3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator owners can now use their precious little magic knobs with 3dsMax, thanks to a new driver update that brings intelligent 3D navigation to the Autodesk Classic.
“Our innovative intelligent 3D navigation feature provides a new level of control over the point of interest in 3D designs” said Dieter Neujahr, president of 3Dconnexion. “By automatically establishing and displaying the optimal center of rotation, designers are free to focus more on the creative elements of their designs without having to think about navigating or positioning their model.”
It actually supports 2 different modes of navigation, one that simply navigates about the center of the screen (useful for wide zooms) and another that allows you to assign an arbitrary rotation point.
Full release after the break.
3Dconnexion Brings Intelligent 3D Navigation to Autodesk 3ds Max Artists and Designers
3D Mice Automatically Follow Point of Interest to Bring “Extreme” Design
Control and Interaction to “Extreme” Designs
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (SIGGRAPH, Booth 1147) – July 27, 2010 – 3Dconnexion’s newest driver update for Autodesk® 3ds Max® brings intelligent 3D navigation to the design process, delivering the ultimate level of control to game developers, visual effects artists and graphic designers.
Whether working with larger models or focusing on intricate details in a 3D environment, 3Dconnexion’s intelligent 3D navigation feature automatically follows the point of interest to continuously determine the optimal center of rotation. In addition, the center of rotation can be seen at all times through an icon to give designers a reference point when controlling spin, tilt, and roll motion, resulting in an extremely intuitive 3D navigation experience.
“Our innovative intelligent 3D navigation feature provides a new level of control over the point of interest in 3D designs” said Dieter Neujahr, president of 3Dconnexion. “By automatically establishing and displaying the optimal center of rotation, designers are free to focus more on the creative elements of their designs without having to think about navigating or positioning their model.”
To meet a range of design needs, there are two modes of setting the center of rotation. The new Auto Rotation Center sets the center of rotation to a point on the model that is nearest to the display screen center, which is particularly useful for use at higher zoom levels. For additional control, designers can also easily pick a new center of rotation point on the 3D model to suit their individual design task.
In addition to intelligent 3D navigation, the latest driver update also streamlines the 3Dconnexion 3D mouse user interface within 3ds Max. By using the Menu or Panel button on the 3D mouse, a pop-up menu is activated to centralize all 3D mouse related options into one location. The new pop-up menu simplifies the interface by grouping functions and hiding details the designer may not be interested in. The new menu also minimizes screen clutter and provides designers with a clearer view of their design.
3Dconnexion will be demonstrating the new intelligent navigation feature in Booth 1147 at SIGGRAPH 2010 in Los Angeles, Calif., July 27–29.
Availability
These new features are available now in a free 3DxWare software update, and support Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 to 2011 on Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, and Windows 7 across the entire product line. The 3Dconnexion product line includes the Professional Series with the SpacePilot PRO (MSRP $399) and SpaceExplorer™ (MSRP $299), and the Standard Series with the SpaceNavigator (MSRP $99) and SpaceNavigator for Notebooks (MSRP $129). For additional information, visit www.3Dconnexion.com.
About 3Dconnexion, a Logitech Company
3Dconnexion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI), is the leading provider of 3D mice for 3D design and visualization. 3Dconnexion devices support today’s most popular and powerful 3D applications by offering users a more intuitive and natural way to interact with computer-generated 3D content. 3Dconnexion’s award-winning 3D mice serve a wide variety of industries and are used by 3D designers, animators and artists worldwide. 3Dconnexion is headquartered in Fremont, Calif. with European headquarters in Munich, Germany and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.3Dconnexion.com. You may also connect with 3Dconnexion on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/3Dconnexion) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/3Dconnexion).
