REALVIZ announced that a new patch up-date is now available for VTour. Version 1.0.1 of VTour includes a number of significant additions, including the improved capability to create Web-compatible projects, as well as an updated SPi-V3d viewer. The Patch is available free of charge to all existing VTour owners. New users may also purchase this latest version until May 31 at the reduced price of 300 /$340 (normal list price 499 /$580).
The software, 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.
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 has been specifically developed for use in a wide range of applications, such as virtual walkthroughs, 3D simulation, virtual reality, urban planning and video games, and is also well suited for the creation of virtual sets for film and TV.
Version 1.0.1 of VTour now offers users the capability to create stunning photorealistic web-content of only a few mega bytes in size, easier and quicker than ever before. It is now possible to reduce project file sizes by a ratio of 2 to 3, without any resulting loss of quality. Texture compression quality can now also be edited for even greater control. Version 1.0.1 also corrects a small number of known bugs and the problem previously encountered when importing Cylindrical QuickTime VR. Version 1.0.1 of VTour runs on Windows 2000/XP. A Mac version is scheduled for September 2006.
In addition, version 1.0.1 now also includes an updated SPi-V3d viewer, for improved compatibility with Apple Mac computers. The SPi-V3d viewer was developed for use with VTour by fieldOfView as an extension to their SPi-V engine, a versatile viewer technology focused on interactive panoramas. The viewer combines the panorama viewing and interactivity features of the SPi-V engine with the unique ability to step outside the center of the panoramic image offered by VTour. Available as both standalone applications for Windows and Mac OS X, and as a Shockwave movie for browser based distribution, 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 wide audience.
VTour users interested in getting the most out of the SPi-V3d viewer may visit the SPi-V developers resource at: www.fieldofview.com/spv-dev.
To take up the Introductory Discount Offer, go to: www.realviz.com/purchase/buyonline/shopstep1.php?selected=REALVTF.
fieldOfView (www.fieldofview.com) of the Netherlands is a company that provides technologies to create immersive panorama experiences. fieldOfView's flagship product is the SPi-V engine. This panorama viewing engine was created to leverage the support of modern 3D hardware acceleration offered by Adobe's Shockwave for the panoramic imaging field. When fieldOfView released the first version of SPi-V in 2004, it was the first publicly available, hardware accelerated panorama viewer, running on both Windows and Mac OS platforms. Built on Adobe's Shockwave 3D platform, the engine benefits from its long history as a stable and versatile multimedia deployment platform, and its competitive browser install base.
REALVIZ (www.realviz.com) is a leading developer of image based creation software based 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.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
