Spiral Graphics Inc. has
released Genetica 2.5, a major new update to its flagship seamless texture
editor. A freely downloadable demo
version has also been made available.
With Genetica 2.5 digital artists can create grayscale
effect maps that match their textures faster than ever. These effect maps can be used in any of the
channels supported by popular 3D environments, such as bump, specular,
reflection, luminance, and others.
Rather than forcing artists to paint these channels by hand, Genetica
2.5 offers a time-saving procedural approach that guarantees all effect maps
will be automatically updated as edits are made to the original texture. The professional edition of Genetica 2.5
allows artists to create normal maps with similar ease.
A number of noise patterns, such as the new circuitry
generator, have been added to enable artists to quickly create many new
patterns that would otherwise be hard to produce by hand. Significantly improved transparency support
makes it much easier to create images that can be layered within the final
environment, such as weathering maps and decals. At the touch of a button textures can now be
rendered with or without baked highlights and shadows, depending on the level
of optimization desired for each scene.
Genetica 2.5 is a free upgrade to all licensed users of Genetica
2, while new users are invited to try the program for 30 days. Genetica 2.5 can be downloaded here.
An illustrated guide to Genetica and its latest features can
be found here.
Spiral Graphics Inc. is a
software development firm based in Fort Collins,
CO that creates innovative software tools
for the computer graphics community. In addition to Genetica, Spiral
Graphics is known for the Wood Workshop, a free texture
editor that specializes in the creation of tiling wood textures. Additional
information may be obtained by visiting www.spiralgraphics.biz.
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