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> All,
>
> My customer has asked me to review various tools and technologies for
> use with interactive 3D modeling. When I did a search for VRML, most
> of the links were dead, which left me with the impression that this
> standard is largely not used. Is this the case? Also, what are some
> current tools/plugins used for creating/viewing VRML? Any help you
> provide is greatly appreciated.
>
> VandyCan, PMP

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> The future of vrml is called x3d its an xml-version of vrml and maybe
> a little bit more.
>
> http://www.web3d.org <--- more about vrml and x3d
>
> Vrml is in every respect extremly limited. And I doubt that vrml(x3d)
> is widely used. But also I don`t see any alternative (exept
> shockwave3d or a gameengine). You only could go to Opengl and directx
> for more power.
>
> Today every major 3D-modelling software can export to vrml (incluing
> viewpoints, animation, interaction). I know Maya nad 3dsMax are doing
> quite a good job there. Also there is a software called cosmo Worlds
> wich is wysiwyg-editor for vrml from SGI. A plain texteditor for vrml
> with syntaxhighlighting and a lot of other helpful features is called
> vrmlpad made by Parralell Graphics. For viewing vrml-scenes in a
> broswer the cortona vrml-plugin made by the same company is a good
> choice.
>
> vandycan@hotmail.com (vandycan) wrote in message

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> Vrml is in every respect extremly limited. And I doubt that vrml(x3d)

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> Also there is a software called cosmo Worlds
> wich is wysiwyg-editor for vrml from SGI.

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quote:

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> All,
>
> My customer has asked me to review various tools and technologies for
> use with interactive 3D modeling. When I did a search for VRML, most
> of the links were dead, which left me with the impression that this
> standard is largely not used. Is this the case? Also, what are some
> current tools/plugins used for creating/viewing VRML? Any help you
> provide is greatly appreciated.
>
> VandyCan, PMP

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>
> Not in every respect.
> If you compare, how much tools are avaiable, that can help a "normal"
> computer user creating 3D content, the possibilities of VRML97 are
> any other than limited. This is the consequence of the fact that
> VRML97 is a widespread and wellknown (ISO) standard.
>
> Only from a programmers view the limits get important, cause the "normal"
> computer user simply can not create a comparable OpenGL, DirectX, java3D etc.
> Programm.
>
> And VRML97 is a bit more than just content, cause there is a scripting
> interface, that usally supports java or javascript.
>
>
> There is also a portable opensource wysiwyg-VRML97 editor in development:
> http://www.csv.ica.uni-stuttgart.de/vrml/dune/
> There are also opensource libraries and browsers like OpenVRML, xj3D or
> FreeWRL, that can be the basis of further lowlevel (e.g. OpenGL or java3D)
> development.
>
>
> The people around me use (beside 3D Studio Max) Cinema 4D, blender and maja
> for creation. But using popular movie creation tools without care can easily
> lead to the 3 deadly sins of realtime 3D:
>
> - too much polygons
> - too thin walls
> - too much lights
>
> The best choice for starting with creating VRML content are 3D Modellers
> with "low polygon modelling" abilities like wings3D, Art of Illusion,
> ac3d, formZ, rhino 3D etc.
> Jokers say "low polygon modellers are simply too slow for creating
> polygon monster models" 8-) but the abilities of a typical
> "low polygon modeller" include:
>
> - tools with control over every vertex, faceset,
> - any exported polygon is shown while working
> - a "smooth" view, that hide edges via normals
> - a mesh reducing method, e.g. via NURBS, see "tesselation" at
> http://www.csv.ica.uni-stuttgart.de...tml#nurbsbasics)
>
> Be aware, that some CAD/CAM tools understand VRML as a
> "ISO Standard fileformat to describe surfaces in 3D space". It is difficult
> to avoid getting VRML polygon monsters from such tools...
>
> If you can translate german language, the following URL may be useful for you:
> http://www.csv.ica.uni-stuttgart.de...ag/suenden.html
>
> so long
> MUFTI

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[QUOTE][color=darkred]
> When broadband really takes off,vrml could become more popular. Even
> with hi polygon models and bloated code, those verboten things won't
> be as bad as they were in the past

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