The following is some of the feedback we have received from customers
and users of Okino's NuGraf and
PolyTrans software products.
If you would like
to download and view/print a nicely re-formatted version of these testimonials
in MICROSOFT WORD format then click here.
Please note that all references to the geometry import/export capabilities
of NuGraf or PolyTrans are applicable to both software
packages. PolyTrans is, in fact, a derivative of NuGraf
software.
If you are new to Okino and our software then please take a moment to read this page about what has made our software's usage so wide spread throughout the 3D industry. Okino's core and founding philosophy has been "one to one" personal customer relations and support, an often overlooked and neglected aspect of today's software industry, based on our customer feedback.
If you are wondering who is the 'Robert Lansdale' mentioned below, it is
often believed that he is an automated response robot that Okino has developed
to help with our around-the-clock tech support needs. Indeed, this may have
some truth. In fact, he is the chief system architect for the PolyTrans and
NuGraf software, or the person who spends most of his time designing the core
Okino software so that the supporting Okino programming team can write high
quality import and export data translation software. As Robert knows about
the workings of all Okino software, has direct hands-on experience and internal
knowledge of most 3D animation, CAD & modeling programs on the market, and has answers
to most problems posed to Okino over the past 2 decades, he has been lauded with
the most prestigious job of "official technical support guru".
Notable Users List:
Click here to list some of the notable users of NuGraf & PolyTrans, a demographic break down of users, and core reasons why Okino software has been popular to 3D users.
Customer Case Studies:
Click here and here for selection of case studies
from Okino customers using PolyTrans & NuGraf in their production pipelines for
rendering and/or cross-program 3D data translation. Many high quality images and
user submitted scenarios. Some specialized case studies can also be referenced here:
An Example of Okino's Dedication To Providing Personal Technical Support
"Over the course of my career I've dealt with dozens (and dozens) of technical support departments. As I've primarily been in a production role, I've required very quick responses, intelligent thinking and problem solving, and efficient solutions -- unfortunately all too often I have not gotten the support needed in a timely or thoughtful manner (if I got any support at all...). Okino's support, on the other hand has quite frankly been amazing.
Recently we were faced with a set of graphic translation issues which were holding up our production. After some investigation we were stumped and turned to Okino, the makers of PolyTrans, for support. I received a phone call from Robert Lansdale that evening. As I was describing the problems I quickly realized that Robert was looking at the PolyTrans' source code as we talked! While we were still on the phone Robert found the source of one of our problems, compiled a new DLL - on the spot - and emailed it to us. Talk about quick and efficient tech support! We still had one or two problems remaining and Robert asked that we send a couple of sample files for his review. He promised me that he would explore the problem and would not leave the office to go home until he had answers.
I returned to work the next morning to find an email message waiting. Robert had isolated and fixed the remaining problems and had sent another DLL with the fixes. Our problems were solved! I have never experienced anything like this in my 15+ years of software development. Okino, and Robert specifically, were responsive, focused and determined to help. They understood how time critical our production was and stepped up to meet our needs.
I take my hat off to Okino and Robert for setting the standard by which all technical support should be judged. (Note, I take great pleasure in telling this story to other tech support departments while they are humming and hawing and wasting my time :) Cheers for a job well done.
I want to commend Robert Lansdale for the personal service he has always given our
company. Whenever we have had a problem, a specific need or a suggestion for PolyTrans
he would always write some new code and email us the new files the next day or even
work late to get them to us that same day. You don't see this type of service with
many companies these days. It seems with most companies you get lost in voice messages
to tech support, or wait a week just for a reply to a problem. Robert and Okino
Computer Graphics have always given us personal service beyond our expectations.
Most of our clients that we build 3D models for are all working in different software
packages, different environments and even different operating systems so we need to
be able to provide them with a 3D model that is not only going to work in their
environment or with their particular operating system, but is going to look good as
well. PolyTrans has always been a surprisingly accurate 3D model converter and
produces great looking models in many different file formats. We use PolyTrans several
times a day and our company couldn't function without it. It is one of the most valuable
tools we have and we are very happy with the performance of this software. We think
PolyTrans is the best 3D file converter out there and we hope to see more great
improvements in the near future.
- Terry Casper (admin@amazing3d.com)
Custom 3D Modeling & 3D Graphics
"PolyTrans does the work of dozens of software packages, and completes
the job of file I/O faster and with more data preserved between formats
than any of the much more expensive "native" softwares can manage. This
has saved me many thousands of dollars in software expense and hundreds
of working hours in replicating or reconstructing the work of others.
The value of this is immense. PolyTrans is also a true "workhorse"
application; I've used it frequently on very large files and PolyTrans
has not choked, crashed, or needed to be reinstalled in three hard
years, and this is on a Macintosh in VirtualPC. This software has become
the indispensable hub of my daily work, and allowed me to concentrate on
the creative task at hand."
