Pixar Image Computer

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== Pixar Image Computer ==

The Pixar Image Computer is a high-performance graphics computer originally developed by Pixar in the mid-1980s. It was designed for the processing and rendering of high-resolution images and was primarily targeted at the medical, scientific, and government markets.

History

The Pixar Image Computer was first introduced in 1986. It was one of the first products released by Pixar, which was then a division of Lucasfilm's Computer Graphics Project. The computer was notable for its advanced image processing capabilities, which were far ahead of its time.

In 1986, Steve Jobs purchased the Computer Graphics Division from Lucasfilm and established Pixar as an independent company. The Pixar Image Computer continued to be developed and marketed under the new company.

Technical Specifications

The Pixar Image Computer was built around a powerful parallel processing architecture. It featured multiple Motorola 68000 series processors and custom image processing hardware. The system was capable of handling complex image computations and rendering tasks that were beyond the capabilities of most other computers of the time.

Key specifications included:

• Multiple Motorola 68000 series processors
• Custom image processing hardware
• High-resolution image rendering capabilities
• Advanced color management and image manipulation tools

Applications

The Pixar Image Computer was used in a variety of fields, including:

• Medical imaging
• Scientific visualization
• Government and military applications
• Animation and special effects

Despite its advanced capabilities, the Pixar Image Computer was not a commercial success. It was expensive and had a limited market, which led Pixar to shift its focus towards animation and film production.

Legacy

The development of the Pixar Image Computer played a significant role in the evolution of computer graphics and image processing technology. It laid the groundwork for many of the techniques and technologies that are now standard in the industry.

Pixar's experience with the Image Computer also contributed to its success in the field of animation, leading to the creation of groundbreaking films such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo.

See Also

• Pixar
• Steve Jobs
• Lucasfilm
• Computer graphics
• Medical imaging
• Scientific visualization
• Animation