AC3D 6.8

Briefly, AC3D has a particularly strong suit in its ability to import and export to a huge range of other 3D file formats. Some of the more popular file formats supported include:

• Autodesk 3D Studio Max (import/export)
• Collada (import/export)
• Autodesk DXF (import/export)
• Google Earth (export)
• Autodesk Inventor (export)
• Lightwave 3D (import/export)
• OBJ (import/export)
• Pixar Renderman (export)
• STL (import/export)

AC3D supports booleans, SubDivision Surfaces, the ability to model organic shapes, a UV unwrapper/mapper, polygon reduction, unlimited multi-view screen setups and more.

01 - Inivis Limited has introduced AC3D version 6.8 with new features. (image courtesy of Inivis Limited, copyright Thor Danielsen, 2011)

New features in 6.8 include a texture coordinate editor. Now you can simply select the texture parts in the TCE, then select Edit > Select > Select TCE Surface and the surfaces that have the selected mapping are no isolated in the main AC3D selection.

Divide Loop, a plugin by Supercoldmilk, is now included with all versions. This plugin slices a strip of 2 or more surfaces along its length. It also works well with clusters of surfaces and is useful for adding extra detail to an object.

AC3D 6.8 retails for 89.95.USD and there are upgrades available. There is also a downloadable trial, as well as site and network licenses. To learn more go here.

iDevGames.com has a good review of Maxon’s Cinema 4D R11 software. The review is written by a long-time C4D user and veteran 3D user who makes some interesting comments about 3D applications that compete with C4D and the early days of 3D and game development.  To read the full review go here.

AC3D 6.5 is now out!

Inivis has announced this week that the latest AC3D 6.5 is now out and available for download. The program features several areas of improvement including but not limited to:

• Extrude by normal now enhanced
• Faster selection
• Ogre export plugin
• TCE improvements
• Speed optimizations (Windows only)
• Improved compatibility (Vista)

Inivis also has an AC3D iPhone Development Library. If you want amazing iPhone apps with 3D graphics look no further than the AC3D iPhone Development Library. With Memention’s AC3D reader lib you can easily output 3D models created in AC3D into iPhone apps in just a few minutes. For more information on this read on here.

Nemetschek News – Improved Knowledgebase and More

Nemetschek North America is improving things on its main website in an effort to better serve its customers and has announced that their Knowledgebase has been updated to better consolidate helpful information no matter what media format it has been produced in. Additionally, a new RSS feed is available for users to track the latest articles and items coming out by the company. 

Recently the company announced that Swiss architect and 2009 Pritzker Architectural Prize Laureate, Peter Zumthor is a longtime Vectorworks user on the Mac platform. He joins the ranks of the leading architects worldwide who have won the profession’s highest honor. 

Finally, the company featured one of its partners in its latest newsletter, AnimationWorks, a Vectorworks 10, 11, 12, 2008 and 2009 add-on application that allows the creation of complex camera or object animation entirely within Vectorworks. These animations are then saved as QuickTime movies. To learn more visit AnimationWorks 1.2 .

We have some news for those out there looking at getting a new burly Mac Pro or other Apple computer. Many may not be aware that Electric Image Technology Group (EITG) is an authorized Apple VAR. They offer big discounts, free shipping and no sales tax to most locations. Additionally, certain purchases will also yield free Electric Image Animation System software — the fabled leader in rendering speed and the software behind Star Wars. 

In the upcoming EIAS version 8, photons will be on tap with the new Photon Mapping functionality as well as the new Tesla development team’s updated user interface. Tesla is the new 3D modeling package replacing EITG’s Universe package. We have further EITG news in a separate post. 

Silo News – Wiki, Source Code and More

The folks at Nevercenter, the makers of Silo, have a lot of news this year and the updated website (updated since we last visited them…) looks very attractive we might add! 

First off the company now has a Silo Source Leasing program. Under the terms of this program if you work at a studio, research university or company that would like to have a core like Silo to build out your own tools from Nevercenter will offer you a lease on the source code. This cross-platform source code can be compiled on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Nevercenter will also offer customized development services on a consultant basis. 

The company now has a new wiki and several other items of interest on its site. For example they have a new book on Game Character Development by artist Antony Ward. He explains core modeling techniques and advocates Silo in his new book. Silo 2.1 is available as a free, fully-functioning 30-day trial version. You can dowload it from the website. 

AC3D – Latest News

Inivis has a new version of AC3D version 6.4 out. This latest version is available and features more powerful texturing vis-a-vis a Texture Coordinate Editor.

Design new cloths for your Second Life avatar with AC3D v6.4

What can you do with AC3D? Inivis demonstrates on its website that you can use the program to design new clothes for your Second Life avatars.

In San Francisco this week the Game Developers Conference 2008 kicks off today. Luxology, the makers of the ever rising modo 301, will be showing off that product in the Intel Booth (#5917) in the North Hall. modo will also be shown in the Terathan Software booth (#5749) in the North Hall. Conference runs from Feb 18 – 22, 2008.

Second Life and AC3D

Inivis is touting AC3D’s ability to help 3D artists and Second Life fans with the creation of 3D content for the popular online game. There are new Windows/Mac OS X and Linux Second Life plugins for AC3D available from their website here. The plugins include Sculpted prim exporter,Second Life Box builder, and Second Life Triangle Builder.

MAXON Power Integration Tour 2008

MAXON’s new Power Integration tour kicks off soon in San Francisco, California, February 26, 2008 and completes its tour later in the spring on April 3, 2008 in Toronto, Canada. The tour is a joint road show with Adobe Creative Suite 3 Production Premium for a powerful 2D/3D cross-platform solution.

Reps from both companies will demonstrate a range of dynamic visual effects and motion graphics utilizing a combination of MAXON and Adobe tools. Over $60.000USD will be given away in door prizes. The event is free but space is limited. Tour cities include: Vancouver, Seattle, Minneapolis, Boston, New York, Montreal, San Francisco and Toronto.