Electric Rain - Swift 3D New Features

Upgrade Features at a Glance

Features New to Swift 3D Version 6

What was new in v5 and earlier?

3D Boolean Operations
Expand your modeling possibilities. Boolean operations allow you to combine or punch holes through objects using other 3D objects in your scene. It's all non-destructive, allowing easy editing and unlimited possibilities!

5X Faster Raster Rendering Speed
Your time is valuable, and our engineers have been hard at work trying to figure out new ways to speed up our system so you're more productive. The result is a new rendering algorithm for our ray tracer that will render raster 3D images up to 5x faster.

Advanced Texture Mapper
Mapping complex textures to your 3D models just got a lot easier. By converting a viewport into a 2D representation of your model with the bitmap texture shown in the background, this new interface allows for very precise control over how your bitmap texture gets applied to your models,

Clones and Arrays
Save time reproducing many of the same 3D objects. Create a clone of an object so that when one object is changed, all of the clones change in the same manner. The secondary step is an array feature that distributes the cloned objects along defined axis with adjustable positioning.

Background Image Tracing
Easily create 3D objects within the Extrusion and Lathe Editors by tracing a bitmap image in the background. You have full control of the position and transparency level of the background image for detailed tracing.

Papervision3D 2.0 and Collada Format Support
Is Papervision3D too complex for you? Let Swift 3D v6 do the work for you by creating the PV3D project for you. Swift 3D v6 now exports to the latest Papervision3D v2.0 spec and Collada .dae format, while automatically creating the full Papervision project for you in one simple export.

Bump Map Textures for More Realism
Bump mapping is a technique to make a rendered surface look more realistic by modeling the interaction of a bumpy surface texture with lights in the environment. Think topo maps on globe.

Soft Shadow Support
Now you can add that extra photo realism to your raster scenes by rendering soft shadows from area lights. Just adjust how big / small your light is, and the soft shadow adjusts accordingly.

Extrusion & Lathe Multi-Path Support
Now you can draw multiple unique paths in the Extrusion and Lathe editors, providing separate in-context multiple 3D object creation. Just another way Swift 3D gives you simple yet powerful modeling tools.

Multiple Processor Rendering Support
Swift 3D can exploit all of the processors available on your system and can make the work simultaneously on the same raster render to provide faster renders.

For example, on a multiprocessing platform with 4 processors a user can expect up to a fourfold increase in render performance/speed.

Cross Platform Serial Numbers
Do you have a Windows PC and a Macintosh? Your Swift 3D v6 serial number is now universal and will work on either platform, giving you the freedom to use Swift 3D on both platforms without the hassle of contacting us for an additional serial number or being forced to switch platforms.

UX Improvements
We've expanded user preference configuration to specify viewport layout and background color, and added more Camera control allowing you to now Pan and Zoom free cameras, and Rotate and Zoom target cameras.

Features New to Swift 3D Version 5

Papervision3D Export
Swift 3D now exports to the popular Papervision3D format and automatically generates all of the actionscripting required for rotation and zooming mouse interactions in Flash. You don't have to write a line of code...unless you want to.
Learn more >>

Import and Render Transparent Textures
Create bitmap materials with transparency and Swift 3D will respect that transparency when rendering. Transparent textures also work with the Papervision3D and 3DS export. Swift 3D also renders refraction based on your settings.

Orthographic Views
Makes modeling a snap. Orthographic views take away the camera perspective that makes the task of lining up objects difficult. Quickly and easily toggle in and out of Orthographic View mode to improve the modeling workflow.

Mesh Morphing Animations
Swift 3D V5 allows you to morph the underlying 3D mesh of your objects. Morph Targets act as starting, ending, and interim points for changes in shape to your 3D objects, allowing you to easily create these mesh transformations.

Enhanced User Interface
After more than five years, it was time to give Swift 3D the facelift it deserved. The sleek new interface not only looks great, but is more functional and includes many of the usability enhancements our customers have requested throughout the years.

Keyframe Easing
New easing controls work with the keyframes in your animation timeline to smooth out position, rotation, and scaling transitions.

Per Object Fill Rendering
Now, with a single pass of the RAViX 4 rendering engine, you can output as many different looks and styles as you want on each object in your 3D scene. Styles applied to objects in the Scene Editor override the settings used in the Preview and Export Editor.

Extrusion / Lathe Free Transform
Sometimes it’s the little things that make big impacts on workflow and efficiency. A 2D drawing editor isn’t complete without the ability to free transform the shapes. Swift 3D V5 provides the missing tool from previous versions and improves workflow in both the extrusion and lathe editing environments.

