NEW ORLEANS, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Caligari Corporation
(http://www.caligari.com), a pioneer provider of 3D authoring tools, today announced
trueSpace(TM)5, the long-awaited new version of its award-winning 3D modeling
and animation program. In trueSpace5 Caligari adds a full complement of
NURBS-based modeling tools, physically realistic rendering, and advanced
surfacing features. In addition, new support for industry standard IGES, SAT
and STL formats streamlines trueSpace5 compatibility with traditional CAD/CAM
applications, providing a real-time authoring tool for designers that delivers
the high-end modeling, rendering and animation power they require, at a mid-
range price far below competing solutions.
"There are a lot of talented designers out there who are simply
intimidated or unwilling to put up with awkward user interfaces in leading
3D authoring tools. trueSpace5 is changing that, while still providing every
ounce of needed design power," said Roman Ormandy, President and CEO of
Caligari Corp. "And iSpace, our new web delivery platform, is an ideal way to
bring trueSpace5 models to the web."
New Features - User Interface
trueSpace's widely recognized and often emulated 3D user interface allows
for real-time direct manipulation in a hardware accelerated, integrated,
3D perspective work space where designers can interact intuitively with 3D
objects and environments. The DX7/OpenGL-based rendering engine coupled with
Intel SSE and AMD 3Dnow! CPU optimization provides real time feedback on all
operations.
Other interface enhancements include:
-- context-based direct manipulation editing
-- Magic Ring for interactive manipulation of primitive shapes
-- Draw Panel for performing 2D operations directly in the 3D workspace
-- Tri-View Panel extends the Draw Panel into the 3rd dimension for
skinning and sweeps
-- fully integrated visual asset libraries with universal drag-and-drop
-- floating toolbars and individual tools to customize your workspace
NURBS based Modeling
trueSpace5 expands the already formidable modeling toolset with a full
implementation of NURBS-based modeling tools including all Sweeps, Rails,
Lofts, Skinning, and Cross-sections. NURBS can be combined with stitching,
blending, filleting and cut with trimming curves -- all in real-time, full
3D perspective. NURBS Geometry Paint provides users with a paint brush to
modify NURBS surface geometry in real time.
Other new modeling features include:
-- Real-time subdivision surfaces for easier texturing and animation
-- traditional CAD-like layers, improved dimensioning, and advanced
2D drawing tools
-- fully-parameterized 2D and 3D primitives with Magic Ring visual control
-- enhanced snapping tools
-- MetaMuscles
Advanced Surfacing
A completely redesigned Materials Editor and new IIR (incremental image
rendering) technology allow designers to move the resizable material editor
windows over any scene object and edit surface materials directly with near
real-time feedback.
3D paint tools can now paint on textured surfaces with real-time feedback
using arbitrary bitmap as a brush. With real-time UV mapping in trueSpace5,
users can precisely position and apply any texture projection, using a
3D widget, and get immediate feedback in solid textured mode.
Physically Accurate Rendering
New physically accurate lights and image-based rendering technology allow
for an unparalleled level of realism. trueSpace5 offers faster rendering with
better image quality and lower memory use, and new non-linear tone mapping
capabilities to generate even more realistic images. Ten new advanced shaders
include mapped reflectance, shadow catchers, new fog, wood, leather, and
curvature visualization shaders.
More Precise Animation Controls
For detailed character animation, NURBS and subdivision surfaces can now
be animated at the control vertex level, and trueSpace5 continues to offers
linear key-framed animation, and non-linear physics-based animation with
properties such as wind, gravity, and collision detection. Now, with DX7
hardware geometry acceleration, trueSpace5 lets users compute the radiosity
solution interactively, while navigating in real-time through a scene.
System Requirements
trueSpace5 requires a Pentium II CPU (Pentium III recommended),
Windows 95/98/2000/NT, 64MB RAM, and 50MB of free hard disk space. For optimum
performance, 128MB RAM and a 3D accelerator are recommended.
Availability
trueSpace5 for Windows will be available in the Fall directly from
Caligari and from Caligari authorized resellers. For more information contact
Caligari by telephone at 800-351-7620 or 650-390-9600, or visit Caligari's web
site at http://www.caligari.com
About Caligari Corporation
Caligari Corporation was founded in 1986 and has remained at the forefront
of emerging 3D authoring technology for interactive web design, graphic
design, product design, and multimedia. The company's award-winning flagship
product, trueSpace, is a 3D modeling and animation program used by product
designers, illustrators, interactive media developers, web designers, and
animators worldwide. Caligari iSpace is a 3D web graphics and animation
program that allows web developers to create completely 3D, stunning web
pages, using an elegantly simple drag-and-drop 3D interface. The company
maintains headquarters at 1959 Landings Drive, Mountain View, California,
94043. Contact Caligari by phone at 800-351-7620 or 650-390-9600; by fax at
650-390-9755; or on the Internet at http://www.caligari.com.
NOTE: Caligari, Caligari trueSpace, and Caligari iSpace are trademarks of
Caligari Corporation. Other company and product names are trademarks of their
respective holders.
SOURCE Caligari Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.caligari.com
CONTACT:
Eileen Ebner, Public Relations, 415-921-7570,
or eepr@mindspring.com, for Caligari Corporation
NOTE TO EDITORS: For trueSpace5 screen shots or a trueSpace5
evaluation copy, contact Eileen Ebner at eepr@mindspring.com.
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