• Platform:   Windows 98 / 2000 / NT / 95
• Media: CD-ROM
• Item Quantity: 1

Nurtured through a number of releases to become a fully functioned mid-price Truespace, it contains elements usually found in software two or three times the price, and some surprising additions which make it well worth the asking price.

With expanded NURBS features, metaballs and real-time UV mapping (to name but three) there's functionality here to cover an almost infinite number of requirements and possibilities and if what you need isn't built into the software, it can be added through the use of a wide variety of third-party plug-ins.

The strongest point in Truespace's favour is its user interface, which manages to be comprehensive and very user-friendly. Eschewing text-based menus in favour of the use of icons gives a fast way of finding your way around the package. With up to four window views at any one time--a welcome addition--and with real-time DirectX and OpenGL rendering, radiosity lighting and real-time 3D surface painting, it's a delight to use.

If there is a criticism of Truespace 5, it's the snapping tools. In theory they're a great idea; in practice, there's no feedback from the system to let the user know that the snapping operation has been successful. This can lead to confusion and more than a little guesswork as to whether the operation has been successful or not.

This niggle aside, Caligari have taken Truespace and transformed it into a real powerhouse package which can give the likes of 3D Studio Max a run for its money.--Chris Russell

Manufacturer's Description
TrueSpace is used widely by 3D artists and animators and has gained industry recognition for advanced capabilities such as hybrid radiosity rendering and direct manipulation user interface.
Now with trueSpace5, we are adding features to satisfy two new markets: Design market and 3D Web content creation.

For the first time, designers intimidated by cumbersome CAD user interfaces and the high prices of existing multimedia 3D tools have access to an affordable and powerful 3D design tool for all stages of the creative process including conceptual design.

With Caligari's newly released iSpace Web delivery platform and ViewPoint and Shockwave 3D output, trueSpace5 also becomes and ideal authoring tool for anyone creating photorealistic 3D content for the Web.

Next Generation Speed

During the design process, trueSpace5 provides real time feedback on virtually all operations through its advanced, direct manipulation user interface. The D3D/OpenGL- based rendering engine coupled with Intel Pentium3 & Pentium4 and AMD 3DNOW! CPU optimization provides real time display of bump maps, multi-textures, procedural textures, environment mapping, as well as hardware accelerated lighting and geometry transforms (T&L).

This enables you to walk through a realistic, radiosity computed architectural environment using a T&L-enabled 3D card in real time, at 30 frames/sec, leaving your CPU free to do other work.