TrueSpace 3

TrueSpace 3 has been a long time in coming: in fact it's two years since TrueSpace 2 impressed us (reviewed issue 12, p162). Since then, several high-powered competitors have tried to steal TrueSpace's thunder, such as Ray Dream (reviewed issue 17, p150) and Infini-D (reviewed issue 32, p186). With version 3, TrueSpace takes the lead again by being the most powerful 3D animation package yet at this price.

The interface hasn't changed much since version 2. As with most 3D packages, TrueSpace has a quirky look that's completely unlike a Windows application. By default, the menu bar is inexplicably on the bottom, which will annoy you no end if you have the taskbar on autohide, but you can easily send the menus to the top. There's a plethora of icons for the various functions, with arcane symbols representing each function. Now that TrueSpace has so much to offer, some of the functions are hidden behind pop-up icon menus with other functions, to which they don't bear much relation, but at least they're arranged in sensible groups.

Modelling has always been TrueSpace's strong point. With its unorthodox approach, this isn't the best program for creating AutoCAD design accuracy, although all the basic sweep, lathe, and Boolean shape creation tools are there. On the other hand, for making models with creative flair or organic in look, the unusual interface works in TrueSpace's favour. The full-screen main window and responsive wireframe preview allow polygon meshes to be shaped in a very tactile way. Indeed, TrueSpace modelling is closer in feel to moulding clay than any 3D application you'll come across at this level because deformation uses parametric handles that affect ranges of polygons rather than just one intersection.

Version 3 adds some nifty tools to enhance the modelling experience further. Metaballs are a special type of polygon that can be added and subtracted in an interactive, non-Boolean fashion. The basic shapes flow in relation to a magnetic sphere of influence, attracting or repelling each other. Results can be erratic, but surfaces do end up looking smoother than if you deform the mesh manually. In addition, Plastiform allows you to deform an object with a sphere or cylinder, like moulding plastic. Unfortunately, you can't keyframe various stages of this process for an animated deformation, although you can with Metaballs.

To help you compose models made of multiple components, TrueSpace has a new Magnetic tool that sticks two objects together at their surface. The effect is temporary because after you select another object the attraction ceases. But if you glue them immediately with a parent/child or sibling relationship you can make the connection permanent. This is very useful for precise component placing with complex objects.

TrueSpace 2 was original in a number of ways, but one area which enhanced the tactile modelling and won it praise was the implementation of solid-rendered previews. This used Intel's 3DR, which was an early set of Windows 3D APIs. 3DR caused a certain amount of excitement when it was released about two years ago but hasn't garnered much support since. In fact, TrueSpace is the only application I can think of that supports it. Recognising the sea change, Caligari has added Direct3D preview modes as well as 3DR and wireframe. However, unless you have a decent, stable Direct3D accelerator, 3DR is still the best to use. Using a Matrox Millennium, 3DR produced more responsive, smoother previews with more faithful texturing, because the Millennium doesn't support much of Direct3D in hardware. There are also certain features of TrueSpace that don't work properly with Direct3D, such as the paint facility detailed later. However, with better and better Direct3D accelerators coming on to the market, Direct3D is now the best choice of API for a product aimed essentially at Windows 95 users. Of course, if you're running Windows NT you'll be stuck with 3DR until Direct3D for NT arrives.