pages | 1 | 2 |

Visual Quality and Rendering

We noticed small screen artifacts in a few views, such as the red-orange marks in this wardrobe piece in this view. (see image 11) Overall we wished rendered visual performance was quicker on our dual processor G5-based Power Mac workstation but the program is likely more finely tuned for Intel-based Macs -- which at this point are faster than late model G5-based Mac computers.

Generally rendering quality was pleasing and users will have to tune their setups for best performance versus best visual quality. Very unusual for a program at this price level, the manual includes a technical discussion about lighting techniques and Tessellation, and describes the differences between per-vertex and per-pixel lighting technology. Not all Macs will include graphics cards that support per-pixel hardware-accelerated lighting (like older Macs or lower range models) and if your Mac doesn't support it, this option is grayed out in the preferences panel. (see image 12)

12 - To optimize rendering quality and speed for your individual computer there are options in the Preferences palette, including the use of Tessellation.	13 - The Project Tree palette shows every object in your model, which can be turned on in terms of visibility or locked in position so it can no longer be edited.

Summary Comments

For a version 1 program Live Interior 3D is quite excellent. However there are several items that were frustrating. We think the name of an object should appear in the Inspector palette and that this name should be customizable and appear in the Project Tree, a listing of all objects in the project. (see images 13)

Secondly, there can certainly be improvements to the snap points or vertices in laying out walls and things like floors. The program favors ease of use over the amount of customization and control offered in a CAD program but we think they can ratchet up this area while maintaining ease of use. We accidentally deleted our floor in our test model and struggled to get a floor properly put back. We are also bummed that the Google 3D Warehouse integration was not working as described in the manual. Nevertheless, users will have no problem downloading models from the 3D Warehouse site and using them.

14 - A really sweet feature of Live Interior is the ability to make Library objects preview in 3D inside the Library palette prior to being dropped into a model. You can also get the entire model to animate as shown above.	15 - The iPod like 3D navigation tool works very much like navigating in a game on the iPod itself. The controls to the right and left control pitch and height (z-elevation of camera).

Those criticisms above are all understand from a point 1 release view. And there are many excellent and delightful aspects of Live Interior 3D that bear noting. Firstly, we loved the way objects can be previewed in animated 3D view directly inside the Objects panel prior to choosing them for your model. (see image 14) We also love the iPod-like 3d navigation tool and the general interface as a whole. (see image 15) The Look-around and Walk tools are very easy to understand as well. However, if you accidentally turn your model upside down there should be a quick button to set it back to its normal.

Recommendations and Final Comments

When we wrote our review of Microspot Interiors 3.6 last year we made reference to the HGTV crowd and the do-it-yourself design home-improvement phenomena. We also said at the time that Interiors 3.6 was in a class by itself (on the Mac OS X platform). Well that class just got a bit more crowded with BeLight's very good and even more affordable Live Interior 3D.

To be sure the two programs offer distinct capabilities. Live Interior 3D does not offer any means to create or even experience animated QuickTime walk-thru movies other than by holding down the Walk button. And the two take different approaches to model data, with Live Interior 3D striving to leverage the popularity of SketchUp and Google's 3D Warehouse. We normally don't compare programs in a review so we'll continue by noting that the Mac world now has two very good interior-focused applications (not including Home Design Studio which is more comprehensive and also focused on landscape design).

BeLight's freshmen entrant in the Mac 3D design market is an accomplished version 1.x program that Mac users will find both fun, easy to use and informative. It is ideally suited for organizing your house or apartment's interior and like Microspot Interiors -- perhaps even more so -- it is also suitable for children and teens interested in design.--- Anthony Frausto-Robledo, Editor-in-Chief, Published 12 September 2007.

pages | 1 | 2 |