"We purchased PolyTrans and used it for 3D data conversion and optimization of datasets
created for the NASA MER space program (Mars Exploration Rover Mission). It is fantastic software. My colleagues at another NASA center spent days using three software packages on what took me 15 minutes using PolyTrans alone (polygon reduction in batch mode worked like a charm). I just wanted to thank you for creating such a great tool."
"In my more than 10 years in the 3D visualization business I have come to depend
on Okino for their technical excellence and outstanding customer service. When they say
they 'set the standard for conversion between visualization packages' it is not an idle
boast. If you are not using their products today then you are doing things the hard way!"
"We have been using PolyTrans-for-3ds-Max for 12 years now. Two days before Christmas a large engineering
company contracted us to animate an absolutely gargantuan oil refinery modeled in AutoCAD, in all its
fine detail. We could not open it, far less convert it and do animation without the computer crashing.
We contacted Okino's CTO, Robert Lansdale, who analyzed and worked on it for 2 days, returning it to
us on Christmas eve as a fully optimized 3ds Max scene that we could manipulate in real time, and
instructions on how to repeat the process ourselves! And at what cost? None, other than to upgrade
to the newest software release. Needless to say Okino now has a customer for life. While their
software is great, their customer service is unbelievable!"
Refer to here for some imagery of the oil refinery visualization.
"
I am the writer, director and visual effects supervisor for my latest CG film called 'Bohemibot'.
PolyTrans-for-Maya has been a huge help on this latest
film. There were 450 fx shots handled by 80 artists. We could not have implemented such a complex
multi-animation-package workflow so easily and robustly without Okino's fantastic software.
I enjoy recommending it to my colleagues. Thanks for doing such a great job developing it.
"
"As a technical 3D illustrator and animator I often work with different applications and found out that
Okino's PolyTrans-for-Maya made it easy to exchange data between them. I often have to integrate files
together in Maya from such programs as One Space Designer, AutoCAD, SolidWorks and Rhino. Okino's
PolyTrans-for-Maya + CAD converters were the solution for effortless translation of all this data
into Maya. Spending less time for converting the data meant that I could pay more attention to
the final image."
"Intel Labs was faced with the difficult task of getting a very complex Softimage (XSI)
scene into Maya quickly and accurately for rendering, including morphing, running robotic
characters, textured and animated toys, and camera tracking.
Okino worked with us to show how their PolyTrans-for-Maya software could provide the
lengthy conversion as an automatic 'one button press' process, resulting in a
fully animated and textured Maya scene."
Please visit the interesting Crystal Sensations WEB site. They take 3D CAD models and 3D use laser etching to creating the model inside of a high quality crystal block! Click here to view the final etched crystal model which was created as a result of the conversion process explained below.
"I was under a tremendous customer imposed deadline but needed assistance in
getting their CAD data out to our 3D crystal etching machine. We were using
Maya to compose existing car CAD data with our own data, yet something was not
correct. We could not go back to the car manufacturer to ask for updated and
cleaner CAD data. I contacted Okino and had a personal discussion with Robert
Lansdale. By 5pm he had determined that some of the NURBS surface uv-space
trim curves were looping back on themselves (illegal). He also tested and
proved a conversion pipeline which would work for me, knowing and
understanding that I was under a tight deadline. With the quick installation
of PolyTrans and their Granite/Pack solution, I was able to import the final
assembly as IGES, have all the data cleaned up and sewn, then re-exported to
our 3D crystal etching machine as STL. The software worked like a charm! No
problems at all. I was able to get all my data out of Maya (as IGES) and
into PolyTrans just fine. I don't think I would have been able to complete
the project without your software. Thanks again for all your dedicated efforts
and expertise."
-Christopher Loates, Technical director of laser scanning
"I bought NuGraf earlier this year to do some SolidWorks conversions to
OpenFlight. The SolidWorks assembly files were so big that converting
the entire model resulted in a 680MB .flt file, which was too big for my
little 1GB RAM computer. However, by selecting parts of the model with
NuGraf's hierarchy tree, I was able to break up the model into smaller
parts that I was then able to convert to OpenFlight and view correctly
in Multigen Creator (my OpenFlight modeling tool).
Overall, I am very, very satisfied with NuGraf and the resulting
OpenFlight files that it exported. I obviously chose the correct product."
"I just wanted to share with you how well your product has worked for us. I
completed the first rendition of our animation in LightWave of an imported Pro/Engineer assembly and it was a huge success. Once we had the proper options set up on the Okino 'Granite Pro/E'
importer, every detailed part of the assembly came in with perfect clarity - not a single visual polygonal defect. I was able to make such intricate movements with the imported Pro/E model - it really brought the animation to life! Now that our models are in LightWave, the possibilities are endless..
Thanks for developing such a great translator, and for all your support!"
