REALVIZ is making VTour software available on the Macintosh platform. REALVIZ VTour, which launched in March, draws on the award-winning technology of Stitcher and ImageModeler, and offers users of all levels an innovative and effective solution for the creation of photoreal 3D environments from 2D pictures or panoramas. VTour has been specifically developed for use in a wide range of applications, such as virtual walkthroughs, 3D simulation, virtual reality, urban planning and videogames, and is also well suited for the creation of virtual sets for film and television.
Starting directly from digital photographs, or from full 360-degree panoramas (created using Stitcher, for example), VTour facilitates the creation of 3D scenes such as interiors, or urban areas using polygonal photo-textured primitives. The results can be exported/published as either a 3D movie, or as an interactive application using 3D viewers such as SPi-V3d viewer (based on Shockwave).VTour also enables the creation of geo-referenced 3D scenes for Google Earth. 3D environments, virtual tours and other photorealistic material created with VTour, can be directly exported and published in Google Earth, pin-pointing exact geographical positioning, courtesy of the Google Earth 3D viewer.
Version 1.1 of VTour enables users to create stunning photo-realistic web-content of only a few mega bytes in size, easier and quicker than ever before. Project file sizes can be reduced by a ratio of 2 to 3, without any resulting loss of quality. Texture compression quality can also be edited for even greater control. Version 1.1 includes an updated SPi-V3d viewer, for improved compatibility with Macintosh computers.
The SPi-V3d viewer was developed for use with VTour by fieldOfView as an extension to their SPi-Vengine, a versatile viewer technology focused on interactive panoramas. The viewer combines the panorama viewing and interactivity features of the SPi-Vengine with the unique ability to step outside the center of the panoramic image offered by VTour. The SPi-V 3d player allows VTour users to instantly explore the 3D models exported by the application as Shockwave 3D files, and offer the same experience to a wider audience as well.
VTour 1.1 also offers an export to Autodesk Maya (from version 6.0) for a complete integration in the most widely used 3D production chains. This feature offers the following benefits:
* It exports camera, 3D models, textures, 3D points, coordinate system, environment maps* It automatically provides the necessary Maya hierarchy for the exported data* It automatically creates an environment map from the original spherical panorama* It provides the MEL script to help the creation of multi-environment projects.
VTour is available in English for Windows and Macintosh at a price point of 499 /$580 U.S.
REALVIZ (www.realviz.com) is a leading developer of image based creation software headquartered in Sophia Antipolis, France, with satellite sales offices in Los Angeles, London and Paris. REALVIZ develops a suite of image-based content creation solutions for the film, broadcast, gaming, digital imaging, architecture and Internet communities. Derived from years of research efforts at the renowned INRIA Lab in France, the company's applications enable 2D and 3D artists to easily and cost-effectively tackle complex digital imaging projects. REALVIZ' award-winning products are used by thousands of professional photographers, as well as leading production and effects houses, web design, game development and architectural companies worldwide, including Boeing, Daimler Chrysler, The Orphanage Inc, Cinesite, Framestore CFC, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Warner Bros. Animation, Electronic Arts, Duran Duboi and many others.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
