Softimage

Softimage is a family of 3D computer graphics software packages that was originally developed by Softimage Co., a Montreal-based company founded in the late 1980s. The line began with Softimage 3D, a high-end application for modeling, animation, and rendering that ran on Silicon Graphics workstations and later on Windows. It evolved through the 1990s into Softimage|3D and, in 2000, Softimage|XSI, which introduced a modern scene description and the Interactive Creative Environment (ICE) for node-based effects, dynamics, and procedural content creation. Softimage|XSI became widely used in film, television, and game production for character animation, visual effects, and complex simulations.

In 2008, Autodesk acquired Softimage and continued to develop the software as Autodesk Softimage, offering tighter integration with other Autodesk products and positioning the package for high-end visual effects and animation pipelines. Over time, Autodesk shifted emphasis toward Maya for many 3D workflows, and development of Softimage slowed. Autodesk subsequently announced the discontinuation of Softimage, with support and final releases phased out in the mid-2010s. The product line was ultimately retired, and many studios migrated to Maya, 3ds Max, or other modern 3D packages.

Softimage is remembered for its advanced modeling and animation toolset, its ICE particle and geometry-effect system, and its influence on professional pipelines during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It played a notable role in several major film productions and contributed to the evolution of 3D software interfaces and workflows in the industry.