-Jim Payton, Mechanical engineer and Lightwave animator
"Once again, PolyTrans to the rescue! We had some geometry in a third-party
CAD package that we were trying to output to *.STL format for a rapid
prototyper to make some parts, and they came back to us and said their
software had problems with the .stl files we had sent them. Then I used
PolyTrans, checked the appropriate option boxes, and a perfect *.STL version
of the geometry resulted. The fabrication house is happy and our parts are on their
way. Thanks again."
-Bob McKillip, Senior Associate
Exploration Place, Digital Design Studio (http://www.exploration.org)
"PolyTrans works so well - I almost wet my pants!
Your support is above and beyond my wildest expectations. My highest Regards to you and your company."
-Don Pence
[Exploration Place, of Wichita Kansas, is similar to the "Toronto Science Center" or the "S.F. Exploratorium"]
"PolyTrans was one of the key reasons that we were able to produce the
third season of "Max Steel" on schedule and on budget."
-Kevin Gamble, CGI Producer - Max Steel (3rd season).
"PolyTrans was the corner stone of our model conversion pipeline for the "Max Steel" time critical project. We had to convert more than 500
Lightwave models to Softimage (XSI) in a very short period of time. The level of support we had from Okino was truly amazing."
-Martin Talbot, Max Steel Software Technical Lead
[Okino/Robert Lansdale note: As a long term fan of Mainframe's "Reboot" tv series, I was
very pleased to finally get a chance to work with Mainframe and their production team over several months to fine tune
our PolyTrans software (Windows and IRIX versions) for their Max Steel production. As with all similar product
tweaking, it benefits all customers. So thanks to Mainframe for their tweaking and converter option suggestions on our new Lightwave 6.5
import/export converters.]
IDEOC Mediaworks
"The money I spent on PolyTrans has once again proven to be beyond
worth it. I know I've written back to you before with these glowing praises when I've
had to impose on your time, but when I think of all the hassle I go through
with other software companies on products that cost me considerably more, it renews
my faith when I'm given the courtesy and expediency of service that you
provide with your product. Not to mention the true quality of the product
itself. I don't mind telling you that it is such a staple in my arsenal, that
I quite frankly don't know what I'd do without it. It has bailed me out so
many times I can't tell you. And I'm always finding new ways of exploiting it
to get the job done.
I could give you chapter and verse on the number of
times I have sat waiting on the phone for some tech support guy to help me
with a software that cost more than my sports car, only to wind up solving the problem
myself while he sits and scours some "knowledge base" looking for the answer
(a task I could have easily done myself without paying some ridiculous
obligatory "subscription fee" or what-have-you). Your product does what it says and is a dream
to use. And every time I have had to ask for your help, you have always been
quick to respond. With useful information in a courteous manner. It's the
latter part that, for me, goes a long way. Your responses are always very
friendly. As a result, not only do I get the info I need, but I just enjoy reading
your replies simply for their own sake.
You'll always have a loyal customer here. I can honestly say that your
company would be one of the few that I'd just up and buy from without
hesitation."
-Kiiltse Jaatkarin. Animator, Design Supervisor, Software Engineer, the "Big Cheese".
Please refer to the special "Littoral Combat Ship" customer case study for related imagery.
David Heath, media specialist of Bath Iron Works, chose Okino's long-established PolyTrans-for-MAX CAD conversion pipeline as the main method to transfer, downsize and optimize large Demia v5 CAD datasets, representing the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
"Okino's PolyTrans provided the optimal CAD conversion solution with their PolyTrans-for-Max bridge. I was able to take the output from Delmia V5 and run it thru not only the translation engine in PolyTrans, but also the hierarchy and parts count optimizer that created direct, useable geometry datasets. I have found that using PolyTrans has enabled me to create optimal models for use in marketing graphics/animations and high-end renderings. The level of detail and control I have over the translation process provides the ability to refine the translation and create larger models on the 3ds Max end, and create more stunning views. I would not have been able to create these complex images without the polygonal reduction and geometry optimization tools built into PolyTrans. I have since used PolyTrans-for-Max on every project I have worked on dealing with data from other 3D geometry sources. Thanks go to Okino and PolyTrans for helping me to transform the CAD data I needed in an efficient and quality manner."
"PolyTrans lets us, in our support of NASA, simplify our spacecraft models as we wish instead
of having to depend on the mechanical engineers
that built the model. We're using these spacecraft models for antenna
analysis and we don't need every single nut and bolt or any parts that
won't effect the antenna. The smaller the model size the faster our
simulation will run. Your product helps us tremendously. There is no
standard at NASA for the CAD utility creating spacecraft, so we need to be
able to work with many different formats. Before PolyTrans there where
many formats I couldn't translate, so the mission would have to build a
mock-up for testing or go without a good understanding of their antenna's
performance. Now we can use the CAD models to simulate the antenna on the
spacecraft early enough in the spacecraft's design stage to optimize it's
location."
