, V-Ray, Arnold, and 3delight, allowing artists to choose their preferred rendering tool.
• Seamless integration into your workflow with extensive C and Python APIs, and support for open standards like Alembic and OpenColorIO.

New Features in The Foundry Katana 3.1

• New Hydra Powered Viewport: A modern viewport designed for rendering large complex scenes using Pixar USD Hydra technology.
• Performance Enhancements: Improved startup and file loading times, with performance boosts in critical areas like CEL, OPScript, and Alembic processing.
• Enhanced UI: Updated user interface design with new transformation tools for a more intuitive and efficient user experience.
• Integrated Rendering: The inclusion of an NSI-driven 3Delight rendering plugin for top-notch production rendering and free interactive rendering capabilities.