Okino Computer Graphics Releases Updated Solid Edge and SolidWorks Importers for Their PolyTrans & NuGraf Products

Convert Solid Edge and SolidWorks 3D Parts + Assemblies to Dozens of Major 3D File Formats Without a Resident copy of Solid Edge or SolidWorks.

TORONTO, Canada - August 20, 2001 - Okino Computer Graphics today released the second major revision of its Solid Edge and SolidWorks import converter modules. This revision to Okino's selection of core data translators allows object, assembly (hierarchy) and material data to be transferred from native Solid Edge or SolidWorks part + assembly files into Okino's NuGraf or PolyTrans software (for subsequent re-export or rendering), Discreet's 3DS MAX or Alias|Wavefront's Maya. This major revision will open such native files without a resident copy of Solid Edge or SolidWorks; this complements the prior release which allowed parts & assemblies to be opened via the "OLE D&M Interface" pipeline from a running copy of Solid Edge or SolidWorks.

This major revision has multiple benefits. For those that do not own a copy of either Solid Edge or SolidWorks they will now be able to accept these respective CAD data files from their clients in native format for subsequent importing into their favorite 3D rendering, modeling or animation packages via Okino's PolyTrans/NuGraf packages, or for rendering/manipulation/conversion in Okino's NuGraf package. For those users who already have a resident copy of Solid Edge or SolidWorks, the new revision will provide another robust conversion path of 3D part and assembly data out of these packages into other 3D programs.

No longer are users entirely dependent upon Solid Edge or SolidWorks for 3D rendering, animation or data translation; rather, assemblies can now easily be exported through these converter modules to Okino's powerful NuGraf renderer for the creation of photo-realistic imagery. Or, the assemblies can be re-exported from NuGraf or PolyTrans to a wide range of industry standard 3D scene and animation file formats not previously available to Solid Edge or SolidWorks users, such as 3DS MAX (via native plug-ins in MAX), Alias|Wavefront Maya (via native plug-ins in Maya/NT), Lightwave, SoftImage, OpenFlight, Renderman RIB, trueSpace and many others. Note that the translation process is uni-directional as it converts solids from Solid Edge or SolidWorks into polygons for the destination format.

"In January 2000 we released our unique Solid Edge and SolidWorks import converters based on the OLE D&M Interface system," said Robert Lansdale, President & CEO of Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. "These proved to be a popular addition to our core translation and rendering software. However, the OLE D&M Interface, as powerful as it is, requires a resident copy of Solid Edge or SolidWorks to function. In the interim we have augmented these existing importers with support for native files, thus allowing raw files to be opened directly. Now, for example, the art department of an engineering company can receive the raw Solid Edge or SolidWorks files from their CAD department for layout, no longer requiring intermediate file format conversion or the need to acquire one of these 3D CAD packages for the art department."

Okino's "NuGraf Rendering System" and "PolyTrans" Software, An Overview

Okino's stand-alone "PolyTrans Model/Scene/NURBS/Animation Translator" for Windows and SGI IRIX was released in August 1996 and has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed and respected 3D geometry translators. 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 (tangent vectors), lights, cameras, all texture projection methods and animation. 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.

Okino's NuGraf Rendering System is the elder sibling of PolyTrans that includes, in addition to everything in PolyTrans, high-end scanline and multi-threaded ray tracing (for product and CAD visualization), material editing, bitmap and procedural texture mapping, texture projection methods, extended user interface and text creation. NuGraf has received the "IEEE Technical Excellence Award" from IEEE CG&A Magazine and the "Golden Pixie" award. It is intuitive for beginners, deep and rich with features for experts.

Okino software is used world wide by thousands of professionals, covering such varied groups as engineering, manufacturing, government, defense related, production studios, digital effects houses, animation studios, 3D content developers and most major 3D game development companies. An interesting list of notable users can be viewed online at http://www.okino.com/conv/users.htm.

