John E. Wilson

3D programs come in all shapes and sizes. Here?s a brief guide to some of the options out there.

Like virtually all of today's 3D modelers, trueSpace supports NURBS curves and surfaces.

This month we will explore the trueSpace tools for creating 3D polyhedra objects from 2D curves.

You can create trueSpace 3D objects directly in basic geometric shapes, which are referred to as primitives, rather than by revolving or extruding wire profile objects.

Despite its power, the system requirements of trueSpace, a 3D modeling program from Caligari, are modest.

This month we will take a look at VectorWorks's features for creating architecture models and drawings. Many are hybrid 2D/3D objects that appear as conventional, symbolized 2D objects in plan views, and as realistic 3D objects in all other views.

VectorWorks is both a 2D drafting and 3D modeling program from Nemetschek North America that works on computers using either Macintosh or Microsoft operating systems. We have been concentrating on the program's 3D features in this column, so this month we will explore its tools and commands that...more >>

This is the third in my series about the 3D features of VectorWorks, an 2D drafting and 3D modeling program from Nemetschek North America that runs on computers using either Mac or Windows operating systems.

The previous Third Dimension column described the interface and the components of VectorWorks. This month's column will explore the program's tools and commands for creating basic 3D objects.

Like AutoCAD and TurboCAD, VectorWorks from Nemetschek AG is a 2D-drafting program that also has 3D-modeling capabilities. We'll begin exploring the 3D features of VectorWorks this month.