"I can't tell you how excited we are about NuGraf! This is going to save
us so much time. What an awesome translator. I'm in love with it and
I've only just begun to scratch the surface."
"I know your web site tells me that I should take Okino's wonderful
responsiveness for granted and think nothing of it. However, that is hard to do. Your willingness to quickly
jump on my requests not only clears an obstacle from my path, but it also communicates that Okino
is committed to not just selling a nice product at a fair price (it is a wonderful product) but to having customers be successful."
"Back in 1999 I did a review of solutions to convert 3ds Max scenes into
error-free and robust DirectX files, and chose Okino's solution which had
already gained a reputation over its previous 4 years of release. Fast forward
8 years and we still depend on their solution as an integral part of our
pipeline because there is no comparison in our professional experience. Okino
and their long-time DirectX conversion developer has also been most supportive
and responsive to our emails. We, "wareFX" (Australia) are a developer and
provider of a popular 3D visualization / simulation environment called "vizEQ"
for end-users (the software can be used for everything from simple
visualizations to product prototyping, presentations, etc., all in real-time
3D)."
-Bill Bailey, Managing Director of wareFX Pty Limited.
"We had used Okino's PolyTrans & NuGraf since late 1997 and then heard about their
new PolyTrans-for-Maya plug-in system in early 2000. This new import/export solution
for Maya arrived just at the right time for us, during the production of the Playstation
game Driver 2 (see www.driver-2.com).
Crucially we used it to import environments from 3ds Max, Lightwave and
Softimage (XSI) into Maya, and with a little work we achieved very good results.
The support from Okino at this time was very helpful!"
[Reflections is a developer of interactive entertainment software for PC and console titles.
They are known for developing Driver 2, Driver, Stuntman, Destruction Derby 1 and 2 for the Playstation, and
Shadow of the Beast, an Amiga title.]
"I have been working with a lot of hardware and software companies, and their
multitude of associated technical support personnel, for about ten years
now. The technical support I have received from Okino Computer Graphics
over the last week or two has been... amazing, to say the least.
I am convinced that Robert Lansdale is not a real person, but is in fact a
piece of next-generation Expert A.I. software running on a server somewhere.
I'm mostly notifying you of His existence, because
although He has been exceedingly helpful to me, I fear He might get bored.
He has been replying to my e-mailed pleas for help with much greater speed
and accuracy than any human being I've ever been on the phone with, and I am
concerned that simply helping those of us who are befuddled by the finer
points of PolyTrans may not be occupying enough of His CPU cycles. I'm
afraid He might decide to take over the world or something!
If I am wrong, though I very much doubt that I am, and Mr. Lansdale is
indeed a real flesh and blood person, then he is absolutely the most
efficient and reliably accurate tech-support expert I've ever encountered.
Congratulations, Okino Computer Graphics, on developing the most advanced
A.I. on the planet, or having the best tech support on the planet, or
whatever..."
"While working at a VR company in Toronto, I first encountered
PolyTrans while trying to incorporate object geometry from LightWave into
Direct3D versions 1 and 2 (I'm sure that game programmers everywhere can
imagine what fun that was!). PolyTrans was still in its 1.x version then,
and working with Robert Lansdale was like having him as an additional coder
on our project. Once, I asked him if point-order preservation was possible
for morphing purposes, and that feature showed up in the code next day (and
it's still there!)
I now work at Westwood Studios (Electronic Arts), and PolyTrans has become
key to our multi-package and multiplatform development environment. We can
leverage the strengths of Maya, 3ds max and LightWave without
excessive duplication of assets. Even our in-house tools work well with
PolyTrans' importers and exporters for 3DS Max. Robert continues to provide
us with speedy same-day support and fine-tuning, to the point where I can
export geometry originated in Max, from Maya into LightWave for some
modelling changes, and then back into Maya for animation, without any
hiccups. The Maya-to-LightWave animation translation is accurate enough to
permit straightforward compositing between the two packages, almost as if
they were designed that way from the ground up."
-Jim May, Technical director and 3D data translation manager.
"We are extremely pleased with the quality of FACT output from PolyTrans. The
default settings enable us to easily get results that meet the critical
standards of our company and our clients. The ultimate proof is in the final
renderings in Electric Image -- and those have been flawless."
"I just wanted to thank you again for assisting our artist with our PolyTrans
software. We had just gotten a project in and we needed to export from Max to Maya. Your
product worked fine and I am also happy to know that we bought a great
software from Okino. Thank you again for your assistance and for creating a
great product. This will really help us on our project."
