Luxology President Brad Peebler Will Run Both Companies' Operations in the Americas, Reporting to Foundry CEO Bill Collis

Luxology, best-known as the maker of 3D painting, modeling and rendering software Modo, has merged with VFX software producer The Foundry, which makes Nuke, Mari, and more.

"Joining forces with The Foundry will allow us to accelerate the development of Modo," said Luxology President Brad Peebler in a prepared statement. 

The Foundry CEO Bill Collis described the combination as a "joint entity." Peebler, Allen Hastings, and Stuart Ferguson will continue to run day-to-day operations for Luxology, while Peebler becomes President of the Americas for the combined entity, overseeing joint operations of both Luxology and The Foundry in North and South America. In that capacity, he will report to The Foundry CEO Bill Collis. 

In a joint press release, the companies said the merger has its roots in a "chance meeting" last year in which ILM VFX Supervisor John Knoll suggested that the companies' products be integrated. The move does bring The Foundry closer to the design industry, since Modo has a sizable customer base in the design, CAD, and architectural space.

"In the short term, we will be continuing to develop the interaction between our products, which will be of immediate benefit to all of our customers," said Collis in a prepared statement. 

With the recent collapse of Digital Domain underscoring the challenging state of today's VFX business, the companies were careful to note that they are currently hiring, not reducing staff, and said Luxology's Mountain View, CA office will remain open and may be expanded. The Foundry has a staff of 160 and Luxology has 30.

The Foundry is backed by Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm The Carlyle Group, but part of the company is staff-owned.

For the time being, Luxology will continue to handle sales and support for Modo, though their are plans for The Foundry to support Modo through its own, larger, support network in the future. Pricing for Modo 601 will not change, the companies said. The Foundry's customers should also be able to buy Modo through their usual sales contacts, although Luxology customers will not be able to buy The Foundry's products through Luxology's sales channels.

Otherwise, The Foundry sought to assure that business should proceed as usual for customers and developer partners of both companies.

For more information, see a full Q&A at The Foundry's website.