Interactive
3D Modeling
Is Now a "Snap"
Industry-first
joint Cycore Cult3D/Eyetronics ShapeSnatcher solution builds fully interactive
3D objects from photos instantly without the use of lasers. E-marketers can
now produce functional product demos on Web stores in a fraction of the time.
NAB'99, LAS VEGAS - April 19, 1999 - Cycore Computers,
the Sweden-based developer of Final Effects, Cult Effects and the Best of
Comdex finalist Cult3D interactive web modeling tool, has partnered with Brussels-based
modeling firm Eyetronics to deliver the ability to produce fully interactive
3D models at the touch of a button. Eyetronics' newest offering, The ShapeSnatcher
System, turns any digital, analog or video camera into a powerful 3D acquisition
device, allowing developers to capture 3D images easily, eliminating the need
to spend hours on intricate modeling in CAD and design programs. Those images
can then be integrated into Cycore's Cult3D Editor to produce fully functional
web-based models that allow Web surfers to "interact" with the models in real-time.
Patented by Eyetronics and awarded the European Information Technology Prize
in 1998, ShapeSnatcher can turn a single photograph into a detailed 3D model.
It works with a wide range of digital and analog cameras and converts photos
into 3D models in one step. To provide interactive models, ShapeSnatcher objects
can be imported into Cycore's Best of Comdex-recognized Cult3D Editor, which
allows web developers to easily render "working" 3D models that allow Web
surfers to try out products online. Cult3D features drag and drop interactivity
and advanced compression that allow developers to quickly produce interactive
Web models that can be viewed by end-users with any type of system, including
first-generation Pentiums with 28.8k modems. Together, the Cycore-Eyetronics
solutions offer the easiest, most accessible method for creating compelling
e-commerce product sites on the Web.
Why You Want It
"There is no longer any reason for e-commerce sites not to use 3D images,"
said Jerry Pettersson, Vice President, Product Development, Cycore. "By allowing
prospective customers to actually use products online, any Web marketer can
use Cult3D and ShapeSnatcher to provide a more complete online shopping experience.
Our new alliance with Eyetronics is part of our strategy to make the process
of building and displaying high-quality, interactive 3D models available to
a broad range of developers and consumers, regardless of their bandwidth,
programming or hardware resources. Eyetronics has developed a tool, that like
Cult3D, brings the power of multimedia to a broader range of applications
and benefits end-users by addressing online shopping's limitations." "We've
always been looking for faster and easier ways of creating 3D models," said
Filip Defoort, General Manager, Eyetronics. "ShapeSnatcher's ease-of-use,
scalability and flexibility, along with Cult3D's drag and drop interactive
applications, are a natural choice for e-commerce, business, education and
other vertical markets that can benefit from displaying photo-realistic 3D
models on the Web."
How It Works
The ShapeSnatcher 3D-Toolkit turns your camera into a real 3D-acquistion device.
Just insert the ShapeSnatcher Slide into any slide projector, project the
slide onto any object, and capture the image. The ShapeSnatcher Software creates
the 3D model. The software works with a broad range of cameras, ranging from
low- to high-end models-the quality of the 3D model you can create is unlimited.
The 3D models created with the ShapeSnatcher are exported into Cycore's Cult3D
with a single mouse click. The Cult 3D Editor's drag and drop functionality
adds interactivity to the 3D model without the need for extensive programming
knowledge. Cult3D compresses the model at an extremely high rate-a typical1MB
file can be reduced to approximately 10K without comprising image quality.
When and How to Get It
The Cult3D development tool and plug-in are available FREE for download at
www.cult3d.com. A licensing
fee of $3600 will be charged for all Cult3D objects that are posted to a website.
For further details, contact info@cult3d.com.
The Cult3D viewer can be used with Netscape 2.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 and
the following operating systems: Windows 95, 98, and NT; MacOS (PowerPC);
UNIX (Linux, HP/UX, AIX, Sun); and BeOS.
ShapeSnatcher will be available on May 15, 1999. The initial version will
run on Windows 95/NT systems, with versions for Linux and SGI following soon
after. The full ShapeSnatcher software package costs $4,999; for users with
low-volume modeling needs, Eyetronics and Cycore offer a special subscription-based
service package. Users pay $750/year to subscribe and $135 per 3D model. For
more information, contact info@eyetronics.com.
Where to See It in Action
To see Cult3D in action, please download the plug-in from www.cult3d.com
and then visit the following sites:
Who Made It Possible
About Cycore Computers
Based in Uppsala, Sweden, Cycore Computers specializes in
the development of special-effects and 3D technologies for both the Internet
and the video and film post-production industries. Cycore's Cult3D« Animation
is the industry's first real-time, multi-platform 3D-rendering engine for
the Internet. Creators of the award-winning Final EffectsÖ and Studio EffectsÖ,
Cycore's Cult Effects product is a plug-in for Adobe After Effects used in
the video and film post-production industries. Cycore Computers has a US sales
office in San Mateo, CA. For more information on the company, please visit
Cycore on the World Wide Web at either www.culteffects.com
or www.cult3d.com.
About Eyetronics
Eyetronics was established in 1998 in Heverlee, Belgium. The company specializes
in 3D-acquisition technology, ranging from consumer-oriented products to high-end
special-effects for the film industry. Eyetronics' patented ShapeSnatcher
technology is the world's first dynamic 3D-acquisition device.