Built-in Optimization
Our RAViX vector rendering technology has always produced clean and compact Flash files. Swift 3D Version 5 adds a user-controlled post-render process utilizing slider controls that allow you to further reduce file sizes by 50% or more!

Drag / Drop Animation Visuals
Sometimes an animation name just isn’t good enough. Our new drag and drop animation visuals give you an at-a-glance view of pre-defined animation paths and rotations. A mouse click on the preview presents an example of the animation to be applied.

Viewport Consistency
Swift 3D’s Scene Editor now features a 4-viewport layout, making modeling and animation within this environment even easier. This, along with improvements in object selection and standardization of sizing between editing environments give a much improved experience when working between editing environments.

Per Object Line Options
As with the addition of Per Object Fill Options, you can now apply individual line styles and colors to individual objects within your 3D scene.

Undo Restructuring
One epic improvement to Swift 3D that you won’t even know is there until you need it is a completely revamped undo system. Version 5 now provides unlimited undo operations across editing environments to help get you back to your happy place.

HTML /w SWF Export
Swift 3D V5 provides a new output option that embeds your SWF into an HTML page. It’s a quick and easy way to get your work onto the web without the use of other HTML editors.

.3ds Export
Swift 3D now allows you to export your 3D models and scenes to the .3ds format for use in other 3D programs that support this industry standard file format. All materials, lighting, and animation are exported. This new functionality also allows tight integration with Adobe Photoshop CS Extended. Learn more about this combination here.

Export to XAML for WPF and Silverlight
Swift 3D Exports frame-by-frame animation in XAML format, which is the language the Silverlight Player understands. These XAML files can also be used in Microsoft Expression Blend, as a design element of a larger Silverlight Project. Learn more about Swift 3D and Silverlight integration.

Features New to Swift 3D Version 4.5

What was introduced in v4.0?

FLV Video Export (Flash Video)
Export your Swift 3D animations to the Flash Video .FLV format for import to Flash or direct playback through the Macromedia Flash Player.

Quicktime and AVI Video Export
Swift 3D 4.5 exports to AVI and Quicktime video formats, making it an essential tool for ALL of your motion design projects. From simple 3D video titling to advanced 3D video animations, Swift 3D broadens your design possibilities at an affordable price.

Render Vector Style Animations to Video
Swift 3D is the industry-leader when it comes to 3D vector graphic rendering. Version 4.5 takes you beyond standard 3D program offerings and allows you to export any vector-style animation to FLV, AVI, or Quicktime video formats!

Pen Style Outlines
Introducing customizable pen styles that apply variable pen-width strokes to your 3D objects, giving them true cartoon styling. Choose your pen shape, angle and aspect and let our RAViX 4 vector rendering engine output an optimized cartoon animation or vector image that will remind you of your Saturday morning cartoon favorites.

Render Speeds up to 50 Times Faster!
Swift 3D v4.5 utilizes our latest RAViX 4 technology with vastly improved render speeds. These speed increases are particularly noticeable in low-polygon models and simple animations that use basic fill styles, where our benchmark testing showed increases of more than 50 times faster than Version 4. Note: Speed increases vary with scene complexity.

Shadow Density and Color Controls
The answer to one of our most requested user features! Easily control vector shadow density using a built in slider in the main render dialog. You can even choose the color of your rendered shadows to help produce the look you are after.

Save and Load User-Defined Render Styles
This convenient, time-saving feature allows users to save and load render styles. Choose the Save Settings option and name the render profile to be saved. The next time you want to use that style, simply load the settings and you’re ready to render within seconds. No more messing around with trying to duplicate previous styles!

Enhancements to Vector Transparency Rendering Transparent objects are now rendered with outlines, and a new Hidden Transparent Edges option allows you to render edges that would normally be obscured by the object. These edges are outlined in a softer manner than the edges exposed to the camera, giving your vector renderings a more realistic and finished look.

Level 3 Support for EPS files
For designers that use Swift 3D v4.5 to output vector files for use in Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, or other 2D vector drawing programs, Swift 3D now exports vector gradient shading styles (Area Shading and Mesh Shading) and shadows to the EPS file format for import into supporting programs.

Outlines at Intersections
When an outline style is chosen and this option is selected in the main render dialog, an outline will appear along the point where two objects intersect. Turn it off and Swift 3D renders an outline only around the silhouette of the intersecting objects.

