The WAVE Report on Digital Media 3D --- Media Creation --- Shared Space Published by 4th Wave, Inc. Issue #719 8/13/97 --------------------------------------
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Notice to WAVE readers.
SIGGRAPH coverage went well beyond our e-mail length limits. Given that SIGGRAPH is the most important 3D conference we have elected not to truncate the coverage. To remain timely we have broken this issue into two parts. The first issue, #719, is being sent today 8/13/97 and the second, #720, on Friday, 8/15/97.
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CONTENTS
719.1 Quick News by Christina Person and Jonathan Sunberg
Macromedia Announces Dynamic HTML Zone [August 4]
Macromedia, Inc. has announced the Dynamic HTML (DHTML) Zone, a resource for Web design professionals who develop cross-browser multimedia content in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape’s Communicator. The DHTML Zone features, advice and tips for Web professionals, information on Macromedia and other vendor support for DHTML, links to DHTML resources and discussion groups for developers. Examples of Shockwave Director and Shockwave Flash integrated with DHTML for high-performance DHTML multimedia are also included.
S-MOS Systems Samples New Graphics Controller [August 4]
S-MOS Systems is sampling a graphics controller, the SED1354, with split screen capability and virtual display and is suited for systems using Microsoft Windows CE operating system or other embedded OS. The SED1354 offers low-voltage and low-power requirements of portable and embedded computing markets and has reduced power consumption through two power down modes, one software and one hardware. Samples are available now with packaging of 128-pin QFP. Volume production is scheduled for November 1997 with volume pricing of $9.70 for quantities of 10,000.
S-MOS has also exited the 3D chip business.
Lawsuits Filed Against Chips and Technologies, Inc. [August 5]
There have been four shareholder lawsuits filed against Chips and Technologies, Inc. and its Board of Directors recently. The class action suits were filed in Delaware and California. Each lawsuit concerns the actions of the Company and its Board with regard to Intel Corp.’s pending cash tender offer for Chips’ stock. Chips and the Board are actively defending them and believe they are without merit.
Oak Technology Debuts Single-Chip CD-ROM Controller [July 28]
Oak Technology has introduced a single-chip CD-ROM controller with 4-in-1 functionality. The Oak OTI-9220 integrates four major functions of a CD-ROM drive, block decoder, CD-DSP, servo and 1Mb of DRAM. The foundation of the OTI-9220 is Oaks’ OTI-912 block decoder and Sony’s CD-DSP/servo combination chip. Samples are available immediately with volume production due in Q4 ’97. The OTI-9220 is packaged in a 176-pin LQFP configuration and pricing is $15 for quantities of 10,000.
Microsoft and Apple Cross-License Agreement [August 6]
At MacWorld in Boston, Bill Gates, along with Steve Jobs, director and co-founder of Apple Computer Inc., announced a technology and product development agreement between Apple and Microsoft. The agreement includes development and shipment of Mac versions of Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and other Microsoft tools, Microsoft Internet Explorer bundled with Mac OS, and a $150 million investment in non-voting Apple stock. Jobs expressed, "We are confident that this is the beginning of a much closer relationship between the two companies, which will greatly benefit our common customers."
FORE Systems, Inc. Supports Microsoft’s NetShow [August 5]
FORE Systems, Inc. has announced ATM support for Microsoft’s NetShow full screen video service. The service is a high-performance solution for sending multimedia content across corporate Intranets. The FORE ATM products include ForeRunnerLE and PCA-200EPC ATM Network Interface Cards(NICs). The combination of the NetShow video technology and FORE ATM delivery offer users dedicated connectivity for video applications and high-bandwidth.
Imax Corporation Signs Contract with Marcus Theatres Corporation [August 5]
The Imax Corporation has signed an agreement with Marcus Theatres Corporation for two IMAX 3D theatres built in their multiplexes. The two locations for the IMAX 3d theatres are Columbus, Ohio and Addison, Illinois. There is also an option for three additional theatres. This last agreement increases Imax’s agreements to five commercial exhibitors for 24 IMAX 3D theatres.
