Mudbox

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Autodesk Mudbox
= A screenshot of the Mudbox interface
Developed by	Autodesk (Skymatter Ltd, prior to acquisition by Autodesk)
Latest release	1.07 / October 2007
OS	Windows XP
Genre	3D computer graphics
Website	http://www.mudbox3d.com/

Mudbox is a 3D sculpting tool, akin to Zbrush. It is currently developed by Autodesk Limited, but was until recently managed and developed by Skymatter (see more concerning Autodesk's acquisition of Skymatter below), and was used to produce King Kong 2005 by Weta Digital staff. Its simplified interface is designed to minimize the software's learning curve. Mudbox's primary application is high-res digital sculpting, displacement and normal map creation, but is also useful as a design tool. The current version available is 1.07. Plans for expanding artists' tool sets in 2.0 include texture painting, using what Skymatter calls the "Chameleon Engine".

1 Features
2 Interface
3 Platforms
4 Buyout
5 External links

[edit] Features

The Mudbox user interface is a 3D environment that allows the creation of movable cameras that can be bookmarked. Models created within the program typically start as a simple polygon mesh that can be manipulated with a variety of different tools. A model can be subdivided to increase its resolution and the number of polygons available to sculpt with. 3D layers allow the user to store different detail passes, blending them with multiplier sliders and layer masks. Using layers the user is able to sculpt and mould their 3D model without making permanent changes.

As a detailing app, Mudbox can import and export .obj and .bio files, as well as its own .mud format. A standard workflow is to import a low-resolution mesh with good edge flow then subdivide and sculpt until finally exporting a displacement or normal map for use within a rendering package. The local subdivision feature uses the Catmull-Clark subdivision algorithm.

The sculpting tool set contains an assortment of brushes with adjustable falloffs.

The use of 3D layers allows for rapid design visualization, non-destructive sculpting, and high polygon counts. Since the layers combine additively, their ordering is unimportant for the final model and may be created arbitrarily. Curves can be created and projected on a mesh for use as precise masking. All of the standard transform and selection tools are here as well.

As stated above, design visualization plays an important role in Mudbox's production value. As such, simple poly primitives can be created from within Mudbox, facilitating the creation of busts, props, terrain, etc.

Other features include stamps and stencils. Stencils work by overlaying a grayscale, or "alpha channel" image, such as a bump map, over the mesh. The artist can then project part or all of the image's detail onto the mesh through brush strokes, providing a method to quickly paint surface detail.

[edit] Interface

Mudbox's tabbed interface, along with its key and mouse mappings, are largely customizable.

[edit] Platforms

Currently, Mudbox is supported only under Windows XP, but according to Skymatter, a Linux and Mac OS X version could very well be in development.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Buyout

"On August 6, 2007, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of Skymatter, Inc., the developer of Mudbox 3D modeling software. This acquisition will augment Autodesk’s offering for the film, television and game market segments, while offering additional growth opportunities for other design disciplines. Autodesk anticipates that the transaction will close in the next two months."

In October of 2007, Autodesk released version 1.07 of Mudbox. Conceivably, in the future, Mudbox could become more integrated with other Autodesk products.