Architosh Staff ([email protected])

19 May 2004

 

Mac 3D and CAD News Round-Up - Part 1

There have been a number of Mac 3D news items recently that we need to bring to the Mac audience's attention. Some items are 3D CAD oriented while others are generalized Mac 3D items of significant note. Let's get started:

Nvidia's Recent Announcements and Apple Graphics Cards

In response to our Nvidia GeForce 6800 launch event news coverage, a reader wrote in with the following comments which we'd like to comment on:

Looks pretty cool, but there's NO guarantee that the 6800 Ultra will EVER be available for the Mac, contrary to OTHER popular nVidia cards getting here. I currently own a GeForce 4 Ti 4600 on my G4/933, But do you think it does FSAA?

No!

All the big talk about what it can do, but it sucks on a Mac. I think the same thing will happen here... Really pretty pictures, but usually what happens is that DirectX 9 (or whatever) has a LOT more libraries to pull from than OpenGL, even though I've been hearing about OpenGL 2.0 for probably a year and a half.

Still missing a whole ton of stuff (sorry, I can't remember all the places I've read things at), so I don't hold out hope for anything anytime soon.

Regards,

---- Jim Chambers

Jim's critical comments are well received and understood, though we think they are a little too skeptical. The new Nvidia GeForce 6800 is fully capable of coming to the Mac market and we expect to see it as an option for future Apple Power Mac G5 systems.

Jim is correct about DirectX support. Many of Nvidia's most modern advancements are often tied to Microsoft's DirectX technology -- an API set focused on the gaming market more than the CAD/DCC markets. FSAA stands for "full-scene anti-aliasing" and is a technology description of what a graphics card can do; it applies to both gaming, rendering and CAD. As for FSAA not happening on the Mac version of the GeForce 4 Ti? We're not sure about that one. Nvidia's site doesn't claim FSAA with the GeForce 4 Ti but it does talk about Accuview Antialiasing.

The whole issue of future workstation grade graphics cards coming to the Mac is also a hot topic with our readers, especially those interested in doing highend engineering CAD on the Mac OS X platform. Such folks are interested in programs like CATIA and ProENGINEER and seek the combination of the graphics and Unix of OS X with highend cards like the Nvidia Quadra line and cards from 3DLabs. Back in September of last year we heard directly from the source that Apple was in discussions with 3DLabs about the possible development of workstation cards.

Back in 2001 when Architosh ran an indepth survey of hundreds of 3D users about the Mac and 3D over 34 percent of respondents said the lack of specific highend graphics cards was holding them back from adopting the Mac OS X platform for their engineering or highend studio work. Additionally, over 50 percent of all respondents wished to see 3DLabs' Wildcat 5110 card come to the Mac platform.

Architosh Analysis: With increasing industry noise suggesting more highend CAD vendors are currently working on secret Mac CAD and engineering products we believe strongly that a workstation grade graphics card for the Mac is finally in the making. It could be on tap for June when Apple is expected to announce new Power Macs.

Amapi Pro 7 for Architosh Readers

Easily one of the most powerful and affordable highend NURBS surface and polygonal modelers is Amapi Pro 7 -- a program that often has been overlooked in the press and largely misunderstood by many Mac users. Eovia is seeking to rectify that reputation by launching a broad campaign focused on the core of the Mac 3D audience: architects, engineers, industrial designers and animators.

Amapi Pro 7 by Eovia has one killer feature that no other application in its class can boast of at this price point: Editable Dynamic Construction History. If you have used a history palette in a graphics application like Adobe's ImageReady or something similar then you know what this means. It means you can go back to a modeling process completed several steps ago and edit a parameter which alters the model without having to redo all of the subsequent steps you have completed after that point in the process. Amapi Pro 7 also host a number of advanced NURBS surfaces capabilities with Gordon Surfaces. With excellent file exchange support running the gamut between 3D standards like OBJ, STL, IGES and VRML, and CAD standards like Autocad DWG, DXF 2D and DXF 3D support (import/export) Amapi Pro 7 is a top contender in 3D on the Mac.

As part of the company's high-profile marketing roll-out Eovia is offering steep discounts on Amapi Pro 7 for Architosh readers.

3D CAD - Interstudio Updates Apps

A longtime Mac developer, Interstudio of Italy has released Domus.Cad 12 for Mac OS X. Other Mac OS X applications from Interstudio include Geo-Tec B, Nonio C, and DomusTerra. All of the programs are distributed in the United States by Cadwaves of Miami, Florida. (www.cadwaves.com - tel - 305-820-4490).

Domus.Cad 12 for Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 features both 2D and integrated 3D capabilities. The program supports multiple screens of the same file (project) enabling you to work in plan and view items in 3D in a different window. You can watch the 3d model data change in real-time as you work in plan view. It supports walkthroughs, flybys, cost/quantity estimates and internal multi-sheet paging with print preview functionality. Additionally Domus.Cad 12 supports Autocad DWG import/export plus file exchange support for DXF, Artlantis, PICT, TIF, GIF, JPEG, PDF and many others.

For a complete list of features visit them online here: www.interstudio.net

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