Okino Computer Graphics Releases its Highly-Sought "VRML2" Import Converter

Toronto, Ontario � January 22 2002 -- After 2 full years of refined internal development, and over 1.5 years of customer field testing, Okino is openly releasing its workhorse VRML2 import converter for its popular PolyTrans 3D data translation product and NuGraf Rendering System software. It is one of the most intently developed and internally/customer tested converters from Okino. First requested in 1997, it has been one of the most actively sought import converters from Okino, and since its first release it is by far one of the most requested import converters on a daily basis from Okino tech support.

With this press release we would like to make an open statement to the 3D industry to help raise the stature of the VRML2 file format for cross application data translation, and not just as a generic, somewhat underrated 3D WEB streaming file format. With the final development of the VRML2 import converter Okino was very surprised to find that it quickly became our main "workhorse" problem solving import converter. As much as Okino software supports most 3D file formats, there are a number of existing 3D packages which support few, none or minimally featured 3D file formats for data export exchange; this has been particularly true in the CAD world where the standard formats tend to be DXF, IGES and STEP which only output geometry and no material or texture information. However, over the last few years many 3D multi-media and modeling packages, including expensive solid modeling programs, have had very good VRML2 export converters written for them even though company policy may not have focused on exporting to other major 3D file formats. While these exporters were written to export geometry, hierarchy, materials, textures, lights and cameras for WEB viewing, they can also ultimately be used as a high quality "back door" to their software packages for 3D data exchange. Thus, Okino has been very happy to find that VRML2 is an ideal conversion route, and "workhorse" solution, for converting data from various 3D software packages which have a strong VRML2 export facility.

As such, Okino has been openly promoting the VRML2 file format as an ideal 3D data translation conversion route, in particular from the CAD community. We find that many customers have the incorrect notion that VRML2 is a simple file format to be used for WEB viewing only, but in fact we find that VRML2 is an excellent verbose file format, with complete support for meshes, hierarchy, vertex attributes (normals, uv texture coordinates and vertex colors), materials, embedded or referenced texture maps, lights, cameras and object + camera animation, all of which the Okino VRML2 import converter (as well as export converter) supports.

The VRML2 file format has also been selected as the level 1 and level 2 implementations for the new XML-based "X3D" file format, prolonging its life span well into the future. Thus, as the X3D file format is standardized and propagated, Okino's current VRML2 import converter will be able to read X3D files through a front-end XML to binary conversion interface (as the X3D initiative expects to occur for backwards compatibility with existing VRML2 converters and viewers). More information about the X3D file format and initiative can be found at www.web3d.org.

The following are some of the major features of the VRML2 import converter:

A more extensive technical description of the Okino VRML2 import/export converters can be found here:

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 the most important aspects of a 3D model file; this includes all geometry (meshed polygons, NURBS and quadrics), object hierarchy, pivot points, smoothing data (vertex normals), vertex colors, (u,v) texture coordinates, lights, cameras, 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 received the "IEEE Technical Excellence Award" from IEEE CG&A Magazine and recently 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.

Through years of research, development and refinement, PolyTrans has come to include the industry-leading major feature of animation conversion. Simply put, animation conversion is a hard problem! To convert between the different mathematics used by each major 3D animation package, and their different methods of internally representing 3D animated objects, Okino Computer Graphics has developed a unique "animation conversion engine". This engine allows raw animation data to be imported from the most popular 3D animation programs, accurately played back in real-time, resampled to alternate forms of animation mathematical representation and exported to other 3D animation file formats. Note that PolyTrans converts function curve based animation; it does not convert procedural or Inverse Kinematics (IK) animation data.

As shown in the right diagram, the internal "engine" stores the raw imported animation data as a series of hierarchical "channels" (such as X/Y/Z translation), each of which has a "controller" which simulates the most popular animation interpolation methods (Bezier, TCB, etc.), and to each controller a series of keyframes representing the animation curve over time. This ensures accurate retention of the imported animation data.

A vital aspect of accurate animation conversion is the "keyframe resampling & reduction" algorithm of PolyTrans; as shown below, this algorithm allows incompatible animation methods to be converted with tolerance-based accuracy. The example below shows how X/Y/Z Euler rotations (from Lightwave or Maya) are converted into the mathematically different Quaternion rotation method (used by DirectX and 3DS MAX, for example).

The NuGraf Rendering System and PolyTrans 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 at http://www.okino.com.

For 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).

www.okino.com.