Intergraph Computer Systems announces Intense 3D Pro 2200 [August 5]
Intergraph Computer Systems’ Consumer Products Division announced Intense 3D Pro 2200, the newest 3D graphics add-in card in its Intense 3D Pro series. The card, which is based on Intergraph’s RealiZm 3D technology, is available for Windows NT-based PCs or workstations. Intense 3D Pro 2200 offers OpenGL performance and is available for $2,399 through Intergraph’s factory-direct channel, direct sales force, resellers, and OEMs. With the introduction of Intense 3D Pro 2200, Intergraph has also reduced the price of Intense 3D Pro 1000 at $1,666.
S3’s SonicVibes, the first PCI audio solution to earn Microsoft WHQL Approval [August 7]
S3 has announced that SonicVibes, a fully integrated audio processor, is the industry’s first PCI audio solution to earn Microsoft WHQL (Windows 95 Hardware Quality Labs) approval and receive the "Designed for Windows 95 Logo." This logo is earned by passing a series of tests to determine if it meets a baseline criteria that Microsoft has set for hardware and Plug and Play products compatible with Windows 95.
Number Nine announces agreements [August 6]
Number Nine Visual Technology Corp. in two separate releases, announced their Revolution 3D will begin shipping in SAG/ECE Electronics highest performance personal workstation in the third quarter, as well as an upgrade option for NEC’s PowerMate workstations. The Revolution 3D, based on Number Nine’s "Ticket to Ride" chip, supports both Direct3D and OpenGl.
In a separate release, Number Nine also announced that NEC Computer Systems has chosen both the Revolution 3D and its 9FX Reality 334 card for NEC’s new "Direction" series of personal computers. 9FX Reality 334, a mid-range controller, is based upon S3’s Virge GX-2 technology.
SoftQuad Begins Shipping HoTMetal PRO 4.0 [August 6]
SoftQuad has announced they have begun shipping HoTMetal PRO 4.0, the latest version of their web site and management tool. New features in HoTMetal PRO 4.0 include: Site Maker, an interactive, step-by-step site creation environment enabling users to build pages without knowing HTML; a new, more robust graphics editing environment from Ulead PhotoImpact SE; HoTMetal FX, a drag-and-drop environment for adding the latest technologies to Web pages; and a host of Power Tools from third-party developers, including Jamba Java Editor from Aimtech, a VRML authoring environment from PLATINUM, and versioning software from Starbase. The software is available for Windows95 and NT 4.0 for $129. Users upgrading from any of the previous versions or any of HoTMetal’s five competing products can purchase the new version directly from SoftQuad for $69.
PC Users Can View Mars Terrain Using VRML over the Internet [July 1]
Cosmo Software, a Silicon Graphics company announced on June 10th, that Cosmo Player 1.0, a VRML client, is now shipping as a component of Netscape Communicator 4.0.
In related news NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab selected Cosmo products to create a 3-D Web site that chronicles the July 4th microrover landing on Mars. PC users can follow along on the journey and explore the Mars surface from JPL’s web site. Cosmo Worlds, a VRML authoring tool, is being used to build a VRML-based representation of the planet to create panoramic colorful views. Cosmo Player can be downloaded at Cosmo’s web site.
Superscape Announces "3D Webmaster" Product [August 5]
Superscape has announced they will begin shipping 3D Webmaster, a new authoring package for creating complete 3D web sites and adding 3D pages to existing 2D sites, later this year. The product supports VRML 2.0 as well as the SVR format and will be compatible with Superscape’s VRT 5 product. Pricing has not been announced, but is said to be in line with traditional professional 2D and multimedia web authoring products.
TEC Direct launches pcAddict Catalog [August 4]
TEC Direct, publisher of "The Edutainment Catalog", has launched a new software and hardware accessory catalog aimed at the computer gaming market. The catalog offers the entire consumer software industry’s product offerings and downloadable demo versions of close to 200 titles, online ordering, product information and hardware requirements, links to other sites and gaming tips.
