Maxon Computer GmbH
{{Short description|German Software company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Maxon Computer GmbH
| logo = Maxon.svg
| caption =
| type =
| traded_as =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1985}}
| founder = Harald Egel, Uwe Bärtels and Harald Schneider
| location =
| location_city = Bad Homburg
| location_country = Germany
| key_people = CEO David McGavran
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = Computer graphics
Benchmark
| products = Cinema 4D
ZBrush
Redshift (renderer)
Red Giant
Forger
Universe
Cinebench
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner = Nemetschek (2000–present)
| num_employees = 300
| homepage =
}}
Maxon Computer GmbH is a German software company that produces software for content creators. The company’s product lines include the 3D software Cinema 4D, the Red Giant tools for editing, motion design and filmmaking, Redshift renderer and the digital sculpting and painting software ZBrush as well as the mobile sculpting app Forger. The company’s cross-platform benchmarking application Cinebench is used by developers, reviewers and users to evaluate hardware performance.
History
Maxon was founded in 1985 by three college students, Harald Egel, Uwe Bärtels and Harald Schneider.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theinnovativereport.com/2019/09/09/animation-software-market-is-expected-to-rise-at-a-remarkable-cagr-during-2019-to-2026/|title=Animation Software Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR...|last=Davydova|first=Jena|date=9 September 2019|work=Innovative Reports|access-date=13 September 2019}}{{cite book|author=Arndt von Koenigsmarck|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0is-26VapBUC&pg=PP12|title=Maxon Cinema 4D 7: A Workshop for 2D/3D Graphics Pros|publisher=Peachpit Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0-201-73136-1|pages=12–}} They had purchased their first computer, an Atari ST, and agreed to write a book about the basic programming language that ran on the ATARI ST, the GFA-BASIC Buch.
The first issue of ST-Computer was released in January 1986.
In 1991, after two years of development, the first version of Cinema 4D was launched in December 1993. This was followed in May 1994 with an upgrade to Cinema 4D V1.5, with improvements in rendering quality. Cinema 4D became Maxon Computer's flagship product.Rick Parent, David S. Ebert, David Gould, Markus Gross, Chris Kazmier, Charles John Lumsden, Richard Keiser, Alberto Menache, Matthias Müller, F. Kenton Musgrave, Mark V. Pauly, Darwyn Peachey, Ken Perlin, Hanspeter Pfister, Jason Sharpe, Mark R. Wilkins, Martin Wicke, Nicholas Woolridge, Steve Worley. {{ cite book |title=Computer Animation Complete: All-in-One: Learn Motion Capture, Characteristic, Point-Based, and Maya Winning Techniques|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1gbh2wgK564C&pg=PA284|date=13 October 2009|isbn=978-0-12-378564-0|page=284|publisher=Morgan Kaufmann }}
In January 2000, Nemetschek, a leader in architectural CAD Software, bought a 70% stake in Maxon in order to acquire a high-quality renderer for their CAD models, as well as to enter the multimedia market and later introduced version 6 of Cinema 4D XL
Cinema 4D Release 10 was presented in 2006.
Announcement of Cinema 4D Release 11 at Siggraph show, Los Angeles, in 2008.
The company's program Cinebench is used to test computer hardware capabilities.{{Cite web| title = Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model (Mid-2019, OLED)| author = Buzzi, Matthew| work = PCMAG| date = 29 August 2019| access-date = 13 September 2019| url = https://www.pcmag.com/review/370323/razer-blade-15-advanced-model-mid-2019-oled}} The most recent version is R23 released in 2020.{{Cite web| title = Test Cinebench R20 est là, uniquement pour tester des CPU| trans-title = | last = Legrand | first = David| work = inpact-hardware.com| date = 6 March 2019| access-date = 13 September 2019| url = https://www.inpact-hardware.com/article/1113/cinebench-r20-est-la-uniquement-pour-tester-cpu| language = fr}}
Maxon is considered one of the major companies in 3D animation and graphics.{{Cite web| title = 3D Mapping Market 2019 explosive growth with technical aspects by major players Autodesk, Apple Inc, Google, SAAB, Intermap Technologies, Cybercity 3D, ESRI, Topcon Corporation| author = Doan, Kenneth| work = Tribune City| date = 11 September 2019| access-date = 13 September 2019| url = https://www.tribunecity.com/3d-mapping-market-2019-explosive-growth-with-technical-aspects-by-major-players-autodesk-apple-inc-google-saab-intermap-technologies-cybercity-3d-esri-topcon-corporation/}}
Maxon acquired Redshift in mid-2019,{{Cite web|url=http://www.cgchannel.com/2019/04/maxon-buys-redshift/|title=Maxon buys Redshift {{!}} CG Channel|language=en-US|access-date=24 April 2020}} merged with Red Giant, creators of unique tools for editors, VFX artists, and motion designers later that year,{{Cite web|title=Maxon and Red Giant to Combine Forces 2971699 {{!}} NEMETSCHEK|url=https://www.nemetschek.com/en/news-media/newsroom/Maxon-and-Red-Giant-to-Combine-Forces--2971699|access-date=2022-01-31|website=www.nemetschek.com|language=en}} and acquired Pixologic, the makers of ZBrush in 2021.{{cite web |title=Maxon Announces an Agreement to Acquire the Assets of Pixologic, Makers of ZBrush |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211213006108/en/ |website=Yahoo.com |access-date=16 December 2021}}