Photon Engineering has just announced that FRED 9.70 has now been released. Significant new features and improvements include:

64-bit version of FRED Optimum
FRED Optimum now offers a 64-Bit version in addition to the 32-Bit version, providing better compatibility with 64-Bit operating systems and hardware. Testing has shown that the 64-Bit version of FRED Optimum reduces raytracing and calculation time by approximately 30%! In addition, large models with increased numbers of nodes can be constructed without sacrificing responsiveness due to resource lag.

Source power units
Source power can now be explicitly defined using radiometric (Unspecified, Watts) or photometric units (Lumens).

Spectra
Spectral power distribution of the source can be now defined by a spectrum. Three types of spectrum are available, a Gaussian spectrum defined by a center wavelength and HWHM, a Blackbody spectrum defined by a temperature in Kelvin, and a sampled  pectrum in which wavelength and spectral value pairs can be entered.

Photometric analyses (illuminance and luminous intensity)
FRED now includes photometric analyses functions. Specifically, Illuminance (luminous flux / area ) and Luminous Intensity (luminous flux/ steradian) analyses can now be performed.


New BASIC compiler
Lots of new capabilities including
- Enhanced COM/.NET interface
- Better array handling with dynamic dimensioning using variables and re-dimensioning
- Improved interactive development environment

A webinar detailing these new features can be downloaded here.

Click here for more information on FRED.