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Call for Abstracts for Computer Game Developers Conference [August]
The Computer Game Developers Conference is calling for abstracts for the conference May 4 – 8, 1998 in Long Beach, California. Proposals are due September 12, 1997. Some of the topics at the 1997 conference include Interactive Entertainment, 3D Graphics on a PC and 3D Character Modeling. You can submit proposals and find more information about the conference from their Web site.
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719.3 - SIGGRAPH Quick News by Christina Person and Jonathan Sunberg
Real 3D Rolls Back Prices on PRO-1000 and Announces New 3D Board
Real 3D has announced a price reduction of up to 40% for its PRO-1000 high-performance graphics engines. The new list price for the PRO-1000 series now begins at $19,000. The PRO-1000 graphics engines are designed to provide high throughput, sustained real-time response and high realism. It is possible for the PRO-1000 to be driven on different hosts running Windows 95/NT, UNIX or Solaris.
Real 3D also announced the release of a 2D/3D graphics accelerator board called Real 3D LIGHTNING/110. The chipset utilizes OpenGL with optimized drivers. The LIGHTNING graphics accelerators are geared towards projects like computer-aided design (CAD) and animation. The LIGHTNING/110 was designed specifically for Windows and Pentium environments. LIGHTNING features include advanced texture mapping and real-time animation. Beta shipping is scheduled for October with production cards coming in Q4. The list price for the LIGHTNING/110 accelerator board is $1,995.
Sony Corporation Announces Agreement with Intergraph and Introduces Digital Dream Studios
Sony Corporation announced an agreement with Intergraph Computer Systems to develop Sony-branded computers for Sony’s future professional and business systems. This includes visual effects, professional-use content creation systems for non-linear editing and computer graphics generation. The agreement enforces Sony’s decision to adopt Windows NT computers. Intergraph will manufacture the computers for Sony and Sony will provide technical support to Intergraph so that the computers are geared toward Sony’s future professional and business systems.
Sony also introduced its Digital Dream Studios concept. The concept offers computer graphics professionals digital and computer imaging products and technologies for the production, creation, distribution and consumption of computer animation and graphics. The exhibit at SIGGRAPH was a collaboration with Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Electronics and Sony Pictures Imageworks, to demonstrate Sony’s worldwide reach and expansive range of digital technologies and entertainment content.
DIGITS ‘n ART demonstrated its LIFEsource V 1.5, a Virtual Actor Motion Capture Solution, and its flesh V 1.8, a 3D Paint System.
The demonstration of LIFEsource features a live performer on-stage with real-time playback of the actor in a virtual set on-screen. This version offers plug-ins for Softimage and an Alias converter so that data captured by LIFEsource can be imported for post rendering.
DnA also introduced flesh, the first commercially available 3D paint solution which provides real-time sculpting and painting capabilities. The new version, V 1.8 features improved speeds from 300% to 400%, which gives a smoother brush stroke, advanced import/export capabilities for image and geometry files, improved tablet driver and compatibility with the latest release of Alias 8.0 and Softimage 3.7. The list price for flesh has recently been reduced form $9995 to $6900. DnA is also offering, for a limited time, customers who by any O2 system through DnA will receive flesh included free.
Virtue Ltd. Introduces Thunder and Lightning
Virtue Ltd. introduced two new products, Thunder and Lightning, which will bring 3D computer graphics to the Web. Lightning is a full VRML 2.0 compliant 3D Web browser that can handle any VRML 2.0 file. Thunder, an automatic VRML 2.0 optimizer, causes dramatic speedups when the file is enhanced by it. The new products will allow PC users to interact in 3D virtual worlds that have are unlimited in size and complexity. According to Jeff Fayman, Virtue’s Vice President for Product Development, "We anticipate delivery in the first quarter of 98 and pricing will be available then."
