Realsoft 3D Version 4.(Software Review)(Evaluation)

Open design and NURBS tools highlight new release

Known previously as Real 3D, Realsoft 3D, a modeling, animation, and rendering package from Realsoft Graphics Oy, underwent a complete rewrite as well as a name change to avoid conflicts with a graphics accelerator manufacturer. Today, the $700 program boasts a new open design as well as NURBS modeling tools, advanced animation capability, and 3D painting tools, among other features. The software currently is available for Windows platforms, however Linux and SGI versions were scheduled for availability in the near future.

The most important innovation of Version 4 is its open design. For example, at the highest level, a new user can blend existing materials to achieve new combinations by dragging and dropping multiple materials from the material library onto a target object, and controlling the materials through a compact set of controls. Visual Shading Language (VSL) wizards and templates handle the details of shader construction. Beyond this, power users can implement unique shading effects and customize the rendering pipeline thoroughly by including suitable VSL elements into the materials. More adventurous types can implement and plug in material effects through the open API using standard C/C++ programming tools.

Another innovation partly related to the software's open design is the modular design of the GUI. Realsoft 3D has a completely configurable user interface that makes it possible to start using the program with just its basic, easy-to-use tools. As you gain skill and knowledge, you can add more advanced tools to the working environment.

The software also offers features such as compass menus; rational subdivision surfaces featuring creases, point weights, and an unlimited number of channels per vertex; NURBS modeling (the software previously offered B-spline modeling tools); construction history; metaballs; advanced choreography animation; advanced skeletons; post effects; 3D painting; dynamics; and particles.

Subdivision surface modeling enables you to model complex organic shapes without much thought for the details of the underlying mesh; you do the modeling, the software does the work. The subdivision surface modeling in OpenGL rendering mode is especially impressive, enabling you to easily see and manipulate the wireframe overlay on the shaded model.

Equally impressive are the particle and dynamics systems within Realsoft 3D. The ...