Plastic Software releases Plasticity 2024.2
Plastic Software – aka tools developer Nick Kallen – has released Plasticity 2024.2, the latest version of the lightweight NURBS modeler.
The update adds new Mesh Snap and Deform options, plus the option to import vector graphics in SVG format, and extends the integrated version of the xNURBS library.
A lightweight NURBS modelling app for concept art, not industrial design
Released in 2023, and pitched as “CAD for artists”, Plasticity is a streamlined NURBS modeller.
The software is intended to provide a low-cost, artist-friendly alternative to tools like MoI – which Kallen describes as a “huge inspiration” – and Fusion 360, and is aimed at concept art as well as industrial design.
It features a streamlined UI, with on-screen clutter reduced by context-sensitive widgets and pop-up UI panels, and uses key bindings and selection modes that should be familiar to Blender users.
Plasticity 2024.2: new snapping and deformation tools, plus SVG import
At the time of writing, Plasticity hasn’t posted a full changelog on its Discord server, but you can see the feature highlights in the video at the top of the story.
New features include Mesh Snap, which makes it possible to snap curves and surfaces to imported meshes.
There is also a new Deform feature for “warping bodies and curves”: the demo shows it in use to conform 3D text to the curvature of a surface, and to distribute it around a curve.
3D text can be generated using the new SVG import option, which makes it possible to import text and vector images in SVG format, and use them to generate 3D forms.
In addition, the existing Measure feature has been updated: from the video, it now seems to be possible to use it to set dimensions on a model, as well as to measure them.
Studio edition: new Square function in xNURBS
Users of the new Studio edition of the software, introduced in Plasticity 2024.1, get an update to the integrated version of the xNURBS library.
You can see the new Square function in action in the video above.
Price, system requirements and release date
Plasticity 2024.2 is available for Windows 10+, Ubuntu 22.04+ Linux and macOS 12.0+. It runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
Perpetual node-locked Indie licences cost $149, and import and export files in OBJ, STEP, STL and Parasolid XT format. Studio licences support a wider range of file formats and cost $299.
Read more about Plasticity on the product website
Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.