Cosmo Software Introduced Cosmo Player 2.0
Cosmo Software, a Silicon Graphics company, introduced its next-generation multiplatform VRML client, Cosmo Player 2.0. Cosmo Player 2.0 is scheduled to have support for OpenGL and to include a redesigned user interface. The native code base of Cosmo Player 2.0 is consistent across all platforms, Macintosh, UNIX and Windows and will provide native support for Netscape Communicator, as a Netscape plug-in, and Microsoft Internet Explorer, as an AcitveX component. An Internet beta version will be available in September ’97 for both PC and Macintosh platforms. The UNIX version is due out in the fall. Free downloads of Cosmo Player are available at their Web site.
Cosmo Software Announces Bundling with Diamond Multimedia
Cosmo Software also announced that Diamond Multimedia will be bundling their Fire GL 1000 Pro accelerators with its Cosmo Player 2.0 beginning to ship in September ’97. Mitsubishi Electronics America Inc. announced its support of Cosmo Player 2.0 by agreeing to future bundles of it with the 3DPRo/2mp chipset. This bundling will allow CAD designers and professional animators to share high-end graphics over a network, while decreasing time-to-market and development costs. The bundles are expected to begin during Q3 ’97.
MetaCreations Announces Detailer, Showcases Infini-D 4.1 and Releases Bryce 3D
MetaCreations Corporation announced plans to develop Detailer for 3DStudio MAX from Kinetix. This will allow artists seeking enhanced painting capability to create realistic and innovative surface maps for their 3D models. The Detailer plug-in will be under the 3D Studio MAX Utilities tab, allowing images to be transported form a 3D scene to Detailer. Users will have improved workflow and time savings since saving files to disks will be eliminated. The plug-in for 3D Studio MAX is scheduled to be available by the end of 1997. Pricing will be available near shipping time.
MetaCreations also showcased the first public showing of Infini-D 4.1 for Windows 95/NT. Infini-D 4.1 includes Real Time Geometry’s new technology that accelerates the process of rendering complex 3D models. Infini-D 4.1 for Windows 95 combines 3D animation power, video integration and high-end special effects for digital video professionals in corporate and broadcast areas. Infini-D 4.1 is expected to be available by the end of ’97 with a suggested retail price of $899. The upgrade is $199. The Power Macintosh version 4.0 is priced the same and is now available.
MetaCreations has announced plans to release Bryce 3D in the fall of this year. Bryce 3D will improve the ease of adding animation and atmospheric effects to a scene. With Bryce 3D, users can produce broadcast quality 3D motion graphics to be saved as AVI or QuickTIme movies. There are new animation controls and camera motion movement modes with Bryce 3D as well. Bryce 3D is scheduled to be available in the fall ’97 for Windows 95/NT and Power Macintosh on one hybrid CD-ROM. Bryce 3D is planned for DEC ALPHA. The suggested retail price is $299 with upgrade prices being announced closer to the release date.
Microsoft Corp. Releases DirectX 5.0
Microsoft Corp. announced the release of the final version of DirectX version 5.0 set of APIs. This is Microsoft’s first unified multimedia system services for Windows 95/NT operating systems and for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. New features of DirectX 5.0 include the Direct3D API, which offers improved image quality, DirectDraw API support for AGP low-resolution modes, DirectPlay API with Windows NT security and DirectSound3D support for 3-D audio hardware acceleration. Features supported in the upcoming Windows 98 and Windows NT 5.0 include AGP, video port extensions, multimonitor support and USB joysticks are also a part of DirectX 5.0 foundation. The final version for Windows 95 is presently available at the Microsoft Web site. DirectX 5.0 for Microsoft Internet Explorer is to be released with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. DirectX 5.0 for Windows NT is to be released with Windows NT 5.0.
http://www.microsoft.com/directx/
SensAble Technologies, Inc. Present with Multiple Partner Representations
SensAble Technologies’ 3D Touch Technology was present with multiple partner representations at the conference. Prosolvia Clarus had its first public demonstration of Sensable’s 3D Touch technology by integrating it with its flagship OXYGEN 3D Visualization software. This expands the capabilities of product design with more robust virtual prototyping and design visualization through the sense of touch.
