New Versions of OpenGL API-Based Software Tools Help Facilitate Customer
Innovation
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- SGI (NYSE: SGI), a leading
provider of high-performance computing and visualization solutions for
technical and creative users, today announced new enhanced versions of the
rendering application programming interfaces (APIs) based on OpenGL(R),
including OpenGL Shader(TM), OpenGL Volumizer(TM) and OpenGL Optimizer(TM).
SGI continues to prove its leadership in the advanced visualization market by
delivering powerful tools that help software developers differentiate their
offerings and customers make the most of their hardware.
OpenGL Shader 2.2
OpenGL Shader, the industry's most powerful interactive
appearance-modeling tool, combines advanced compiler technology with the
hardware acceleration of OpenGL rendering functions. OpenGL Shader delivers
the power of programmable shaders, commonly found in offline rendering, to the
real-time graphics arena which allows developers to take advantage of a wide
range of existing special effects and gives them the ability to create an
unlimited array of new effects. OpenGL Shader(TM) 2.2 not only gives a common
interface to support all previous visual effects (including
RealityMapping(TM), ClearCoat(TM), ClearCoat(TM) 360, bump mapping, multiple
textures, environment maps and volume shading), but also gives the capability
to interactively update effect parameters in real time.
For example, by using OpenGL Shader, automotive designers who use styling
review software can accurately depict an automobile under different lighting
conditions and surroundings or pilots who use flight simulators can experience
more realistic cloud cover, fog and low-level visual queues.
"OpenGL Shader represents a revolution in high-quality, real-time
appearance-modeling capabilities," said Paul McNamara, vice president of
products and platforms, SGI. "It enables tremendous realism for demanding
applications by providing highly realistic programmable shading and effects
that were achievable only by other expensive, offline processes such as
raytracing."
OpenGL Volumizer 2.0
OpenGL Volumizer, the only commercially available high-level volume API,
is the next-generation volume rendering toolkit for use with scalable SGI(TM)
Onyx(R) family systems and InfiniteReality(R) family graphics. OpenGL
Volumizer(TM) 2.0 has been explicitly designed to increase interactivity when
users work with extremely large data sets of up to 100 GB and leverage 3D
texture-mapping hardware that boosts application performance by 10 to
100 times over CPU-based methods.
OpenGL Volumizer 2.0 new features and functions include:
-- A high-level descriptive interface to volume-rendering capabilities
-- Seamless integration with scene graph APIs
-- Immediate mode rendering to reduce overhead and increase performance
-- Volumetric shapes, arbitrary volumetric geometry and slice planes
-- Thread Safe for parallel applications and multipipe environments
-- Volumetric lighting and shaders for managing volumetric appearance
-- Sample code of a transform editor
-- Sample code of a full-volume viewing application for use with multipipe
SGI Onyx family systems
OpenGL Volumizer can also be used with existing SGI(TM) toolkits such as
OpenGL Performer(TM) or Open Inventor(TM) to increase the functionality of
current applications or to build new ones.
OpenGL Optimizer 1.3.1
OpenGL Optimizer has revolutionized the way manufacturing companies
conceive, design and build products. By allowing developers to build
applications that deliver the benefits of digital prototyping combined with
large database interaction, it enables end users to reduce the number of
physical prototypes they build, lower costs and speed time to market.
OpenGL Optimizer(TM) 1.3.1 incorporates advanced techniques to optimize,
advance, simplify and improve visualization performance of complex 3D models,
allowing users to interact with databases 100 times larger than previously
possible.
New features and functions in the OpenGL Optimizer 1.3 release include:
-- Up to two times faster performance on IRIX(R) and Windows NT(R)
multithread
-- Support for SGI(TM) VPro(TM) V6/8/10/12 graphics
-- ProENGINEER(R) and CATIA(R) model loaders
-- The Fresnel topology troubleshooting tool
-- Strengthened stereo and multipipe support
-- Nodes for multipass rendering
-- Improved texture handling
"At Opticore, we are able to develop better products in less time and at a
lower cost with SGI's OpenGL Optimizer 1.3," said Erik Gustafsson, director of
engineering for Opticore AB. "The new features and greater performance
available from OpenGL Optimizer 1.3 enables us to create applications for our
customers that allow them to visualize larger models with less effort and
greater realism."
About OpenGL
The OpenGL graphics system specification allows developers to incorporate
a broad set of rendering, texture mapping, special effects and other powerful
visualization functions and provides a graphics pipeline that allows
unfettered access to graphics hardware acceleration. Since its introduction by
SGI in 1992, OpenGL has become the industry's most widely used and supported
3D and 2D graphics application programming interface. OpenGL is available on
all other major computer platforms, including IRIX, Solaris(TM), HP-UX(R),
Compaq(R) Tru64(R) UNIX, AIX(R), BeOS(R) Windows NT, Windows(R) 98 and Mac(R)
OS. An industry-wide architecture review board governs the evolution and
ongoing development of OpenGL. With broad industry support, OpenGL is a
vendor-neutral, multiplatform graphics standard and is uniquely positioned to
leverage the continuing improvements of graphics hardware. All of these
powerful new tools are available now for download from
http://www.sgi.com/software/opengl/.
About SGI
SGI provides a broad range of high-performance computing and advanced
graphics solutions that enable customers to understand and conquer their
toughest computing problems. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with
offices worldwide, company information is located on the Web at http://www.sgi.com.
NOTE: Silicon Graphics, OpenGL, Onyx, InfiniteReality and IRIX are
registered trademarks and SGI, OpenGL Shader, OpenGL Volumizer, OpenGL
Optimizer, RealityMapping, ClearCoat, OpenGL Performer, Open Inventor, VPro
and the SGI logo are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc. Mac is a registered
trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Windows and Windows NT are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned herein are
the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Kimberly Pepper of SGI, +1-650-933-8814, or kpepper@sgi.com.
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CONTACT:
Kimberly Pepper of SGI, +1-650-933-8814, or
kpepper@sgi.com
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