New Orleans, Louisiana - August 6, 1996 - At SIGGRAPH 96 (Booth # 1027), Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. today released the PolyTrans model translation program for Microsoft Windows, and SGI UNIX. PolyTrans is a precise 3D model translation and interactive viewing tool that allows 3D model and scene data to be imported from external sources, processed, interactively viewed, manipulated and exported to a variety of popular 3D file formats. Using PolyTrans, 3D modeling and animation software users will never again have to spend hours hand-tweaking a translated model since PolyTrans converts every aspect of a 3D model, including all shading parameters, texture mapping coordinates and texture map information. Files translated with PolyTrans are "render ready" allowing them to be loaded into programs such as 3D Studio, Lightwave, trueSpace, PIXAR's Renderman and any VRML 1.0/2.0 browser for immediate photo-realistic rendering.
Unlike most translation programs which only convert basic polygon geometry, hierarchy and some shading information, PolyTrans is unique in its ability to convert every aspect of a 3D model file; this includes all geometry (meshed polygons with recursive holes, NURB and bicubic patches and quadrics), object hierarchy, pivot points, smoothing data (vertex normals), (u,v) texture coordinates, bump mapping information (U/V tangent vectors), lights, cameras and all texture projection methods. In addition, PolyTrans accurately matches the color, shading and texture mapping parameters between the input and output file formats resulting in models that will render faithfully in the target rendering program.
"PolyTrans represents a new standard in 3D model translation and viewing software," said Robert Lansdale, President & CEO of Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. "Having been derived from Okino's photo-realistic 3D rendering software (the NuGraf Rendering System), PolyTrans is able to draw from the power and functionality associated with a complex rendering program for the precise task of 3D data translation. By doing so, PolyTrans can perform such unique translations as importing NURB patches from IGES files and exporting optimized triangle meshes to 3D Studio, translating between all varieties of texture coordinate methods, translating all texture mapping information and scaling parameters, and converting random collections of polygons into optimized polygon meshes. PolyTrans draws on over 8 years of software development performed at Okino Computer Graphics which is reflected in the robustness, functionality and depth of features of the software".
Supported File Formats
PolyTrans supports all of the most popular industry-standard 3D geometry data formats by means of plug-in geometry filters. Supported import formats include 3D Studio, Alias triangle, CAD 3D, DXF, IGES (NURBs and polygons), Imagine, Lightwave, Haines NFF, Pro/Engineer .SLP, StereoLithography, Strata StudioPro v1.75, trueSpace, VistaPro DEM, USGS DEM and Wavefront. All of these import filters are complete implementations of their respective file formats meaning that all of the data necessary to render to a photo-realistic image is extracted from the input data.
Supported export formats include 3D Studio, DXF, OpenGL C code, Lightwave, POV, RIB, Strata StudioPro v1.75, trueSpace v2.0, Wavefront (including material libraries) and VRML v1.0/v2.0. All of these export filters create render-ready scene files, including all texture mapping information, lighting and cameras.
Fully Featured DXF File Reader
The DXF import reader is one of the most fully-featured currently available. It can import R13 binary and ASCII DXF files by block, layer, one layer, entity or color. Polygon processing functions include auto- weld/unify/smooth, the ability to mitre all polyline corners, and the unique feature of being able to convert flat 2D drafting drawings into meshed 3D objects. Other features include a fast "pre-scan" mode to find names in a DXF file, the ability to retain block hierarchy information and the ability to read in camera views. In addition, the DXF file reader can import huge DXF files quickly and efficiently (20Mb DXF files on a 16Mb PC machine is handled with ease).
Interactive Graphical User Interface
The Microsoft Windows version of PolyTrans includes a fully interactive graphical user interface that allows imported models to be viewed, queried and manipulated prior to export. The user interface includes interactive tools which allow geometry to be selected and moved/rotated/scaled, basic primitives to be added to a scene (box, planes, spheres, etc.), lights to be added and/or manipulated, cameras to be added and/or manipulated, and geometry to be processed.
Batch File Translations
A handy feature of PolyTrans is its powerful batch translation facility that allows any of the import file formats to be automatically detected, loaded, processed (as described above) and exported to any of the export file formats.
Automatic Geometry Processing
A variety of file export options allow the translators to automatically triangulate the output data, cut holes out of meshes (when necessary) and tear apart the input data according to material assignment or grouping (used by the RIB and Wavefront export modules). In addition, the translators output optimized polygon meshes wherever possible, regardless of the form or structure of the input polygon data (arbitrary polygon input data is always welded, optimized and any redundant polygon coordinates removed before being output).
Bitmap Image Conversion
PolyTrans includes the ability to convert between a variety of 2D bitmap file formats that are supported by the import and export 3D file translators. Supported bitmap file formats include BMP, CEL, FLIC, GIF, IFF, JPEG, Targa, TIFF and the Windows clipboard formats (with bit depths ranging from 1-bit up to 32-bits with alpha channel).
PolyTrans is Memory and Speed Efficient
PolyTrans has been specifically designed to import, optimize and export large polygon datasets with very low memory usage and with no resulting performance degradation. As a typical example, a 5Mb DXF file can be imported into PolyTrans within 9 seconds, optimized and split-by-layer within another 50 seconds, then have the data exported to the Wavefront format in another 20 seconds (for a 133Mhz Pentium).
Key Benefits to VRML Data Users
For VRML users, the VRML export filter creates optimized polygon meshes for efficient realtime rendering, segments the polygon meshes for proper material and texture assignment, allows URL addresses to be prepended to texture filenames, and allows a variety of image file types to be embedded within a VRML v1.0 or v2.0 scene file, including .cel, .bmp, .iff, .flic, .gif, .jpg, .tga and .tif.
Available Through VARs
PolyTrans is available through a growing number of Value Added Resellers (VARs) in the data translation, CAD and multimedia markets. The product is also available directly from Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. A fully functional demonstration version (with minor limitations) is available through Okino's Internet WEB site at http://www.okino.com.
Product Pricing
To locate an authorized VAR or for customer inquiries, please contact Okino Computer Graphics at (905) 672-9328 or toll free at (888) 3D-OKINO (1-888-336-5466).
System Requirements
Company Background
Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Okino Computer Graphics specializes in the development of 3D photo-realistic rendering, visualization and model translation technology. This technology is currently used within Okino's PolyTrans model translation program, within its NuGraf Rendering System end-user consumer product and within its NuGraf Developer's 3D Toolkit product for developers, software publishers and OEM vendors. For more information on Okino Computer Graphics, please call 905-672-9328 or login with a World Wide Web browser at http://www.okino.com.
Documents Available Electronically
Attention editors. This document, as well as screen snapshots and related documents for the Press (in Word for Windows format) can be obtained electronically by visiting http://www.okino.com/press/magpics.htm
PolyTrans and Okino are trademarks and NuGraf is a registered trademark of Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. Autodesk and 3D Studio are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Editorial Contact:
Robert Lansdale
Okino Computer Graphics
T: (905) 672 9328
F: (905) 672 2706
Email: lansd@okino.com
WEB: http://www.okino.com