Swift3D 5.0 exports as Papervision3D

Electric Rain today released Swift 3D 5.0 for Mac and Windows systems, enabling users to export to the Papervision3D file format. Papervision3D is an open source 3D engine for Flash that leverages ActionScript 3.0 and the Flash 9 player to draw true 3D and allow for real-time user interaction. Swift 3D 5.0 is priced at $250, with upgrades from previous users available from $80. The application requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later.

The software utilizes the XML-based COLLADA file format to define the geometry of the models, and that information is rendered live via the Papervision3D engine within the Flash Player to make 3D content accessible to more than 93 percent of all Web viewers, according to Electric Rain.

"Swift 3D has always been the tool interactive designers turn to with their diverse needs," said Mike Soucie, CEO of Electric Rain. "By supporting the Papervision3D format we're helping designers stretch their creative limits even further and expand the ways in which 3D content can be deployed on the Web. Real-time 3D rendering in Flash has always been the dream, and we’re very excited to finally enable our users to begin working with this cutting-edge Papervision3D technology."

The added support of the Papervision3D format is based on a recent increase of interest in working with true 3D in Flash. With a designer-friendly toolset and workflow, Swift 3D aims to help non-3D professionals make use of new Papervision3D technology without the need for extensive 3D or ActionScript 3.0 experience. Swift 3D also converts existing models in the .3DS and .DXF file format into Papervision3D projects.

Filed under: developer, Graphics/Web Design
Other story tags: Mac OS X, Windows, Flash, 3D, Open Source