CSIRO (The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) used the PHANToM system on their haptic workbench to demonstrate 3D modeling technology. Imageware Co. and SensAble Technologies also formed a partnership to integrate 3D Touch capabilities with their Surface modeling tools. This will enable designers and engineers to freely interact with computer models at the shape level.
Newfire, Inc. and Gravity, Inc. Power "AntiGravity" with Torch
Newfire, Inc. and Gravity, Inc. announced that Gravity’s game, "AntiGravity" will be powered by Newfire’s 3D game engine, Torch. This new version of the game was created in only seven weeks using Newfire’s authoring tool Catalyst. A level of "AntiGravity" is expected on the Gravity Web site in late summer, while a developer version of Torch is available free on the Newfire Web site.
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719.4 – Conference Report – SIGGRAPH - Part 1
719.4.1 Play Inc. - Final Trinity Demonstrated by Malisa Burkeen
Trinity, Play's PC-based video production studio was demonstrated at SIGGRAPH with a live TV show being completely produced in real-time and broadcast from the show. According to Play, Trinity "replaces $1M worth of gear for $5000." Trinity manages graphics, editing, effects and virtual sets all controlled via the PC.
Trinity, when used with any Pentium PC, becomes a full broadcast-quality TV production studio for either live broadcasts or post-production. Trinity is presently in beta, but will be on the market in 5 to 6 weeks. The entire system will sell for $4995.
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719.4.2 Digital Expands Reach in the Graphics Market with New Products by Malisa Burkeen
Digital previewed three new PowerStorm graphics accelerated personal workstations and announced new pricing and configuration of the PowerStorm 4D60T. These new products are part of Digital's 3D Global Initiative to offer the most open graphics workstations. The Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. REALimage 3D graphics technology will be used in the PowerStorm products. The Digital a-Series and i-Series Windows NT workstations will incorporate both the PowerStorm 4D30T, the new REALimage-based graphics subsystem and Intergraph’s Intense 3D Pro 2200 graphics option. The PowerStorm graphics subsystem will be based on Mitsubishi 3DPro/2mp chipset based on E&S technology.
The PowerStorm 4D30T is priced at $2995 with 4MB texture or $3395 with 16MB texture and will be available in September. The PowerStorm 4D51T (an update to 4D50T) will be available in Q3 '97. Pricing on this model is not yet available. PowerStorm 4D60T is now available at a base price of $5995.
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719.4.3 SIGGRAPH Awards By Malisa Burkeen
At the SIGGRAPH keynote, Bert Herzog, the SIGGRAPH Awards Chair, announced this year's SIGGRAPH award winners.
Dr. Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz was the recipient of the 1997 SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Achievement Award. Dr. Prusinkiewicz received this award for his work with modeling and visualizing biological structures.
James Foley was the recipient of the 1997 SIGGRAPH Steven A. Coons Award for Outstanding Creative Contributions to Computer Graphics. Mr. Foley gave an emotional acceptance speech where he called upon industry professionals to take increasing responsibility in the use of technology for school age education.
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719.4.4 The Electronic Theater by Malisa Burkeen
59 3D graphics creations and animations made it to this year's SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater. The creativity varied, but the talent and achievement was outstanding. Watching clip after clip of these masterful creations made it somewhat difficult to choose the "best of the best," but based upon audience response (completely unscientific) we came up with a few we felt earned special mention
The DNA Story by Laurent Larsonneur, Digital Studio SA Titanic TD 27 by Bob Hoffman, Digital Domain Star Trek- The Experience, by Suzanne Datz, Rhythm & Hues Studios Gobola The Great, Judy Conner, Pacific Data Images Sharting, by Michael McCarthy and Jason Zirpolo, Ringling School of Art and Design
Congratulations to all in the theater show as it was a significant achievement in technology, design and creativity.
