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PolyTrans(tm) - High Quality Data Translation Software
(Okino WEB Site: http://www.okino.com)
(Okino Phone Number: 1-905-672-9328)
Please download the latest incremental update of the PolyTrans
software from the Okino WEB site at http://www.okino.com/conv/conv.htm.
Introducing PolyTrans(tm), the most powerful 3d model converter of its kind!
PolyTrans is a new and powerful 3d model converter from Okino Computer
Graphics which allows accurate and exact-to-spec conversions between the
most popular industry standard 3d model formats. These include Alias Triangle,
Autodesk 3D Studio, AutoCAD DXF (ASCII and binary), IGES, Imagine, Lightwave,
Pro/Engineer, StereoLithography, Strata StudioPro, Renderman RIB,
trueSpace 2.0, USGS DEM, VRML and Wavefront. All are **complete**
implementations of their respective file formats and will convert every
aspect of a file's contents, including its texture mapping coordinates and
mapping parameters. For example, complex texture mapped scenes in Lightwave
format can be exported to 3D Studio format such that 3D Studio will be able
to render the scenes with no modification necessary. Supported platforms are
Windows 3.1/95/NT, DOS, Linux, Silicon Graphics and SUN workstations.
PolyTrans is unique among 3d model converters. Its complex conversion process
allows for polygonal and non-polygonal input data (NURB patches, bicubic
patches, quadrics, meshed polygons and random polygons) to be converted to a
wide variety of output formats. All file information is preserved, including
smoothing (normals), bump mapping (tangents), texture coordinates, vertex
colors and vertex opacity/transparency data, where applicable. This is in
addition to its ability to convert all material information, lights, cameras
and geometry hierarchy.
PolyTrans Is Based On Proven Technology
---------------------------------------
PolyTrans is based on 8 years of proven and robust 3d technology - the program
itself is built on top of Okino's NuGraf Developer's 3D Toolkit which provides
the converter with a vast amount of power for geometry conversion, data
manipulation and database management capabilities.
The main converters of PolyTrans, which are DXF, 3D Studio, Lightwave, IGES
and Wavefront have all been under continual development since 1989 and hence
are rock solid; in addition, these converters are used as the main import/export
modules within our NuGraf Rendering System software (for Windows 95/NT) and
thus we can easily verify the correctness of each converter by rendering the
dataset using NuGraf.
PolyTrans Is Unique
-------------------
PolyTrans is the first converter of its kind to preserve texture mapping
coordinates, smoothing information (vertex normals), bump mapping
information (U/V tangent vectors), vertex opacity/transparency information
and vertex colors. In addition, it is unique in its ability to bidirectionally
input and output NURB patches (Renderman RIB), bicubic patches, quadric
geometry (spheres, cylinders, superquadrics), and complex polygonal meshes.
For example, PolyTrans can import a NURB surface via Renderman RIB and export
an optimized, triangulated polygon mesh to a 3D Studio file with the added
benefit that PolyTrans will break the mesh apart into multiple sub-objects if
the mesh contains more than 64000 polygons, vertices or textures coordinates
(this overcomes a limitation of 3D Studio).
A variety of other export options allow the converters 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 converters always
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).
In general the converters can convert any form of input to any form of output.
"Render Ready" Conversions
--------------------------
Most models converted with PolyTrans are "render ready", meaning that little
or no tweaking of the data is necessary in the target rendering program before
a quality image can be rendered. All lights, cameras, geometry, hierarchy and
materials are converted.
And you thought importing and rendering DEM data was too complicated! Not any
more! This is typical of most of the import converters in PolyTrans --> just
convert and render!
Object/Instancing Capabilities
------------------------------
PolyTrans also takes advantage of the underlying NuGraf toolkit's advanced
geometry database manipulation and storage functions to perform
complex hierarchy and instancing conversions. For example, if an imported DXF
file references a single block 10000 times, then the converter will
store the block geometry within the converter's database as a single "object"
which has 10000 references to it.
Memory Efficient
----------------
A technically advanced feature of PolyTrans is the use of a unique memory
allocation and memory management system. This system, which is used by the
various import and export filters, as well as the internal database manager,
allows huge databases to be converted on machines with minimal memory.
Rather than allocate numerous small chunks of memory, the memory manager
allocates large blocks of memory whose size is determined by the converter;
the DXF and Wavefront import filters, for example, greatly benefit from this
memory manager since hundreds of thousands of small memory elements must be
allocated during the import process.
You will often find that other DXF readers will quickly run out of memory for
files that have no problem being converted with PolyTrans. In addition, the
import converters store all polygon data within the database using a
compressed mesh format which uses various techniques to reduce memory usage
(such as sharing the normal/texture/color/etc index arrays with those of the
vertex index array). All this adds up to an efficient use of memory resources.
Supported Platforms
-------------------
Two user interfaces are available to the PolyTrans converters:
The first is a graphical user interface for Microsoft Windows. This version
uses DLLs (dynamic link libraries) for each converter as well as providing
online help for each module.
The second is a command line interface used by the DOS and UNIX versions
(Silicon Graphics and SUN). The command line interface is very simple to use,
but it can also provide access to every converter option (and more so) through
numerous switches and settings (which are all defaulted in a setup.ini script
file).
Both versions use the exact same core code and run identically on all platforms.
Windows 3.1/95/NT system requirements:
- IBM compatible 386/486/Pentium PC
- Win32s extensions for Windows 3.1 and 3.11 (click here).
- 4Mb memory minimum; 8Mb recommended (a swap file may be necessary).
- 4Mb free hard disk space
Silicon Graphics system requirements:
- IRIX 5 or greater.
SUN Workstation system requirements:
- SUN O/S 4.2 or Solaris.
For More Information:
--------------------
- Please visit the Okino Computer Graphics WEB site at
http://www.okino.com
- Or, call Okino Computer Graphics direct at 1-905-672-9328
=============================================================================
PolyTrans Press Release
=============================================================================
Editorial Contact:
Robert Lansdale
Okino Computer Graphics
T: (905) 672 9328
F: (905) 672 2706
Internet: lansd@okino.com
Okino Computer Graphics Ships Versatile 3D Model Translation
and Viewing Tool for Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 95/NT/3.1,
DEC Alpha, DOS and UNIX.
PolyTrans Model Translator Offers Precise,
Cross Platform, 3D Model Translation.
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, DEC Alpha (Windows NT), DOS and
UNIX (SGI & SUN). 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 and PIXAR's Renderman 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
The suggested U.S. domestic retail price of PolyTrans for each supported
version is:
* $350 (U.S.D), Microsoft Windows 3.1/95/NT and DOS.
* $495 (U.S.D), SUN & SGI (UNIX).
* $149 (U.S.D), VRML export-only version for Microsoft Windows
3.1/95/NT.
Dealers and resellers may sell for less. 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
* Intel and Microsoft Windows:
PolyTrans operates efficiently with 486- or Pentium(r)-based computers
equipped with Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95,
Windows NT 3.51 or higher, 16MB of RAM, a SVGA video card, and a hard
disk with 12Mb of available space. 3D hardware accelerators are
supported, but are not required.
* DEC Alpha and Microsoft Windows:
Windows NT and at least 16Mb of memory.
* SUN Workstations:
PolyTrans operates as a command line utility under IRIX 5.2 or greater.
* Silicon Graphic Workstations:
PolyTrans operates as a command line utility under either SUN OS 4.2
(or greater) or the Solaris operating system.
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