Cambridge-based ART (Advanced Rendering Technology) has gained prestigious accolades from two leading US industry publications. Computer Graphics World, the premier publication in the field of 3D graphics awarded ART with its Innovation 2000 Award "for demonstrating true innovation in visual computing." The Editors' Choice 2000 Award from Cadence magazine has cited ART's Render Drive as "a truly exceptional product that will enable the computer aided design industry to transition into the 21st century."

Founded in Cambridge in March 1995, ART develops specialised 3D products for applications in the film, broadcast, interactive entertainment and design industries. ART developed the world's first ray tracing graphics chip, which uses a more physically based method of generating images than conventional graphics processors. ART's customers include film and TV special effects houses, architectural practices, computer games developers, industrial design companies, virtual photographers and property developers.

ART's products allow users to create highly-accurate images from 3D data. The quality of the images is so convincing that customers often use them instead of photographs, where it would be too costly or impossible to create them by conventional methods. The company's RenderDrive product has been used for projects as diverse as the design and marketing of the new Jaguar X400 and Ford Thunderbird, the launch of Dyson's new Contrarotator washing machine, the best-selling computer game Colin McRae Rally 2.0, and the designs for the new Heathrow Terminal 5.

The US awards reflect the high standards that ART has set with its no-compromise approach to producing world-class technology for the 3D industry. Marketing Manager, Craig Wareham, who has been with ART since it's very early days, commented: "ART has developed world-leading technology and world-beating customer solutions. We are constantly delighted by the outstanding work RenderDrive enables our clients to achieve. The fact that such prestigious industry experts recognise this and have granted these awards is a real indication of the standing that our products have achieved over the last two years."

With offices located in Silicon Valley California, and Cambridge UK, and a worldwide customer base ART is a global high-tech company with a staff of around 45. ART is backed by companies including 3i Group, Amadeus Capital Partners, Nomura International, Nippon Investment, and Pino Venture Partners.