Eovia Corporation, developer and publisher of leading 3D animation, modeling and rendering solutions, today introduces Hexagon 2.

This more comprehensive version of the popular 3D polygonal and subdivision modeler now includes a multitude of valuable features that allow 3D artists and illustrators to build, texture and preview detailed 3D models prior to rendering. 

This evolution of the Hexagon release delivers artists an enhanced set of tools for modeling, refining, UV mapping, texturing and previewing intricate 3D creations. In addition to the extensive modeling features found in the original Hexagon release, such as polyhedral, subdivision and advanced surface modeling, Eovia Hexagon 2 incorporates highly intuitive freehand brush modeling. Using a wide range of displacement brushes, 3D artists can easily refine 3D models by smoothing, pinching, and inflating the geometry or by adding high-resolution details.

Significantly enhanced texturing features have been added to Hexagon 2. A comprehensive 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, provided by Eovia’s partner Spiral Graphics.

With this release, Hexagon 2 now also is compatible with all popular graphics tablets, such as the Wacom line, to enable more precise and flexible modeling and texturing results. To improve workflow, Hexagon 2 delivers immediate previews of fully detailed and textured models by way of ultra-fast Ambient Occlusion simulating Global Illumination, and real-time shadows. Once a 3D model created with Hexagon 2 is ready to be rendered, it can be seamlessly exported in native .CAR format to Eovia Carrara™, Hexagon’s ideal and reliable 3D rendering companion, or another rendering software through standard 3D formats.

Eovia expects to ship Hexagon 2 in April, for both Macintosh OS X and Windows. Hexagon 2 will be competitively priced at £189 (US$269 / €269). Customers who purchase Hexagon 1 between March 1 and April 30, 2006, will be eligible for a no-charge upgrade to Hexagon 2. Upgrade price is £84 (US$119 / €119) for Hexagon 1 owners. Eovia is also accepting pre-orders of the electronic download version (ESD) of the Hexagon 2 upgrade through the Eovia e-store. Those who pre-order this ESD upgrade will benefit from a special upgrade price of £69 (US$99 / €99) and bonus gift valued at £20 (US$30 / €30). Complete details and instructions for claiming the no-charge upgrade are available on the Eovia website.