"I have previously thought that translation programs for any software were
luxuries not necessities, but lately I must tell you that PolyTrans-for-Maya has enabled me to
utilize the growing 3D market place and produce output quicker, and to boot, it looks
better. I had to produce a virtual office space for a professor here on campus and
though it is in very early stages this would have taken me a while to model everything
from scratch in Maya... Instead I was able to use existing models I had from CD's
that previously I would not have had the software to open. A great lesson for the
students as well."
"Just a short email to thank you sincerely for your excellent assistance
regarding the export of Max models via PolyTrans to Direct X yesterday.
In a nutshell your help enabled us to rapidly cut the problem in half and
clearly locate which part of the process was not working correctly. At this
point in time all is well. We are building our gaming world and it looks
superb.
Your product is a truly excellent tool and we are extremely pleased with the
value it provides to our organization. Clearly the infrastructure behind
your tool is also first rate and refreshing to see."
"I just want to say I have always been thrilled with all of the help I
have received from you, and that I have no complaints with PolyTrans,
without it we would not be able to create the animations that we do. Thank
you for your time and effort."
-Jason E. VanOsdol. Graphics Specialist - Almon TIAC Inc.
Neptune Media, Design and Development for your Digital needs! (http://www.neptunemediaworld.com)
"When we looked for availability on Pro-Engineer model-translators, we found PolyTrans to be the best
buy. But what really convinced us was the trial demo, and how PolyTrans translated a Pro-E model into a 3DS
model within seconds. (I actually did not even read the tutorial.) I was amazed at how exact the models
matched. Even when I bring in an AutoCAD DXF model into 3ds Max there is always a little tweaking,
and AutoCAD and 3ds Max are specifically meant to work with each other.
The steps are really as easy as open the Pro-E SLP or IGES file, and export as a 3DS file, or you can just use the
plug-in that comes with the program and import the Pro-E file directly in 3ds Max.
We could not use Pro-E alone to render the product due to the final desired product. We needed to have the
truck's payload (a Pro-E model) being carried by a hi-tech looking truck. In addition, we needed HUM-Vs,
landscapes, special effects, and other props. This was a DVD design project and it needed to look
artistic. We modeled the truck in a 3D modeling and animation program geared towards creating professional
looking video, and imported the Pro-E model using PolyTrans. This saved many man-hours and money by
saving the time necessary to fix or remodel the payload in the animation program. When there was a
truck payload redesign, the animator did not have to edit the model or animation at all. We just used
PolyTrans again, and swapped in the updated model and that was it. The final product had the details and
hi-tech look of the actual Pro-E model blended with the artistic production of visual special effects,
which is exactly what the client was aiming for."
-Steven Gutierrez
CraneDigital - 3D Illustration, Animation and Design for all Media (http://www.cranedigital.com)
"My name is John B. Crane and I run CraneDigital, a 3D illustration and
animation studio in Fort Collins, Colorado. I specialize in 3D
scientific/technical illustration and animation.
I discovered Okino's PolyTrans during a project in early 2001. A marketing
firm contacted me with an engineering client who had just developed a new
tabletop spectrometer. The story was familiar: the engineers had spent 4
years developing and designing this new tool (in Unigraphics) and on the
virtual eve of production release, the one-offs and prototypes were of
little to no use to the marketing people. Their precious new machine lay
trapped in the technically intimidating world of Unigraphics¹ Open GL
Previews. They needed pre-sales tools and a way of explaining how their
device worked across a variety of deliverables.
After a few exploratory calls I learned of PolyTrans and wrote for more
information. After the initial purchase of PolyTrans with the IGES I/O
module, Robert Lansdale worked closely with me developing a "custom"
solution for the specific task that lie ahead.
PolyTrans was indispensable. After trying a direct IGES import
through two other leading applications, PolyTrans produced the
highest-quality results with the most control over surfacing, smoothness,
and tessellation. Without PolyTrans I would not have been able to meet the
tight timeline."
"Brooks Stevens Design is a multi-disciplinary product development firm
committed to creating great commercial products for our clients and
ourselves. All along the process, from initial concept development through final
engineering, we need to develop images that communicate a designs' status
and configuration to clients, vendors, researchers, and ourselves. It's not
enough to create shaded isometric views. We find it extremely valuable,
when possible, to create images that look REAL and convey the detail,
accuracy, and excitement that we bring to products in our design process.
At times, we also create images for sales and marketing purposes; images of
the designs which must look very realistic (even photographic), but have not
yet been produced. These are the reasons NuGraf has been a valuable asset to
us. Yes, there are other packages that produce some great images, but
nothing I've seen works as well with Pro/E in terms of simplicity,
consistency, and speed to get to those realistic images we are looking for."
[and on a separate occasion David provided this quote:]
"We've been using NuGraf for about 3 years now, Pro/E for more than 10.
