Mar
The Foundry has just updated its Mari software with the release of version 2.0, which improves working with masks and includes a new layering system.
This system for digital 3D painting now has a more user-friendly working environment that will allow users of applications such as Adobe Photoshop to feel more comfortable with it.
Support for .PSD files has been completely updated, resulting in full compatibility between Mari and Photoshop, as well as with other software that can also read them.
A new layering system
It has been created with the intention of making Mari simpler than ever before and handling it more efficient and faster. Now, each channel is a non-destructive layer stack, where any aspect of a surface’s appearance, such as diffusion, displacement or specularity, can be controlled.
These are the characteristics of the new layering system:
- “Procedural Layers“: a processing engine has been integrated to provide real-time GPU acceleration and fluidity. It allows users to mix processing and painting details with the same toolkit.
- Each layer has its own “Mask Group“. This means that instead of there being a single mask per layer, each mask is actually a complete layer stack. This provides the ability to use blending modes, groups, adjustments and procedures on all layers, creating a much more flexible and non-destructive workflow.
- Shared Layers” have also been introduced to avoid the time-consuming task of keeping track of reused layers and masks. Shared layers are those that appear multiple times in the same stack, or are shared between stacks. Making any changes will automatically update the others.
- Finally, the layer view has been simplified by introducing grouping, labeling and filtering options that make navigation and control of highly complex stacks much easier.
This is a video presentation of the new products:
You can now purchase the 15-day trial of Mari 2.0, upgrade your previous version or buy it for £1,250 (plus VAT).
