--- On Mon, 5/13/13, Ed Nisley <ed.08.nis...@pobox.com> wrote: <clip> > The real problem (and it *is* a real problem) then becomes > generating > the model geometry. Based on a very small sample, > non-techies have > trouble with 3D modeling and fancier CAD programs aren't the > answer...
I use trueSpace. Microsoft bought Caligari, intending trueSpace to compete against Google's Sketchup. Sketchup is used for people to make 3D models for Google Earth. Microsoft wanted people to use trueSpace to make 3D models for their Virtual Earth (now Bing Maps 3D). The then current version of trueSpace was released for free, a couple of updates were released, and a version without the "legacy" 6.6 "Model Side". Then for some reason Microsoft decided to abandon the product. If one knows where to look, the last version with both Model and Workspace "sides" can be downloaded. Officially the current free release is 7.61 with only Workspace side. trueSpace can output quite a number of file formats, but for some like DXF and STL it's best to hit the Triangulate button before exporting. Like so many other 3D modeling programs that have a long history, the user interface is... odd. Like Lightwave, trueSpace got its start on Amiga and the Windows versions inherited the Amiga version's quirks. I've been using it since version 2 for Windows. Been trying to find a copy of Conversions Pack 2.1, which is the only version that works with trueSpace 6.6. CP 2.0 only works with tS 6.5. Conversions Pack adds more file format support. One odd lack, even in the 7.x versions, is the inability to import VRML 2.0 though trueSpace can export VRML 1.0 and 2.0 - but who cares about VRML anymore? ;-) As for sketchup, unless it's seen some massive debugging and improvements, it's a very nice utility for creating some of the most fouled up 3D geometry I've ever seen. Disconnected edges and vertexes, multiple polygons sharing the same location, edges just butted together and occupying the same space instead of being properly joined, intersecting polygons and every other wrong way to create a 3D mesh. I assume that if a Sketchup user knows the program's quirks and how to beat it into submission to make it produce a good mesh, it can be a usable modeler. The problem is in the quest to make it easy to produce 3D models, Sketchup also made it easy to produce bad 3D models. It helps a lot to have some background in non-computerized drafting, including isometric and other "3D" methods plus perspective drawing. I also grew up with a ceramics business and learned about mold making, parting lines, draft angles etc. All that's applicable to any sort of 3D manufacturing, especially for molding and casting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AlienVault Unified Security Management (USM) platform delivers complete security visibility with the essential security capabilities. Easily and efficiently configure, manage, and operate all of your security controls from a single console and one unified framework. Download a free trial. http://p.sf.net/sfu/alienvault_d2d _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