Industry Standard Export File Formats

The revised importers allow Solid Edge and SolidWorks data to be exported to virtually any 3D modeling, animation, rendering, CAD, landscape (DEM) or design package. Supported export formats include Alias|Wavefront Maya (a copy of Maya is required), 3D Studio MAX (a copy of 3DS MAX is required), 3D Studio r4, Alias PolySet, Apple 3DMF (Quickdraw-3D), Cinema-4D, DirectX, DXF, Electric Image FACT, Fractal's Detailer, GameExchange-II, Imagine, Lightscape, Lightwave 5.6 & 6.5, OpenGL C Code, OpenFlight, POV 2.0/3.0, Pro/Engineer .SLP, Renderman RIB, Renderware, Shockwave-3D, SoftImage .hrc models and scene databases, StereoLithography .STL, Strata StudioPro, trueSpace, USGS DEM, Viewpoint VET, Vistapro, VRML 1.0/2.0, Wavefront and XGL. The converters have been developed by Okino Computer Graphics over a period of 13 years and are complete implementations of their respective file formats.

Major Benefits to Solid Edge and SolidWorks Users

Some of the major benefits Solid Edge and SolidWorks users will gain from using this revised translators include:

• The ability to quickly transfer assembly data into Okinos' NuGraf Rendering System product for interactive scene manipulation, real-time OpenGL shaded views and object manipulation, complex material assignment, 2D bitmap and 3D procedural texture assignment, and rendering by Okino's stable, proven and fast scanline or multi-threaded ray tracing renderers. Once inside NuGraf (or PolyTrans), the data can be easily re-exported to any of the supported Okino 3D file formats.
• Access to a wide selection of proven and dependable export file formats (such as 3D Studio, Maya, SoftImage, Lightwave), allowing data to be transferred quickly and cleanly to most major 3D packages.
• Direct import of Solid Edge or SolidWorks data into a running copy of 3DS MAX. MAX users only have to perform a "File/Import/Solid Edge" command to access the data in the running copy of Solid Edge. Likewise for users of Alias|Wavefront's Maya software package for Windows NT. �

Applicable WEB pages

The following are pertinent pages on the Okino WEB site relating to this press release:

http://www.okino.com/nrs/nrs.htm  = NuGraf home page

http://www.okino.com/conv/conv.htm  = PolyTrans home page

http://www.okino.com/conv/filefrmt.htm  = Supported file formats

http://www.okino.com/conv/imp_se.htm  = Solid Edge import module overview

http://www.okino.com/conv/imp_sw.htm  = SolidWorks import module overview

http://www.okino.com/conv/users.htm  = List of notable users

http://www.okino.com/testimon.htm  = Customer testimonials and product reviews

http://www.okino.com/press/releases.htm  = Recent Okino press releases

Available Through VARs

The revised Solid Edge and SolidWorks importer modules, as well as all other Okino products, are available directly from Okino Computer Graphics and through a growing number of Value Added Resellers (VARs) in the design, CAD and multimedia markets. Fully functional demonstration versions (with minor limitations) of the software are available through Okino's Internet WEB site.

Upgrades and Product Pricing

The updated Solid Edge and SolidWorks importers are free to any Okino PolyTrans or NuGraf user who has a valid IGES-SolidWorks-SolidEdge serial number. Please send your product serial number to [email protected]  to receive upgrade instructions.

The Solid Edge module is sold as an optional add-on component together (as one bundle) with Okino's SolidWorks import module and the existing IGES import converter.

System Requirements

The Solid Edge import module requires Solid Edge v8 or newer, while the SolidWorks import module requires SolidWorks 2000 or newer. Both operate efficiently with Pentium�-based computers equipped with Windows 98/95/Me or Windows 2000/NT or higher. The module must be purchased along with a copy of Okino's PolyTrans or NuGraf software in order to operate.

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 NuGraf Rendering System product, its PolyTrans data translation program (and byproducts) and its NuGraf Developer's 3D Toolkit. 

http://www.okino.com.

 

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