Naiad Simulation tests by Igor Zanic. (Disclaimer: don’t watch ’em while eating.)

Exotic Matter is to release a free non-commercial version of its Naiad fluid simulation software.

The developer says that the release is aimed at TDs wishing to teach themselves the software. Studios currently using Naiad include Weta, Digital Domain, Rhythm & Hues, ILM and Framestore.

Naiad NC will not be time-limited and will have the same feature set as the commercial version of the software, but save only in its own EMPNC file format, making it unusable in production.

In other news, Exotic Matter has revealed that the 0.6 release of the software – previously Linux-only – will also support Windows and Mac OS X, greatly broadening its appeal to smaller facilities.

The company has also hinted at a price drop, writing: “With the Naiad 0.6 release, our business model is changing. Prices are changing. We know you are going to like it…”

Tantalisingly, no release date has been announced for Naiad 0.6 or Naiad NC – but we assume it’s imminent.

Read the full announcement on the Exotic Matter website

Tags: Exotic Matter, fluid simulation, free, learning, Linux, Mac, Naiad, Naiad 0.6, Naiad NC, non-commercial, Windows