Version 1.1 Features

This latest version introduces new abilities, including the ability to drive dimensions between geometric objects included into one group. Enhancements of the graphical user interface include a new toolbar button that simplifies the access to the online help and improved usability when selecting two dimension arguments with a mouse. 

Version 1.1 adds native Mac OS X support after porting LGS, a variational geometric solver developed by LEDAS, to Mac OS X. 

“In our work we were seriously inspired by the constantly growing user base of our Driving Dimensions plugin for SketchUp,” said Dmitry Ushakov, Director of Product Management for LEDAS. “In less than eight months after we released a first public beta, about 10,000 SketchUp users from 125 countries downloaded it from our website. With its growing popularity [the] Mac OS X platform attracts more and more attention to CAD developers. We are excited to offer advanced parametrization tools integrated with a popular free 3D modeling software on the Mac.”

A free version of Driving Dimensions 1.1 for SketchUp 6 and 7 for Windows or Mac can be downloaded here: http://drivingdimensions.com/download/

There is also a Pro version of Driving Dimensions which retails 45.USD. To learn more visit them online here.

InBrief: Last week Autodesk and Avid announced that Autodesk would acquire substantially all of the assets of Avid’s Softimage business unit for approximately $35 million. Autodesk said it was interested in the company because of its strength in the 3D games market. Founded in Montreal, Canada, in 1986, Softimage has been available only for the Windows PC market and competes with products such as LightWave 3D and Cinema 4D. Autodesk plans to utilize Autodesk FBX as a lingua franca file exchange between all of its 3D software tools, including those picked up by RealVIZ. To read the full press release go here.

LightWave 3D Earns “3D Product of the Year”

MacUser Magazine has awarded NewTek’s LightWave 3D “3D Product of the Year” for 2008. The full list of MacUser 2008 Award winners can be found here. The MacUser Innovation of the Year award was given to Apple for its MacBook Air. 

SketchUp Goes Parametric – New Russian Tool

WorldCAD Access has noted Russian software company, LEDAS, and their new Driving Dimensions plugin for SketchUp. With this new plugin — only available for Windows unfortunately — users have very limited but true parametric capabilities in SketchUp. Visit the Driving Dimensions website to learn more.