MetaCreations
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Predecessor | MetaTools, Fractal Design Corporation, Ray Dream, Specular, Real Time Geometry Lab (RTG) |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Fate | Redirected business strategy to Internet technologies; graphics product lines divested; merged into Viewpoint Corporation |
| Successor | Viewpoint Corporation |
Key people | John Wilczak, Mark Zimmer, Kai Krause |
| Products | Ray Dream Studio/Infini D, Fractal Design Painter, Bryce, Kai's Power Tools, Canoma, Poser, Expression software |
MetaCreations was a computer software firm recognized primarily for its range of graphics programs, such as Ray Dream Studio/Infini D, Fractal Design Painter, Bryce, and Kai's Power Tools.
History
Established in 1997, MetaCreations emerged from the consolidation of MetaTools, Fractal Design Corporation, Ray Dream, Specular, and Real Time Geometry Lab (RTG). The company was initially managed by John Wilczak and Mark Zimmer; Wilczak exited in 1998, with creative director and software architect Kai Krause leaving a year later in 1999.
By 1999, MetaCreations redirected its business strategy from graphics software towards Internet technologies, making significant investments in the '3D on the Web' initiative known as "MetaStream". To support this transition, a subsidiary named MetaStream was created, and after acquiring Viewpoint Digital, operations were merged to form the Viewpoint Corporation. Viewpoint’s history dates back to 1988 with digital modeling for films and had been under Computer Associates since 1998. The newly formed Viewpoint Corporation divested the original graphics product lines of MetaCreations to focus exclusively on advancing MetaStream technology.
In 2000, Enliven purchased the remaining equity of Viewpoint Digital Inc. from Computer Associates International Inc., which owned approximately 17.7% of MetaStream Corporation. Subsequently, Viewpoint became the Consumer Products segment within Enliven Marketing Technologies Corporation. Reflecting this change, the company's NASDAQ symbol shifted from VWPT to ENLV in January 2008. Later on, Enliven was acquired by DG FastChannel through a $98 million stock-for-stock deal.
Products
- Ray Dream Studio and Specular's Infini-D evolved into Carrara, which was later sold to Eovia before being acquired by Daz 3D.
- MetaTools’ Bryce changed hands to Corel, and eventually became part of Daz 3D’s portfolio.
- Fractal Design’s Poser was transferred to Curious Labs, then to e-Frontier, and ultimately acquired by Smith Micro Software.
- The software Canoma, originally developed by MetaCreations, was obtained by Adobe Systems, discontinued as a standalone product, with its technology integrated into other Adobe offerings.
- Fractal Design’s Painter was acquired by Corel.
- The Expression software from Fractal Design returned to its original developer, Creature House, before being sold to Microsoft. It is now incorporated into the Microsoft Expression Studio suite under the name Microsoft Expression Design.
- ScanSoft, Inc. acquired Kai’s Photo Soap, Kai’s Power Goo (later renamed SuperGoo), and Kai’s Power Show; these products were subsequently discontinued.
- In 1999, Minolta introduced the modular digital camera model Minolta Dimâge 3D 1500, which featured MetaCreations’ MetaFlash technology designed for capturing 3D images.