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719.4.5 Animation vs. Motion Capture by Malisa Burkeen
The Motion Capture and CG Animation panel at SIGGRAPH exposed a serious conflict between animators and motion capture professional. Specifically, can motion capture replace traditional 2D animation? We explored this on the show floor and found that all we interviewed had an opinion and the views vary widely between the two camps.
The initial argument is that motion capture has an advantage over animation because it can save time and money. However, there is also strong sentiment on both sides when asked if animation or motion capture provides the best images and graphics. If anything resembling a consensus is reached, it would have to be that animators and motion capture teams must work together in order to achieve the highest quality characters. Many suggest that facial expressions require the expertise of the animator to be realistic. For example, Digital Domain used animators for the facial expressions in the popular Andre Agassi commercial, after his body movements were "captured." We found the quality of the final product debatable, but this commercial is an example of motion capture and animation working together, nonetheless.
This argument that both animation and motion capture can be integrated is not accepted universally. Sheldon Linker, President of Linker Systems said that if a project wants a "real" looking character, then use motion capture, but if you want an animated look use animation. According to Mr. Linker, there is a distinct difference between the two and mixing motion capture with animation does not produce the best looking character. "If you use some motion capture, then you should use all motion capture. Some animation, all animation," was Mr. Linker's sentiment.
Most animators agree that motion capture is limited to what the performers are able to do where animation is limited only by the imagination of the animator. And, according to Steph Greenberg, an independent animator, it often costs more to make a motion capture character look like animation than it would have cost for the initial animation. Mr. Greenberg summed up the differences well when he stated "Animation is not the duplication of life as we know it. . .Animation is in the animator's imagination. . .not the result of taking something and Xeroxing it. . .Character stuff is not just about walking or running."
Bill Panepinto, VP of Sales & Marketing at Polhemus, a motion capture company, doesn't seem worried about such sentiment though. Mr. Panepinto suggested that as the motion capture hardware and software become more tightly integrated, motion capture will get closer to animation. (Polhemus is partnered with SimGraphics, a real-time character animation software provider)
Until this happens however, it is important to note that there is a difference between animation and motion capture and each offers a level of quality that the other cannot. The most important decision is to determine what the final product should be and then proceed. If the differences are fully understood, then time and budget should be less of an issue.
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719.4.6 Fujitsu: Delivering High-Quality 3D to Every Desk By Malisa Burkeen and John Latta
At a technical sketch presentation, Rick Humphrey, Director of Marketing, 3D Multimedia Business Unit, Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc. and Agha Y. Ahsan, Multi Dimensional Consulting, Inc., announced the Wizard single chip solution that maintains Talisman quality and also provides a low cost high performance 3D solution.
The goals of the project set included:
provide single chip solution of the Talisman architecture, create a competitive mainstream part with 3D functionality and maintain the Talisman performance and image quality.
In addition, Fujitsu expects the chip will provide a migration path from current and traditional 3D software applications/games to Talisman enabled applications.
The result is a hardware/software combination. The video, audio, 3D geometry and triangle binning is supported on the CPU (Pentium). Triangle set-up, VGA, 2D, and the virtual frame buffer are performed on the Fujitsu Advanced 3D Graphics Chip.
A key component of the design is that the Fujitsu chip is both has both a traditional 3D pipeline and a full Talisman implementation. Thus, developers will see conventional 3D applications run well and those that leverage the Talisman features will gain a significant performance advantage. Fujitsu describes "Talisman Quality Extensions Mode" which has full scene antialiasing, on-chip Z-buffer, anisotropic filtering. The next level up, in what is called the full Talisman mode, image layering is added. This includes: selective rendering, sprite reuse and multipass rendering. All of these features are expected to be supported in Microsoft’s DirectX 6.0 due the spring of 1998.
