DAZ Ships Hexagon 2

DAZ Productions Inc., a leading developer of professional quality 3D models and software, announced the immediate availability of DAZ Hexagon 2, its newly acquired 3D polygonal and subdivision modeling software.

"Our very recent acquisition of Eovia has put DAZ at the forefront of change within the 3D industry," said Dan Farr, president of DAZ Productions. "The biggest part of this shift is breaking down perceptions about the tools professional artists should use, and proving that it is no longer only a field for the elite. Coinciding with this, DAZ is now putting its name on the new Hexagon 2, a highly accessible yet expert modeling tool that represents a grand evolution in its own right."

The Hexagon 2 modeling software delivers a highly intuitive and augmented set of tools for modeling, refining, UV mapping, texturing and previewing detailed 3D creations. It‚s freehand brush modeling capabilities provide a breadth of displacement brushes to refine 3D models by smoothing, pinching, and inflating the geometry or by adding high-resolution details. A complete UV-mapping module including one-click UV-Unwrap enables 3D artists to easily apply UV-maps on 3D objects. Through the new 3D paint tools, users can apply textures using brushes and imported textures or choose from a large choice of predefined textures.

Hexagon 2 now also is compatible with popular graphics tablets for more precise and flexible results. To speed workflow, the software delivers immediate previews of finished models by way of ultra-fast Ambient Occlusion simulating Global Illumination and real-time shadows. Once a 3D model created in Hexagon 2 is ready for rendering, it can be seamlessly exported into most any rendering software application including DAZ's powerful and approachable 3D workhorse, Carrara. Hexagon 2 is available for both Macintosh OS X and Windows.

In conjunction with the Hexagon 2 release, DAZ has announced a limited time promotion, which ends May 31, 2006, providing the electronic download version (ESD) of Hexagon 2 at the DAZ webstore for the nominal price of US$1.99 for new and current members of DAZ‚s Platinum Club. Initial cost to join the Platinum Club is US$29.95, with a monthly renewal fee of US$7.95. Alternatively, members can choose to join for an entire year with a flat fee of US$99.95. This special offer for Hexagon 2 ends May 31, 2006, after which the software will be priced at US$269 for the full version or US$119 for the upgrade from Hexagon 1. As a thank you to customers who pre-ordered the Hexagon 2 upgrade, DAZ will provide them a free one month Platinum Club membership with an option to renew, a US$30 value, along with a US$100 voucher which can be used on the DAZ store.

Physical versions of Hexagon 2 are expected to begin shipping in June 2006. Hexagon 1 was introduced to the 3D industry by Eovia Corporation in spring 2005. Eovia announced Hexagon 2 and its new features just last month. DAZ acquired Eovia Corp. along with the Hexagon and Carrara technology on April 13, 2006.