NuGraf proved to be an excellent choice for generating great images of our
designs created in Pro/E. It proved to be so easy to use we lost the manual
early on and didn't even bother to find it. Go figure. We have other very
robust rendering packages in house, but NuGraf proves to be the fastest and
easiest renderer to use in conjunction with Pro/E. I can't say enough about
how much faster it is. As an example, we did a rendering test about 2 years
ago, comparing NuGraf (Pro/E files via .slp files) with a renderer in one of
our surface packages (Pro/E files via .igs). The difference was (4 hours
for the surface package) vs. (15 minutes for NuGraf) - all variables being
kept as close as possible. That's a big difference when you have 24 hours
to crank out a full presentation for a client."
"We bought PolyTrans to convert Pro/E data into Autodesk Maya. We received the Pro/E data from a customer Bonardier-ROTAX GmbH in Austria,
as very large IGES files. However, we had a problem: the IGES data was really
really big! Maya could read small IGES parts but it could not import big parts
(100MB with thousand of parts); Maya just hung up. So we
performed the conversion with PolyTrans. It worked very well and fast. In meantime we also use
VRML data format, especially for parts, that are not so important. The
Bombardier-ROTAX company uses VRML data for their preview discussions.
Thanks to the PolyTrans VRML importer we are able to read this data, too
and they are much smaller."
"I am a Designer that has used Okino's NuGraf to translate models from ProE to Maya and
Alias Studio for rendering. I have done this for about 4 years with great results. By using the
ProE SLP render file format and the batch translator in NuGraf, I can quickly bring
multiple parts into Maya (now my main animation and rendering tool). In fact
one of these translations lead to us being nominated for a 2000 ProE award in
medical products."
"I have come to rely on the Game Exchange 2 import converter in Okino's PolyTrans.
It works very well!. It is very robust and carries all the nuances of the original
format. I am able to import and use hierarchies, lights, motion, etc. as they
were set up in IZware's Mirai software. This is a great tool. For any one
using Mirai and supporting other formats, this set of import/export converters
for PolyTrans is not only great, but a necessity! PolyTrans is quickly becoming
one of the most important tools in our toolbox.
"
-Chad Tillman, Content Manager of 3dModelWorks.com
We, from Animagraph in Brazil, would like to thank you all for the
more-than-professional way of treating your customers. Despite all of our
requests, most of them kinda weird, you were able to answer promptly and
kindly, making possible for us to accomplish our job just in time. We felt
really happy doing business with Okino!
Not to mention the software bundle: well presented, well printed manuals
with the expected content, well written; NuGraf is stable, full of options,
flexible and gives precise and predictable results. This is quality software
and customer service beyond our best expectations.
-Antonio Callado, MSc, Technical Director
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Unlike broadcast or production modeling and rendering, there are essentially no standard formats for 3D design and imaging in scientific work. You're just as likely to find someone using POV-RAY as you are people modeling in 3D-Studio format or VRML. But ironically, in scientific work more, so than in 3D-design, effective data exchange means getting your models to others and having them be able to see and manipulate the rendered product. I've worked with a variety of 3D packages and have found no product which even approaches NuGraf's import-export capabilities.
Importing and exporting doesn't just involve translating polygonal data, but almost perfect translation of assigned texture, specular maps, diffusion maps, light geometry, camera positions and definitions, etc. I was admittedly shocked the first time I imported a Lightwave scene into NuGraf and rendered it to find I could barely distinguish it from the model that Lightwave itself rendered with all the bitmap texture maps perfectly in place!
Do not underestimate NuGraf's rendering quality, it does a better (and often faster) job of rendering photo-quality images than packages costing at least twice the price. I also applaud the NuGraf team for creating a remarkably smooth and easy to navigate interface. The hierarchical architecture of their selector window is incredibly effective and easy to use, wireframe models can be moved and rotated with almost no response lag, the material editor easily rivals that in 3DS-MAX, and almost every aspect of how models are rendered can be modified.
But don't expect this package to stand still. It seems like they come out with a major upgrade every month! But perhaps most refreshingly, the NuGraf team are incredibly friendly and supportive.
-Dr. Antonio Lanzirotti
Department of Earth and Space Sciences
"Before Okino's NuGraf came along, I was unable to render my Pro-E models easily and
so interactively as I do now with NuGraf. I have used many
different rendering and translation packages. NuGraf is the easiest, most
accurate and reasonably priced package available in my opinion, and their
staff is committed to providing technical support, and to improving the
product continually."
-Dean Amir Depay, Industrial Product Designer
Verity Grafix, 3D Modeling and CAD Services.
"I really want to convey my satisfaction with the NuGraf software. My
last industrial design project which was processed and rendered with NuGraf
reached nearly 750,000 polygons in size. I would not even try to render a
scene of this size on my machine with any hope of seeing results in the same
week using any other rendering package I know of (some crash, and many will
not inhale this much geometry without becoming completely unusable) - and
I've tried or demo'ed most of the others on the market for the PC. Not
everyone has or can afford a super-fast system, but NuGraf produces
results in medium-speed systems in a surprisingly short time. NuGraf is fast,
the quality is great, and having soft-edged shadows available truly helps the
realism of my output. Support is also something which I rate as excellent!!