Interfaces supported include AGP and PCI.
The chip is implemented in .25 micron process geometry.
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719.5 – Ilixco – Bringing the Ashes of Virtual I/O Back to Life by John Latta
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719.6 Points to Ponder – Making PC VR Systems by John Latta
At 4th Wave, the parent company to the WAVE Report, we continue to get calls asking how to put together VR systems based on PC technology. Although this can be done it frequently involves a system integrator or an organization who can do both software and custom system development. The technology is now progressing to the point where end users can assemble PC VR systems. For example, both of the next generation Windows OS, code named Memphis, and Windows NT 5.0, Microsoft will be supporting multiple monitors. One approach would be to place the each of the monitors at the effective eyepoints for viewing the scene in stereo. There may be a impediment with this approach, however. We have been told that Microsoft’s current implementation of multimonitor will not allow the windows to overlap. However, Datapath, the developers of RealiMation, tells the WAVE Report that its software will both drive each 3D card at the correct respective eyepoint and the Virtual I/O glasses.
With 3D IG technology at significant levels of performance and continuing lower prices a 2 card 3D system could be added to a PC for less than $500. The remaining links are the input devices and the displays. There are many input devices for the PC including a new generation of low cost force feedback units. The missing piece has been the display that matches the PC output resolution. The ProTec comes the closest to this with its color VGA resolution. Thus, the PC industry is nearing what VPL and others attempted to do but failed – providing low cost mass market VR.
Before attempting to assemble a PC VR system WAVE Readers should contact the companies mentioned.
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719.7 – Viewpoint Datalabs Buys and Merges by John Latta
Viewpoint Datalabs, widely known for the most extensive library of 3D models, has announced it is merging with ThinkFish. The creator of LifeStyles, this artistic 3D technology, allows artists and individuals to create 3D scenes in the style of 2D art. ThinkFish technology bridges an important gap in 3D technology. That is, the ThinkFish tools overcome the 3D modeling complexity barrier while allowing many to bring their own creativity to the medium. The outputs of ThinkFish are suitable for many mediums including Web publishing.
Viewpoint has acquired Syndesis Corp. the developer of the 3D translation technology, InterChange. Viewpoint made InterChange available during SIGGRAPH in its Autumn ’97 DataShop Premier CD-ROM. A version of InterChange can be unlocked from this disk for both Microsoft Windows and SGI IRIX platforms.
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719.8 Points to Ponder – Making 3D Objects a Mass Market Product by John Latta
Viewpoint has taken a significant step in allowing users to customize 3D objects with styles which are now available from the merger with ThinkFish. Viewpoint uses the analogy between styles and fonts. The user can purchase a number of styles that reflect the particular artistic image they want to convey. These styles can be applied to any 3D model. What Viewpoint is seeking to do is link styles with their model library so that the user has a large choice of models to render with ThinkFish. With a particular style the users now has much more freedom of expression. Specifically, a 3D object can be continually rotated and the style is applied to each view. We see the power of styles being extended when it is linked to InterChange. The next step would be to allow the user to create their own styles in much the same way that Fontographer does with fonts. The combination of these tools could allow the user to input many different models, apply custom styles and output in any format, including 2D for illustrations. The next logical step would be to integrate behaviors into the models. Now the models not only have an abstract or real representation based on the use of styles but also the potential for credible physical action including look and feel and with unique dynamic "styles."
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Copyright 1997 4th WAVE, Inc.
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Comments on or questions about WAVE: wave@fourthwave.com
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May be redistributed in full for individual readership and posted to newsgroups, Web, and FTP sites. May not be reprinted or redistributed for profit. Short quotes are permitted but must be attributed to the WAVE Report on Digital Media.
Copyright 1997 4th WAVE Inc.
May be redistributed in full for individual readership and posted to newsgroups, Web, and FTP sites. May not be reprinted or redistributed for profit. Short quotes are permitted but must be attributed to the WAVE Report on Digital Media.