solidThinking has updated one of the only CAID (computer-aided industrial design) packages offered for both Mac OS X and Windows. solidThinking is a design program that allows users to render photorealistic 3D product designs in stunning environments or. solidThinking, which according to Architosh, has gained significant market share by pulling in clients such as Nikon, Toshiba and Volvo, was recently acquired by Altair Engineering and has received a global update to version 7.6. solidThinking 7.6 includes an updated rendering engine, a streamlined user interface, rich photorealistic content functionality and a number of other user-centric enhancements.

Alessandro Mazzardo, vice president of product strategy and marketing says that he is pleased to introduce the global community to, "the most comprehensive release of solidThinking to date." He also described solid Thinking as being a, "'what if' design software package that empowers the creative community to invent, explore and evaluate new ideas easily, rapidly and cost-effectively."

Version 7.6 encourages users to change their minds at any point in the design process. Instead of forcing them to start over, solidThinking can use the construction history to revise and update the creation and allow the user to move off into a new direction and to continue innovating.