37signals stresses simplicity with Draft for iPad

Several modeling and design programs have been recently updated or ready for major upgrades. Architosh is reporting that Luxion's KeyShot has been upgraded to v2.0, alongside three other recent releases. KeyShot provides realtime raytracing and illumination software supporting native Pro/ENGINEER data import. The new version adds drag and drop importing, a scene tree and a library for assets. It now has dynamic camera interaction capable of precise positioning. Version 2 runs 50 percent faster and also adds new rendering improvements and additions such as unlimited label placement, light emitting materials with new controls, ground caustics and merging of previous or current scenes.

Pixologic has announced ZBrush 4, an update to the 2D/3D sculpting and painting software, which will be unveiled at SIGGRAPH in Los Angeles next week. Version 4.0 features will be reveled at the show.

3D texturing tool PixPlant, which derives seamless, repeatable 3D textures from standard photographs, has been upgraded to version 2. The update adds fine tuning of 3D textures with an interactive, parallax-mapped 3D preview, while users can now create displacement and specular maps for 3D modeling applications. PixPlant 2 is now available for $200.

37signals has released an iPad sketching app, Draft for iPad. The conceptual sketching tool is geared for developing concepts in a 'forced simple' layout, with only two colors, red and white, drawn onto a black background. The user focused is said to be focused on the simplicity of an idea or concept at the 'big picture' level. Users can share concepts and diagrams drawn in the app via Campfire and email. It is available now on the iTunes App Store for $10.

In other news, T-Spline will partner with MecSoft, mixing T-Spline's 3D surface modeling tools with MecSoft's RhinoCAM computer aided manufacturing software.

KeyShot 2




Draft for iPad

by MacNN Staff