The Okino staff is friendly and very responsive." (click here to see the image referred to by Mr.
Mattison).
-James L. Mattison, 3D Designer.
Design 4 Plastics, Inc.
"
We were initially interested in NuGraf because we needed mid-level Pro/E
CAD rendering capability at low cost, plus ease of use. Compared to our
existing rendering software, NuGraf has matched their capability at a
fraction of the cost. It's so much easier to use, and gives great results
much faster. Documentation is very good, and the interface itself explains
a lot as you go. NuGraf is a genuine bargain, and if there are any
sacrifices or drawbacks, you'd have to explain them to us because we sure
haven't found any. In three days it was earning its keep, and in a couple
of weeks it was doing anything we wanted."
-Doug Begley (Industrial Designer)
Peter-Josesph Kovach (3D Magazine Writer)
Every once in a while a truly useful tool is introduced in the graphic market
that has significant impact on the way in which we perform out business.
PolyTrans, by Okino Computer Graphics, is most certainly one of these products.
PolyTrans is 'the' premiere 3D conversion tool available today. Although there
have certainly been many 3D format converters in the past, and more and more
are available each year, PolyTrans is the first to achieve a broad range
coverage of all of the popular formats and achieve an almost perfect
conversion capability between all aspects of these formats.
The most critical aspect of a data conversion program is that although many
of these programs claim to handle a large subset of these formats, they
often handle only 'most' of the capabilities of each format. PolyTrans has
been designed to completely handle conversion of animation and texturing
data even including the conversion of the texture files to the
required/desired 2D format for the 3D format they are being converted to.
When I have asked other manufacturers of conversion tools why they cannot
handle animation information, their comment has often been 'it is too
difficult'. PolyTrans conversion of animation data is beautiful. The time
savings achieved with this feature alone should make it well worth the low
cost to any serious game developers.
PolyTrans is also much more than a 'conversion tool'. It is in fact a 3D
object/world viewer which allows you to add and remove objects from a scene.
I constantly use the 3D viewer aspect of this tool, which lets you view the
object in a range from wire frame to solid model form in real, or near-real,
time, to create 3D scenes using objects in multiple formats and then export
them in a new format.
A final aspect of this tool is the incredible depth of the software, If
you are at all familiar with the complexity of many file formats, and the
odd intricacies of them, you should greatly appreciate the time required
to create a tool of this capability/magnitude. Even more impressive is the
speed in which Okino Computer Graphics can add a feature and thoroughly test
it when it is requested by users and found to be a broad need in the market.
This product produces truly gorgeous results! If you have an object you love
in one format, you will be able to have it in many more formats the same day
you buy this tool.
Says Mark Aro of Sierra Publishing (3D game developers),
"The addition of the NuGraf software and
its new Softimage (XSI) import/export plugins to our 3d game development
toolset truly changed our efficiency. In the past I would cringe
when converting a Softimage (XSI) file to 3ds Max. No longer do we have to go
through the grueling and painful process of converting to a DXF file
and then going through the headache of remapping and texturing
everything. When I discovered that this new software converted
everything from meshes & textures to lights and cameras I was
ecstatic. We ordered copies for the entire Softimage team that same
day."
"Having tried various file converters we were greatly relieved to
discover the PolyTrans product. We needed a translator to take our 3D models
from .3ds format to Lightwave, Softimage (XSI) and Maya and have found
PolyTrans to be by far the most versatile with the most reliable results.
We are also reassured by the constant R+D work to update the product to
include new formats such as the 3ds Max."
"At DreamWorks Interactive we have been using Okino's PolyTrans plug-ins
for 3ds Max to transport Softimage databases into and out of 3ds Max. When
working between these two programs PolyTrans provides the only viable
solution that I've seen. I've even been able to translate mesh deformation
data from Softimage to 3ds Max to do single skin character animations. This
gives me the flexibility to use the programs best suited for any project.
PolyTrans is the best file translator I've ever used; it's incredibly robust
and delivers on the promise of converting from a large variety of file
formats to another cleanly. The technical support has been very responsive
to our needs and have given us solutions that have made a big impact on our
production process."
"I love this program! It is going to save me hundreds of hours. I
only wish I had bought it a year ago. For all my real-time work I have been
having to make do with the Wavefront .obj file format and creating all my
.mtl files by hand from scratch. What a pain. Your software is a godsend."
-Matthew Harrison
IBM Laboratory - Media Design Studio.
"Kudos to Okino for a product that's worked *exactly* as advertised, and much
more! PolyTrans has proven to be a rock-solid, full-featured, easy-to-use and
extremely accurate translator for our Lightwave and 3ds Max scenes. Even
our most esoteric scenes converted flawlessly."
