TrueSpace 3

As with most 3D software, TrueSpace can be used to create VRML worlds, which you can export, browse, associate URLs, and attach sounds to objects so they get louder as you approach and pan from left to right. The latter uses Intel's RSX 3D sound technology.

Where TrueSpace falls down even against some lower-end products, such as Ray Dream, is in its animation control. TrueSpace does have an animation timeline, but using it is complicated in the extreme. It's almost there just for show. If you get an animation wrong, the chances are you'll have to start all over again because it's very difficult to delete keyframes fully once they're there. You can display animation paths, animate an object along a predefined path, and even have it look ahead so an animated camera will always face towards the direction it's going. But there's no tweening control, which forces you to create acceleration and deceleration by careful keyframing unless the acceleration is constant, whereby you can use the Physical Simulation tool. Intricate animation is possible with TrueSpace, but you have to be very careful and think about what you want to do before you do it.

A final rendered TrueSpace animation can be quite realistic. The Z-Buffered renderer is of high quality, and raytracing effective. It beats most of the products in its price range, like Infini-D, but is no match for any of the more expensive renderers like Lightwave's. With built-in effects such as motion blur and depth of field, and support for field rendering when outputting via a full frame M-JPEG capture card, professional, even broadcast quality, animation is possible. However, glaring omissions are network rendering capabilities or multiprocessor support, so you'll need to sit around for whole days to render complex animations in full TV quality. The forthcoming Ray Dream 5 supports network rendering, and may win TrueSpace users over because of it.

TrueSpace 3 is generally stable, especially if you don't use Direct3D. It's got an unbelievable feature set for its price level. Despite my dislike for its animation controls, I can't help recommending this product, because you won't get so much 3D animation for so little anywhere else.

Author: James Morris