Enhanced SVG Output
Swift 3D v4.5 now renders Area Shading, Mesh Shading, Shadows, Reflections and Specular Highlights to the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) file format.

Features New to Swift 3D Version 4


		Advanced 3D Modeling Environment Suddenly your 3D possibilities are endless. With Swift 3D v4's new polygonal modeling environment you can create just about anything imaginable, or refine the objects and models you already have.

		Improved Controls for Precise Mapping of Textures Give your 3D models photo-realistic standout appeal with Swift 3D v4's enhanced bitmap texturing controls. You now have complete control over the application, manipulation and placement of bitmap materials on your 3D objects.

		Animation Path Tools Produce Flawless Animations You're in the drivers seat with Swift 3D's new bezier path animation controls. Easily steer 3D objects, lights and cameras along the precise and perfectly smooth path you've defined in your scene. Animation doesn't get easier than this!

		Enhanced Extrusion and Lathe Editing Tools Swift 3D's popular Extrusion and Lathe editors have been improved to include functionality for copying, pasting and scaling in the Extrusion Editor, and copying and pasting from the Extrusion Editor into the Lathe Editor. This new functionality improves workflow and reduces the time required to turn your 2D design concepts into 3D reality.

		Hierarchy Control Over Cameras and Lights The new Swift 3D v4 camera and light hierarchy additions will allow you to make those cool "camera tailing an object" animations in a snap. Simply make your camera a child of any object and the camera will follow it along its animation path.

		Import 3ds Files with Bitmap Textures Import a 3ds file with bitmap textures and Swift 3D will now effortlessly attach the textures associated to the object in their respective UV coordinates. This is a great feature for those of you with 3ds files where texture mapping is imperative to maintaining the models appearance.

		Apply Smoothing & Rounding to Defined Surfaces Looking to make an objects surface a little smoother or rounder? The Swift 3D v4 advanced modeling environment will facilitate in helping you create organic shapes by providing you with tools to choose specific areas of an object to smooth or round.

		Specify Surfaces to Apply Textures and Bitmaps Who hasn't wanted to make a cube with different textures on each side? Now you can easily apply materials and textures to defined regions of objects with our new advanced modeler and texturing tools.

		Choose Surface Areas for Rendered Lines to be Drawn Here a line, there a line, but no line over there. Yes, now you can define the areas of your objects where you want rendered lines to be drawn by simply specifying surface groups on your objects in the advanced modeler.

		Numeric Rotation Controls and Visual Trackball Axis Cues Precise control over object rotation and the ability to constrain rotation along an axis makes it easy to line up those objects in 3D space or fine tune your animation. We've also added an axis indicator in Swift 3D's trackball system to help keep you visually oriented.

		Drag and Drop 3D Model Gallery Get a jump-start on your 3D scenes! Save any 3D object or entire models to the 3D Model Gallery. When you're ready to use a model from the Gallery, simply drag-and-drop it into your 3D scene.

		Lighting Gallery with Professional Lighting Schemes Set the perfect mood for your animation by simply dragging one of the professionally designed lighting schemes into your scene, or store your own lighting schemes for future use.

		Extrusion & Lathe Galleries Speed Up Your Workflow Save time in your 3D modeling and animation endeavors by using popular shapes from the Swift 3D v4 Extrusion and Lathe galleries, or store your own commonly used 2D shapes, such as logos, in the gallery for future use.

		Animation Gallery now with Fly-bys, Deformations & Paths Simply drag your desired spin, fly-by, deformation and path animation from the animation gallery onto your object and you are good to go. Also, store any animation you create in the Animation Gallery for future use.

		Bevels in a Snap: New Bevel Gallery Speed up your Bevel applications by simply dragging-and-dropping your preferred bevel type onto an extruded object or text. The Bevel Gallery includes five common bevel types to choose from.

		Save your Creations to Galleries In an effort to speed up your 3D animation creation process we have added functionality to save your frequently used materials, models, animations and lights directly to your gallery for future use. Imagine the time savings of just dragging and dropping your favorite elements into your 3D creations.

		Web Assistant for Instant Access to Swift 3D Resources Swift 3D resources and customer information areas are now only a click away with the new web assistant tab located within the Swift 3D v4 interface.

		Viewport Hardware Acceleration & Viewing Options Swift 3D v4 made serious headway in viewport options and speed. Now with the introduction to pure Open GL viewports you can view textured objects and choose from a variety of different viewing options. Furthermore, Swift 3D v4 includes hardware acceleration for faster viewport rendering.