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Leap Forward with VIZ 2005
After a long delay, Autodesk's visualization software, VIZ 2005, is
finally available.
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click image for larger view |
Among the very long
list of new and improved tools and features, the most exciting is
the inclusion of mental ray renderer. Mental Ray was formerly sold
as a separate high-end rendering plug-in, providing film-quality
rendering. Fully integrated with VIZ 2005, it produces visually
stunning and realistic rendering, including global illumination,
caustics, motion blur and depth-of-field effects.The interface has
been updated to match improvements made to VIZ’s big sister, 3D Studio Max 6. The interface is almost exactly the same
and the files generated are compatible (minus sub-object animation,
particle systems, reactor dynamics, and a few other features that
rely on these major areas to function properly – see
chart below). This is especially exciting
as now I can utilize tutorials and books published for MAX 5 and 6.
Importing and
linking your data into VIZ has been greatly improved. At various
stages in the design development and validation process, data
created in AutoCAD, or in the industry-specific applications based
on AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Autodesk Revit, can be further
developed in Autodesk VIZ to expand upon a design.
A new Layer Manager has been designed to work
seamlessly with your existing AutoCAD and/or Architectural Desktop
models and help to maintain the same project organization,
materials, and layer standards. Even better, VIZ 2005 can now
understand the Architectural Desktop style information. This means
you can select the components of an ADT object, like a door, and
directly apply materials to those architectural components (frame,
stop, panel, glass, muntins). Material assignments are then
propagated to all objects of the same style. ADT 'material
overrides' are also supported; meaning any component that has an
override will not propagate its material assignments.
Material
enhancements include a new Architectural material type that allows
new users to quickly create reasonably good scene materials with
preset parameters without learning anything about materials. Of
course, you will want to learn how to make your own materials so
that your images will elevate you above your competition!
Development of the
software has been moved from the Discreet division over to
Autodesk's Design Platform division (i.e., AutoCAD and related CAD
products). The company promises annual updates to match the release
cycle of AutoCAD. “Our customers frequently tell us that sharing a
design with a client through a 3D visualization is a lot like
showing them a photograph or a movie – they can see it and can
therefore better understand the design,” said John Sanders, vice
president of the Platform Technology Division at Autodesk. “With
Autodesk VIZ, designers are able to communicate more effectively
with their clients and prospects, giving them a competitive
advantage. Autodesk realizes that this is an important part of the
design process, and is committed to the future of Autodesk VIZ."
That’s a brief look at
just a few features of Autodesk VIZ 2005. The chart below also gives
you a comparison between products. Look for a few tutorials
and tips in upcoming articles that will help make
use of these new features in a cost effective manner. New features
of any software are only useful if they make you more money or save
you time, right?
Meanwhile, enjoy!
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VIZ Software Suite
Comparison
courtesy of Vizdepot.com
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File Format Support |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
|
Max 6 |
|
VC 6 Code Base |
X |
|
|
|
|
VC 7 Code Base |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Mini Dump (error
reporting) |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Safecast Licensing |
|
|
X |
X |
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Direct X 9.0 support |
|
|
X |
X |
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Consistent Units Support |
|
|
X |
X |
|
E Poly Enhancements
(workflow) |
|
|
X |
X |
|
User Interface
|
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
|
Max 6 |
|
Move, Rotate, Scale
Gizmos |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Enhancements to UI Move,
Rotate, Scale Gizmos |
|
|
X |
X |
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Window, Cross and Fence
Selection |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Lasso Selection
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|
X |
X |
X |
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Fixed Size Home Grid
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|
|
X |
X |
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Alignment with 3DS Max 6
UI |
|
|
X |
X |
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Customizable UI |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Defaults Switcher
|
|
|
X |
X |
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Isolate Selection
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Isolate Multiple Selected
Objects |
|
|
X |
X |
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Tool Palettes
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|
X |
|
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Content Browser |
|
X |
|
|
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Asset Browser |
X |
|
X |
X |
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Scene Management
|
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
|
Max 6 |
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Compatibility with
AutoCAD 2000 File Format |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Compatibility with
AutoCAD 2004 and 2005 |
|
X |
X |
X |
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File Linking |
X |
X |
X |
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Open VIZ Render Files (*.drf) |
|
X |
X |
X |
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ADT Object and Materials
Support |
X |
X |
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Enhanced Support of ADT
Objects and Materials |
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X |
X |
X |
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Layer Manager |
X |
X |
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|
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Modeless Layer Manager
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|
|
X |
X |
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Schematic View |
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|
X |
X |
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Shockwave 3D Export |
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|
X |
X |
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Maxscript Support |
X |
|
X |
X |
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Transform Type In |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Level of Detail Utility
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|
|
X |
X |
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Modeling and Modifiers |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Full Primitive Model Set
(23 Objects like Max) |
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X |
X |
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Isoline Display |
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X |
X |
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Editable Patches |
X |
|
X |
X |
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Edit Patch Modifier |
X |
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X |
X |
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Editable Poly - Sub
Object Editing Enhancements |
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X |
X |
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Editable Splines
Enhancements |
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X |
X |
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OSM MapScaler Modifier |
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X |
X |
X |
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WSM Mapscaler Modifier
(essentially Mapscaler) |
X |
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X |
X |
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Shell Modifier |
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|
X |
X |
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Named Selection Sets |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Named Selection Sets
Editor |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Soft Selection |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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HSDS Modifier |
X |
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X |
X |
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Render Spline Modifier |
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|
X |
X |
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Channel Info User
Interface Enhancements |
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|
X |
X |
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Vertex Paint Modifier |
X |
|
X |
X |
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Space Warps |
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|
|
X |
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Particle Systems |
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|
X |
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Particle View Window |
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|
|
X |
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DWG Block Enhancements |
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X |
X |
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Blob Mesh |
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X |
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AEC Objects
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X |
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X |
X |
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Camera Correction
Modifier |
X |
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X |
X |
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Unwrap UVW Relax Tool
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X |
X |
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Materials |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Architectural Materials |
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X |
X |
X |
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Translucent Shader |
X |
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X |
