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Okino Computer Graphics Releases Unique SolidWorks® Import Converter
Based on "OLE for Design & Modeling" CAD Standard.

Okino's New Import Module Provides 25+ New 3D Export File Formats for SolidWorks®

Toronto, Canada - January 10th, 2000 (Revised August 10th 2001) - After 16 months of development and refinement, Okino Computer Graphics today released innovative new data translation technology and support for the SolidWorks® 3D solid modeling product, based on the "OLE for Design & Modeling" CAD data transfer standard. This new addition to Okino's selection of core data translators allows object, assembly (hierarchy) and material data to be directly transferred from a running copy of SolidWorks into a running copy of Okino's NuGraf or PolyTrans software, or to a running copy of 3D Studio MAX or Alias|Wavefront Maya. No intermediate data files are required.

As of August 2001, the SolidWorks importer also includes the ability to read in native SolidWorks .sldprt and .sldasm files, without a local resident copy of SolidWorks. This method reads in the "display list", or polygon data from such native files. The only disadvantage to this system is that control over the number of imported polygons is not possible.

This new support in Okino's 3D products will greatly benefit all SolidWorks users. No longer are these users entirely dependent upon SolidWorks for 3D rendering, animation or data translation; rather, assemblies can now easily be exported through this converter module to Okino's powerful NuGraf renderer for the creation of photo-realistic imagery. Or, the assemblies can be re- exported from NuGraf or PolyTrans to a wide range of industry standard 3D scene and animation file formats not previously available to SolidWorks users, such as 3DS MAX (via native plug-ins in MAX), Alias|Wavefront Maya (via native plug-ins in Maya/NT), Lightwave, SoftImage, OpenFlight, Renderman RIB, trueSpace, and many others. Note that the translation process is uni-directional as it converts solids from SolidWorks into polygons for the destination format.

"As an Industrial Design consultant, time is of the essence for me," said Dean Amir Depay, industrial product designer and SolidWorks user. "With the new SolidWorks data translation module I can now bring my SolidWorks models directly into Okino's NuGraf software to utilize its superior rendering capabilities, without having to create an intermediate file. I am not only saving an extra step, but also precious disk space. I highly recommend it.".
"In 1997 we set our eyes upon a new and innovative 3D solid modeling package called SolidWorks, a package which would soon sell 30,000 seats within three years," said Robert Lansdale, President & CEO of Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. "At the time this package came with existing rendering and data translation capabilities, but it did not provide the same level of 3D rendering and/or data translation capabilities as with our NuGraf and PolyTrans software. With the insistence of SolidWorks users who purchased our software packages from 1997-1999, we began to investigate a method to move data directly from SolidWorks into our software directly. The answer was the little known, and rarely implemented 'OLE for D&M' interface standard. After 14 months of tribulations, the interface was working wonderfully, allowing assemblies from open SolidWorks documents to be directly imported to our software, or any other 3D package which we have direct plug-in support for (3DS MAX and Maya at the time of this writing). This new conversion path will be a major benefit to SolidWorks users who wish to move their assembly data to other 3D rendering or animation packages that they may own and prefer to use".

"OLE for Design & Modeling Data Transfer Standard", An Overview

OLE for Design and Modeling (OLE for D&M) is the logical extension of OLE technology from Microsoft® Office® applications into 3D CAD/CAM and CAE. It aims to deliver direct access to native CAD models without data translation giving the same benefits to 3D that 2D users have enjoyed for years. The "OLE D&M" interface standard is maintained by the Design and Modeling Applications Council (DMAC); for more information, please visit http://www.dmac.org. OLE for D&M supports the concept of a CAD "server" and a CAD "client". This is depicted in the following diagram which represents how Okino's OLE D&M import module functions:

In this diagram, an Okino compliant software package (such as NuGraf, PolyTrans, 3DS MAX or Maya), on the left side, has asked Microsoft Windows to open up the application which understands SolidWorks data files. Windows then executes SolidWorks, the application on the right side above, and loads in the specified SolidWorks data file. Using Microsoft "COM" technology, the Okino application on the left side (the "client") obtains direct access to the internal routines and data of SolidWorks on the right side (the data "server"), as if the two programs were running as one. Object mesh data, hierarchy and materials are then directly transferred to the Okino application for subsequent rendering or further data translation. Once the conversion has taken place, the connection is closed and SolidWorks is allowed to exit.

