3d Compatibility

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 inside 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 and zoom the objects in a viewer,
complex 3d animation software like Cybermotion
or even Cinema 4D or 3dsMax
will offer many more possibilities.

2) COMPATIBILITY CHART for well-known 3D programs Question : WILL the files work, and how to load them ?

3ds Max : YES, good import via .obj, .fbx, .3ds
Adobe Acrobat : YES, native format supplied
AutoCad : YES, import via .3ds, .dxf (3d faces, V.12)
Catia : YES, import via .stl, .igs - as available
Carrara : YES, import via .obj
Cinema 4D : YES, good import via .fbx
Inventor : YES, import via .igs - as available
Lightwave : YES, native format supplied
Maya : YES, good import via .fbx
Poser : YES, good import via .obj
ProEngineer : YES, good import via .dxf, .igs as available
Rhinoceros 3D : YES, import via .stl, .fbx, .3ds
Softimage : YES, good import via .fbx, .obj, more
SolidEdge : YES, import via .stl, .igs as available
SolidWorks : YES, import via .stl, .igs as available
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 .igs (IGES).
Please mind : CAD formats (iges, stl etc.) or .dxf
will NOT transport textures/texture coordinates.
Our .dxf is NOT a drawing, it is actual 3D geometry.
CAD3D NURBS Anatomy

This button shows that there are files available
especially made for CAD software, on that page

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.

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. You use your browser
to enter download address (url) and pass data,
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 normal 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 available in ?

A: We will list the endings and give
a couple of comments :
.obj (Wavefront/Alias, good for Maya, Poser, 3dsMax)
.fbx (Kaydara, good for Maya, Cinema 4D, others...)
.lws/.lwo (Lightwave)
.wrl (VRML2/97, good for 3dsMax and others)
.3ds (a format most programs can use)
.stl (many CAD programs will load this)
.dxf (the original "dxf 3d faces v.12")
.igs (a nurbs format, not all files available in .igs)

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 3680,
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.

CAD programs will always import any part as .stl
but that is not optimal - .igs is much better where we
are offering NURBS sets - these will mostly come in
as solids but not necessarily
as a ready-made assembly.

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

Acrobat .pdf files 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.

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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3D Compatibility