Other rendering options
31 Jul, 2003 By: Ron LaFon CadalystLightworks Rendering Engine
Lightworks Rendering Engine
LightWork Design Ltd.
144 0114 2668404
![]() A typical LightWorks scene contains soft shadows, ray tracing, and procedural shaders. |
Among the applications that LightWorks drives are Alibre Design; CDRS, Pro/CONCEPT, Pro/DESKTOP, and Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire from PTC; formZ from autodessys; Presenter 3D from Digital Immersion; PowerShape from Delcam; SolidWorks from Dassault; thinkreal from think3; trueSpace from Caligari; and Unigraphics NX from EDSjust to name a handful.
Components offered by LightWork Design include modules for the foundation, GUI framework, advanced geometry, a ray-tracing toolbox, advanced lighting, and global illumination toolsall the tools needed to build a wide variety of sophisticated graphics applications.
Piranesi 3
$750
Informatix Software International
144 01223 363014
![]() Piranesi 3.0 mimics traditional art tools to help you create the look you want. (Courtesy of Susan Sorger) |
It is this mimicking of traditional art tools that distinguishes the postrendering visualizations created by Piranesi. Many consider the hard-edged, hyper-realistic renderings produced by computers to be far from the effect they desire. They find they can paint with digital watercolor or oil paint to produce just the feeling they want. Little wonder that Piranesi has proved so popular for architectural visualizations. Indeed, many regard Piranesi as an essential tool, myself included.
Some applications, such as Artlantis, Bentleys MicroStation/J and MicroStation 8, formZ, MicroGDS (5.2 and later), NavisWorks, and SketchUp, export files directly in the EPIX file format used by Piranesi. Other applications, such as 3ds max, VIZ, ArchiCAD, and Lightwave 3D, require a plug-in to create the EPIX file format.
Studio Tools 10 starts at $10,500
Alias|Wavefront
800.447.2542
![]() StudioTools 10 combines 2D sketching with 3D modeling for rapid concept development. |
Among the features of Studio Tools 10 are Paint + Shapes (2D Design), which works great with digital tablets such as the Wacom, and shapes functionality that lets you assign line and fill attributes to curves or groups of curve. Enhanced modeling tools include a Draft/Flange tool that lets you specify multiple pull depths and angles along the length of the surface, using interactive angle and depth manipulators.
Studio Tools 10 integrates with CAD applications to allow exchange of data between different applications. In the current release, the most common data transfer methods are improvedIGES Import/Export operations, for example, are up to ten times faster than in previous versions. The STEP translator is redesigned to improve analytical data handling.
A full review of Studio Tools 10 appeared in the October 2002 issue of Cadalyst.
For Mold Designers! Cadalyst has an area of our site focused on technologies and resources specific to the mold design professional. Sponsored by Siemens NX. Visit the Equipped Mold Designer here!
For Architects! Cadalyst has an area of our site focused on technologies and resources specific to the building design professional. Sponsored by HP. Visit the Equipped Architect here!