Okino's "NuGraf Rendering System" and "PolyTrans" Software, An Overview

Okino's stand-alone "PolyTrans Model/Scene/NURBS/Animation Translator" for Windows and SGI IRIX was released in August 1996 and has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed and respected 3D geometry translators. Unlike most translation programs which only convert basic polygon geometry, hierarchy and some shading information, PolyTrans is unique in its ability to convert every aspect of a 3D model file; this includes all geometry (meshed polygons with recursive holes, NURB and bicubic patches, and quadrics), object hierarchy, pivot points, smoothing data (vertex normals), (u,v) texture coordinates, bump mapping information (tangent vectors), lights, cameras, all texture projection methods and animation. In addition, PolyTrans accurately matches the color, shading and texture mapping parameters between the input and output file formats resulting in models that will render faithfully in the target rendering program.

Okino's NuGraf Rendering System is the elder sibling of PolyTrans that includes, in addition to everything in PolyTrans, high-end scanline and multi-threaded ray tracing (for product and CAD visualization), material editing, bitmap and procedural texture mapping, texture projection methods, extended user interface and text creation. NuGraf received the "IEEE Technical Excellence Award" from IEEE CG&A Magazine in 1997 and the "Golden Pixie" award for 1998. It is intuitive for beginners, deep and rich with features for experts.

Okino software is used world wide by thousands of professionals, covering such varied groups as engineering, manufacturing, government, defense related, production studios, digital effects houses, animation studios, 3D content developers and most major 3D game development companies. An interesting list of notable users can be viewed online at http://www.okino.com/conv/users.htm.

Industry Standard Export File Formats

The new OLE D&M interface module allows SolidWorks data to be exported to virtually any 3D modeling, animation, rendering, CAD, landscape (DEM) or design package. Supported export formats include 3D Studio MAX (a copy of 3DS MAX is required), 3D Studio r4, Alias PolySet, Apple 3DMF (Quickdraw-3D), DirectX, DXF, Fractal's Detailer, IGES 5.3 (polygons in the case of this SolidWorks converter, otherwise NURBS), Imagine, Lightscape, Lightwave, OpenGL C Code, OpenFlight, POV 2.0/3.0, Pro/Engineer .SLP, Renderman RIB, Renderware, SoftImage .hrc models and scene databases, StereoLithography .STL, Strata StudioPro, trueSpace, USGS DEM, Vistapro, VRML 1.0/2.0 and Wavefront. For v3.0 of PolyTrans and NuGraf the following file formats will also be supported for export: Alias|Wavefront Maya (a copy of Maya is required), Cinema-4D and Electric Image FACT (also useable for import into Form/Z). The converters have been developed by Okino Computer Graphics over a period of 11 years and are complete implementations of their respective file formats. Over 25 import formats are also supported by Okino products, but it is not possible, in general, to transfer this data into SolidWorks without slow and complex surface healing operations.

Major Benefits to SolidWorks Users

Some of the major benefits SolidWorks users will gain from using this new translator include:

Applicable WEB pages

The following are pertinent pages on the Okino WEB site relating to this press release:

Available Through VARs

The new SolidWorks module, as well as all other Okino products, are available directly from Okino Computer Graphics and through a growing number of Value Added Resellers (VARs) in the design, CAD and multimedia markets. Fully functional demonstration versions (with minor limitations) of the software are available through Okino's Internet WEB site at http://www.okino.com.

Product Pricing

The SolidWorks module is sold as an optional add-on component together (as one bundle) with Okino's new Solid Edge import module and the existing ACIS SAT import converter. For product pricing, to locate an authorized VAR or for customer inquiries, please contact Okino Computer Graphics at (905) 672-9328 or toll free at (888) 3D-OKINO (1-888-336-5466).

System Requirements

The SolidWorks import module requires SolidWorks v98+ or newer, and operates efficiently with Pentium®-based computers equipped with Windows 95/98 or Windows NT 4.0 or higher. The module must be purchased along with a copy of Okino's PolyTrans or NuGraf software in order to operate.

Company Background

Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Okino Computer Graphics specializes in the development of 3D photo-realistic rendering, visualization and model translation technology. This technology is currently used within Okino's NuGraf Rendering System product, its PolyTrans data translation program (and byproducts) and its NuGraf Developer's 3D Toolkit. For more information on Okino Computer Graphics, please call 905-672-9328 or visit Okino Computer Graphics' Internet WEB site at http://www.okino.com.

Documents Available Electronically

Attention editors. This document, as well as screen snapshots and related documents for the Press (in Word for Windows format) can be obtained electronically by visiting http://www.okino.com/press/magpics.htm

NuGraf and PolyTrans are registered trademarks of Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. Okino is a trademark of Okino Computer Graphics, Inc. SolidWorks is a registered trademark of SolidWorks Corporation. 3DS MAX is a registered trademark of Discreet Logic. Maya is a registered trademark of Alias|Wavefront. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Editorial Contact:

Robert Lansdale
Okino Computer Graphics
T: (905) 672 9328
F: (905) 672 2706
Email: lansd@okino.com
WEB: http://www.okino.com