ILM in Licensing Deal With Mental Images

Expanding its ability to create virtual movie sets, visual effects giant Industrial Light & Magic signed a three-year licensing agreement with Mental Images, a German rendering software company.

Both companies, which are privately held, declined to discuss financial details of the deal. ILM, a San Rafael, Calif.-based division of Lucas Digital Ltd., has used Mental Images’ tools to create photo-realistic light effects since 1995, particularly in films such as “Pearl Harbor” and “Minority Report,” said Cliff Plumer, ILM’s chief technology officer.

Although ILM is known for developing special-effects software, Plumer said, “In this case, it made more financial sense for us to have an outside company provide the software tools we need.”

-- P.J. Huffstutter