Mental Images conjures up funding

Mental Images, a Berlin-based maker of high-end 3D software used in Hollywood movies such as "The Matrix: Reloaded," "The Hulk" and "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," said it will expand its San Francisco operations following a $6 million venture capital round led by Frankfurt-based ViewPoint Ventures.

The 17-year-old company sells a 3D visualization application called Mental Ray, which is integrated into third-party computer-aided-design and digital content creation software products. It is also developing a collaboration tool called RealityServer, which it plans to market to moviemakers, game and building designers, and e-commerce site authors. This is the company's first outside funding round.