X |
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Support for ADT Materials |
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X |
X |
X |
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Layer Manager |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Ink 'N Paint Material |
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X |
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Material XML Exporter
Utility |
X |
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X |
X |
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Instance Duplicate Maps
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|
X |
X |
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Animation |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Set Key |
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X |
X |
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Curve Editor (Previously
Track View in VIZ 4) |
X |
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X |
X |
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Dope Sheet |
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X |
X |
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Boolean Controller |
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X |
X |
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Gimbal Rotation |
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X |
X |
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Interpolation Types |
X |
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X |
X |
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Auto Tangent
Interpolation |
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X |
X |
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Sub-Object Animation |
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(Partial) |
X |
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Material Animation |
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X |
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IK Animation Controllers |
X |
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X |
X |
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HI IK Animation
Controllers |
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X |
X |
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Spring and Damper Objects |
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|
X |
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Dynamics Utilities |
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X |
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Reactor 2
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X |
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Character Creation Tools
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Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Character Studio |
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X |
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Skin |
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X |
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Flex |
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X |
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Morpher |
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X |
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Bones |
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X |
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Advanced Lighting |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Adaptive Regather |
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X |
X |
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Standard Lights |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Daylight |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Sunlight
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|
X |
X |
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Skylight
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|
X |
X |
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Photometric Lighting |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Light Data Export Utility |
|
X |
X |
X |
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IES Sun and IES Skylight |
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X |
X |
X |
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Light Lister |
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X |
X |
X |
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Light Tracer |
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X |
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Global Illumination using
mental ray |
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X |
X |
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Indirect Illumination
using mental ray |
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X |
X |
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Flow Shadow Generator |
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X |
X |
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Psuedo Color Illumination Graph |
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X |
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Rendering |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Hidden Line Rendering via
Vecta3D |
X |
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Contour Rendering |
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X |
X |
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Scanline Rendering Engine |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Radiosity Rendering
Engine |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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mental ray 3.2 Rendering
Engine |
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X |
X |
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HDRI Support |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Tabbed Rendering Dialogs |
|
X |
X |
X |
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Rendering Presets |
|
X |
X |
X |
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Global Rendering Options |
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X |
X |
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Command Line Rendering |
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X |
X |
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Pre-Render Scripts |
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X |
X |
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Region Net Render |
X |
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X |
X |
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Network Rendering |
X |
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Backburner 2.2 Network
Rendering |
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X |
X |
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RAM Player |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Video Post |
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X |
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Panorama Export Utility
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X |
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X |
X |
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Render Elements |
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X |
X |
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Texture Baking
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X |
X |
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Email Notifications |
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X |
X |
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Motion Blur |
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X |
X |
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Mutil Pass Motion Blur |
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X |
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Watermark |
X |
X |
X |
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Plug-In Compatibility |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Plug-In Compatibility
with VIZ 4/ Max 4 plugins |
X |
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Plug-In Compatibility
with VIZ 2005 / Max 6 plugins |
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X |
X |
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Extension (via
subscription) to round trip Materials |
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X |
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3rd Party Support |
Autodesk
VIZ 4 |
VIZRender 2005 |
VIZ 2005
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Max 6 |
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Character Studio 4 |
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X |
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reactor 2 |
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X |
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EasyNat Bionatics |
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X |
X |
X |
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Archvision Real People
Content (RPC) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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Okino Polytrans |
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X |
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Criterian |
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X |
For a complete list of feature comparisons
between Autodesk VIZ 4, Autodesk VIZ 2005 and Max 5.1 and Max 6,
go to
http://www3.autodesk.com/adsk/files/4370887_VIZ2005_Compare_All_v2.pdf
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Autodesk VIZ 2005 TIP:
The function keys
have become more useful in 2005:
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F1: Access the User Help file
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F2: Shade Selected Faces Toggle
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F3: Wireframe / Smooth + Highlights Toggle
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F4: View Edged Faces Toggle
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F5: Restrict to X
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F6: Restrict to Y
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F7: Restrict to Z
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F8: Restrict Plane Cycle
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F9: Render Last
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F10: Render Scene or Render Dialog
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F11: Maxscript Listener
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F12: Transform Type-In Dialog
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by Joy Voltenburg
Multimedia Consultant
print version
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