Foundry Launched Katana 9.0

The newest release of Foundry's lookdev and lighting software introduces UsdSuperLayer, delivering better flexibility, scalability, and smoother pipeline integration. This new framework gives you direct access to a USD layer at the Node Graph level for creating and editing any number of prims, and can be interacted with Katana's Python API.

It serves as a foundation for future specialized tools developed around the native USD context. UsdGaffer is the first specialized node based on the UsdSuperLayer, which lets you create multiple lights and store changes under one USD layer.

Katana 9.0 also introduces UsdMaterial, a new node for creating simple materials and accessing shader parameters and interfaces from materials in your scene.

This release showcases the first glimpse into rendering through Hydra 2.0. Learn more about Katana 9.0 in the release notes, and join our 80 Level Talent platform, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, and Instagram, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.