human body 3d anatomy

INFO / Frequently Asked Questions

1) What Software do I need to use the Sets ?
2) Compatibility Chart
3) Short Brief for the "3d Nerd"
4) Payment / Download / License
More...

1) Q: What kind of software do I need
to use the data sets?

A: To use a complex 3D anatomy object system,
you need good 3D software - at least a 3D viewer
(now available for Adobe Acrobat Reader).
The more complex the software, the more
you can achieve, however the handling will
also be more complex - while you can sufficiently
view, rotate, zoom, identify all objects in a "viewer",
complex 3d animation software like Maya,
Lightwave, Cinema 4D or 3dsMax
will offer many more possibilities.
Special rules apply for CAD programs.

2) COMPATIBILITY CHART for well-known 3D programs Question : WILL the files work, and how to load them ?
Answer : we usually do not supply native formats
as these tend to get outdated almost every year -
so you should rather "import" other,
highly compatible 3D formats -
here is an alphabetical list :

3ds Max : YES, native format

Adobe Acrobat Reader: YES, native format supplied
exclusively ON DEMAND.

AutoCad : YES, import via .3ds, .dxf (3d faces, V.12)

Blender : YES, import via .obj, .3ds -

Catia : YES, import via .stl, .stp, .igs -
momentarily via our SPECIAL SITE.

Carrara : YES, easy import via .obj

Cinema 4D : YES, easy import via .fbx

Cybermotion : YES, easy import via .obj

Lightwave : YES, native format supplied on demand.

Maya : YES, native format,

Poser : YES, import via .obj

ProEngineer : YES, import via .dxf (ProE is the only
CAD application able to import dxf 3d geometry files real well),
.igs, step - exclusively via our SPECIAL SITE.

Open GL : YES, c++ code

Rhinoceros 3D : YES, import via .dxf, .3ds or one of the
formats available at our SPECIAL SITE.

Softimage : YES, import via .fbx, .obj

Solidworks : YES, native assembly files offered in part
exclusively via our SPECIAL SITE.

Truespace : YES, import via .fbx, .wrl, .3ds

What are the best general formats
for export/import of 3d files ? For polygon meshes,
.obj (Wavefront) and for NURBS .stp or .igs (IGES).
Please mind : CAD formats (igs, .stp) or .stl, .dxf
will NOT transport textures/texture coordinates.
Our .dxf is NOT a drawing, it is actual 3D geometry.

3) Q: Can you roughly explain 3d basics ?

A: Sure, first - all 3d software is created differently.
Mostly, you will not just be able to "load" a file
but rather have to "import" it - because your program
uses it's own, maybe exotic, special format, while
there must be some sort of "standard"...
We use such standard formats to ensure
that 90 percent of 3d users can import our sets
and use them as if they were native files.
Just look under "File/open" or "File/Import" to find out
which 3d formats your program will import/load.
With some these formats, you should watch
if your *import options* are set just right
(very important especially for CAD programs).

4a) Q: Is your ordering process secure ?

A: Ordering at our sites is completely secure -
we provide order processing via SWREG
to offer the best overall functionality and security -
SWREG has been the first payment company
on the Internet and is a seasoned institution.
Here is some more info about the process.

4b) Q: How do I download ?

A: Upon purchasing at SWREG, you get download
information automatically via email - it takes
several minutes up to six hours, this may depend on
the payment checking process, or the form of payment
you choose. When you receive your download data,
you use your browser to enter download address (url)
and enter pass data (in a popup requester),
then download the files in all formats of your
choice. Support will guide you along if needed.

4c) Q: Can I commercially use pictures and
animations that I create ?

A: It depends on the license you buy
(there are non-commercial licenses for the P1-Set),
but with a "non-EDU" license this is no problem,
it is in fact what the models were made for.
Here is some more info about these things.

5) Q: What 3D Formats are the Sets at Anatomium.com available in ?

A: Please see 3) COMPATIBILITY.

6) Q: How do you create these data sets?

A: It is important that the sets be anatomically correct,
so we use scanned (CT) data whenever possible.
We compare detailed data from scans to representative
anatomy sources from our extensive library
and discuss them with anatomists
from local institutions (universities, hospitals).
We make our own digital scans and photographs
in hospitals of the vicinity when necessary,
the medical team creates a working plan
and finally veteran modelers put it all together in 3d.
As the scanned parts and any real organs
we take measures from someties originate in different
places/bodies, some adaptive forming is
absolutely necessary as parts should fit
together in an ideal way and sum up
to an ideal anatomy set (not just a reworked scan)
The results are regularly checked for errors
by qualified personnel, making sure that the result
is always more than just the sum of its parts.

7) Q: Are there any known problems using the sets?

A: Well, the sets are available in different complexity
levels and as the simple A1 Light set has only nine
parts while the most complex P1 set has about 4000,
you can imagine that these two will not handle
in exactly the same way.
Different programs will respond differently when
you import/load an entire P1 set with all the parts
(no need to do that of course, the sets come
in handy parcels), some programs are known
for handling memory assigns worse than others,
and computers with less than 1 gb of memory
could slow down with more than one program
running intensely at the same time.

Animation programs will usually import
.fbx, .wrl and .obj almost perfectly
but you sometimes need to have
a special import plugin (often free).

Adobe Acrobat .pdf files (at Visualhumananatomy.com)
will enable you to view, rotate,
zoom the models, choose objects and make them
invisible (to see behing them) - but not to make changes
to the objects themselves - this is ideal
for teaching and instructing human anatomy though.

CAD formats like STEP will not guarantee
that the objects, upon imortation, will be recognized
as valid "solids" right away if your import settings
are a bit awry - it will work like a charm in one program
but maybe not in the next, where you may have to
do some adjustments and "healing" first.

Different formats will give different results upon
importation, so we suggest downloading all
formats we supply and trying what works best
for your system and needs - and you can
expect us always to be around to make
ends meet or even add detail for you.

8) More questions ? More answers coming soon...

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