Studio Graz, a leading developer of custom LightWave plugins and 3D graphics software, today announced the release of VoluMedic, version 2.0. This is the first "dot zero" update to the world's first medical imaging software based on a commercial 3D application. "This update marks a significant milestone in the ongoing development of VoluMedic", said Elmar Moelzer, the product developer of VoluMedic, Media Studio Graz, software division. "We are very proud to introduce a set of much sought after features in VoluMedic 2.0: measurement tools. It means the expansion of the product from the pure visualization to the evaluation of volume data. In addition to measurement tools, users will find our new "Selection Masks" for easier segmentation and the new Filters most helpful with their daily tasks. Another demonstration of our commitment to the wishes of our user base is the VoluMedic Wizard. It will allow new users as well as advanced users to achieve stunning results in even less time."
[h5]New Features in VoluMedic 2.0 Include:[/h5] Measurement Tools:
Measure volumes, distances and angles. Store the results in a Sqlite database and export them into a customizable CSV- table- file. CSV files are widely supported by applications such as Microsoft Office and the Open Office suite.
New Segmentation Tools, Selection Masks:
In addition to our patented Volume Painting tools, VoluMedic now also supports segmentation via a 3d "Magic Wand" like tool. Click on any voxel and select surrounding voxels of the same or similar Density. The resulting "Masks" can be used as 3d- Alpha Maps or Clip Maps for volume rendering as well as VoluMedics Surface Mesh Creation tools. They can also be used for measurement. Like any other data set, Masks can be edited with all the other editing tools available in VoluMedic. Masks can be painted and filtered. Like VoluMedic's Volume Painting tools, the selection tools have a non linear Undo History.
Filters:
VoluMedic 2.0 includes a couple of powerful, new preprocessing filters. The new Gaussian and Median Filters help cleaning up noisy data sets. They also help with softening the transitions in the new Selection Masks. The filters are also tied into VoluMedic's non linear Undo History.
VoluMedic Wizard:
The new VoluMedic Wizard makes creation of VoluMedic projects easier than ever before. Let the Wizard take you from a DICOM file to a finished Animation in a just a few easy steps.
Hounsfield Support:
VoluMedic now supports Hounsfield Units. Support for Hounsfield Units allowed the VoluMedic team to implement presets that are valid for most DICOM- CT data. You will find the new Presets in the Wizard and the Slice Editor.
Improved Import:
The Importer has, once again, been improved. Besides the new support for Hounsfield Units, data sets can now be imported in a much more memory efficient fashion. Particularly multi channel datasets can benefit from this. Users can also manually reduce the precision of the imported data, to further conserve system memory. The DICOM importer also has seen another update, providing better compatibility with certain vendors.
Improvements in Scalar Panel:
The Scalar Panel has seen some fine tuning and cleanups. A new popup has been added to house a Selection Mask for rendering.Shading Softness can now be controlled via a percentage slider instead of a simple two value popup. "Inverted" Opacity Ramps no longer require the use of "Use Opacity for Normals". This not only makes renderings look much better, it also allowed for the now obsolete option to be removed. New renderer optimizations made the "Preprocessing" optimization obsolete and this control has been removed as well.
Other Improvements:
DICOM information can optionally be "anonymized" when it is saved into a VoluMedic file. Painting information is no longer lost when the Slice Editor is closed. The Histogram is now in a Panel of its own. This improved the refresh rates in the Slice Editor. There are new scripts for the creation of Bounding Boxes and the Bounding Box Panel to the main UI. Another new script quickly creates a simple gradient backdrop.
[h5]About VoluMedic:
[/h5] VoluMedic is an add-on for LightWave 3D, the award-winning 3D software from NewTek, Inc. VoluMedic is so powerful and so well integrated into LightWave3D that it becomes a whole new piece of software for use in medical visualization, material science, forensic animation and even astronomy. VoluMedic is also a great tool for creating stunning visual effects. VoluMedic has been used in the production of the Emmy award winning documentary "Inside the Living Body" (Emmy for best visual effects in a documentary) by National Geographic Channel and in TV series such as "CSI:Crime Scene Investigators".
[h5]Pricing and Availability:[/h5] VoluMedic Plugin
This version of VoluMedic is meant for existing users of LightWave3D 9.6 who want to enhance LightWave’s toolset with the functionality of VoluMedic. The package includes VoluMedic installation CD, menu config files and printed manual. The suggested retail- price of VoluMedic: Plugin is $ 3,499 - USD excl. VAT.
VoluMedic Complete
VoluMedic: Complete includes one seat of VoluMedic: Plugin and one seat of LightWave3D in a single package. It is meant for users that do not own LightWave3D yet.
The Package includes VoluMedic installation CD, menu config files, manual and the full package of LightWave3D (installation CDs, content CDs, manual, dongle). The suggested retail- price of VoluMedic: Plugin is $ 4,189 - USD excl. VAT.
VoluMedic System
A complete turnkey system. The Package includes VoluMedic installation CD, menu config files, manual and the full package of LightWave3D (Installation CDs, content CDs, manual, dongle) all ready to go on a high end workstation.
Please contact our sales department for detailed hardware specs and pricing information.
For more information or to purchase, visit: www.volumedic.com.
North American customers, please visit Safe Harbor Computers at www.sharbor.com.
Customers from Japan please contact D- Storm, Inc. for more information http://www.dstorm.co.jp
VoluMedic 2.0 Upgrade
VoluMedic 2.0 Upgrade updates any previous version of VoluMedic (v. 1 or v. 1.5) to the VoluMedic 2.0. The suggested retail- price of VoluMedic: Plugin is $ 1,699 - USD excl. VAT.
[h5]About Media Studio Graz[/h5]
Since the company's establishment in 2000, Media Studio Graz has been delivering high quality visualizations and custom software to clients around the globe. In these years the company expanded its business towards developing 3D- animation software. After working with NewTek on delivering updates to LightWave3D, Media Studio Graz focused on developing add ons for LightWave3D to bring this software- package to markets previously not covered by commercial 3D- software. Media Studio Graz's clients include companies like AVL- List GmbH, Pioneer Productions, Xvivo, Zizala Lichtsysteme GmbH and Zoic Studios and Pioneer Productions.
Website: http://www.volumedic.com
[h5]About NewTek[/h5]
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, live production, presentation and visual effects tools including TriCaster, VT[5], SpeedEDIT, 3D Arsenal and LightWave 3D.
Website: http://www.newtek.com/
About Mediastudio-Graz
The leader in medical imaging software.
About NewTek
NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools including TriCaster®, VT[4]® and LightWave 3D®. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Video Toaster®. The company’s products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film.