Eovia is shipping Amapi Designer 7, a rewritten version of the 3D modeler that adds new real-time 3D display engines, a customizable interface, enhanced support of 3D file formats and unlimited dynamic geometry. Amapi Designer 7 is compatible with Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.x.
Amapi Designer offers a palette of 3D tools for the conception, modeling and assembly of complex 3D objects and scenes and offers optimized support for the latest OpenGL extensions. Version 7 integrates native file support for Carrara Studio 2, its companion product for photo-realistic images and animations.
Amapi Designer’s new architecture is now virtually unlimited, thanks to Dynamic Geometry, according to Eovia. The complete construction history can be memorized, even on complex objects. This allows for the dynamic re-editing of all construction parameters, direct manipulation of multiple-extrusion profiles, and even interactive positioning of an object or contour cutout while dynamically previewing the result.
New workspace controls include multi-view windows, control and memory of all selection types, and control and personalization of all preview modes. Amapi Designer 7 includes the notion of object instances, working with “clones,” and reference models. With these features, you can design an object as a “master” and create virtual copies, or clones, that can be placed, sized and oriented as you wish. Modifications of the “master” structure are then dynamically reflected on the clones.
Based on the same concept as Object Instance, the Dynamic Symmetry Modeling lets you build, edit and control any object by mirror copies. Amapi Designer now lets you work directly on any surface plane or on the camera plane, as well as work with normalized objects. Additionally, you can draw using three reference grids, which can then also be used as background images.
The English/International version of Amapi Designer 7 is now shipping at a suggested retail price of US$499. Until the end of the month, Eovia is offering upgrades at a discount — upgrades from Amapi 3D 6 to Amapi Designer 7 are $149 (after March 31, it’s $199); upgrades from Amapi 3D 4 or 5 are $249 (regularly $299); and “sidegrades” from Carrara Studio 1.1 or 2 are $249 ($299).