"At FASA Interactive we work with most all major 3d programs including Maya,
Softimae, 3ds Max, and Lightwave. After we finished our product
MechCommander and our work on Mechwarrior 3, I began production work on
Mechwarrior 4. Using PolyTrans and the Max2 plug-ins, I was able to convert
a large quantity of those assets into Max, which shortened our development
time significantly and prevented us from having to recreate UV's and
groupings for our models. The 3ds Max plug-ins are a dream come true, suddenly
the File/Import function is massively powerful. We have found Okino to be
very responsive to our feedback and comments."
-Heinz Schuller, Art Director - Mechwarrior 4
CGI Magazine (UK)
"We were totally bowled over when saw how well PolyTrans handled data from
Strata Studio Pro - it cured a big headache for us. I recommend anyone working in
3D to have this software."
-Robert Carolan, Software reviewer for CGI Magazine (UK)
Timberwolf Media, Inc.
"PolyTrans is the only conversion product on the market that with
just a few commands, you can convert a fully animated character model between
many 3D formats. Unique! It also does a much better job and with far greater
control of model properties than the import/export converters built in to
the most popular 3D modeling/authoring tools. We could not complete any
of our real time 3D products without it. The customer support department has
in depth knowledge of the myriad difficulties inherent in converting 3D
models between almost all 3D file formats - they have gone way beyond the
expected level of support for a software product."
"We have found that, given the built-in import/export capabilities of
most animation programs, traditional geometry translators are pretty much
superfluous and very limited when trying to use different 3D applications on
a single project. PolyTrans' ability to accurately and precisely translate
not just geometry, but animation, camera, and lighting data allows us to
have our cake AND eat too! It allows us to effectively and easily exploit
the best features of several different animation systems, and utilize a
larger and broader base of free-lancer support, greatly enhancing the
flexibility of production."
-Kevin Reagh, Director of Animation
Graphics Detail Inc.
"I have worked with thousands of Lightwave objects and scene files over the last two years.
The PolyTrans software has been the best investment I have ever made in any 3D conversion
utility. With the additional NuGraf, I have a complete studio of powerful
tools at my side."
-Michael Meshew, Graphics Detail Inc.
Author of the "LiteRom" CD collection of Lightwave models.
Sachs Enterprises
"I evaluated all the 3D translators and found PolyTrans to be the most accurate
and to have the greatest bang-for-the-buck. It translates Lightwave scene files
to 3ds Max perfectly, including all texture coordinates, bitmap filenames and
images."
-Jim Sachs. Developer of "Defender of the Crown" and "Brilliance"
"PolyTrans has proven itself a great tool for converting 3d objects. It
picks up where a lot of 3D exports lack. The folks at Okino Computer
Graphics have been prompt with their updates and have always been helpful
if we had a question, Keep up the good work!"
"We are a developer of Playstation and other 32/64bit game console machines.
PolyTrans has been used in the production process for checking and fixing
geometry from other 3D platforms. Our current conversion path for Playstation
involves converting from the Wavefront .obj format. Our 3D artists use many
different and diverse 3D applications so this is a way for us to channel
everything into one format.
PolyTrans has been an invaluable tool for helping us convert files from
other platforms and as a way to fix geometry problems efficiently. As with
any production path a tool such as PolyTrans is considered one of
many tools that helps to fill the gap left from our other platforms."
-Neil Strudwic
Iowa State University
"The latest PolyTrans with Softimage and MultiGen/Paradigm (Presagis) OpenFlight support is wonderful. I have
been waiting for a product like this for a long time."
"At Eos Systems we have had to write some of our own 3D file exporters.
We know that these 3D file formats are very difficult to handle
well - the specifications are ambiguous, inconsistently implemented,
and all very different. Okino's NuGraf and PolyTrans do an amazing
job with importing and exporting all the various types of 3D file
formats. Given how difficult it is to write an exporter let alone
the much harder importer, Okino has done an amazing job of both."
"At Digital Animations we use a variety of 3D packages for both FMV and
Game Engine work, we have found NuGraf to be an invaluable link in the
production chain, allowing us to concentrate on being creative without
becoming too bogged down in the technical differences of different
systems. Technical support in the form of updates, feature requests and
help have been outstanding allowing us to overcome potential problems
very quickly."
"I have been one of the more ardent users of Okino's Lightwave import
and export converters since I first purchased PolyTrans in early 1999.
For those not aware of the finer points of the Lightwave file formats, they
are quite verbose and riddled with complexities that make simple, clean and
dependable file format conversion non-trivial. As an early adopter of Okino's
newly rewritten Lightwave 6.5 import and export converters, I have seen
them mature to a very stable state in a short period of time. My comments have
been addressed and implemented in a timely matter by Robert Lansdale. I
primarily use PolyTrans to convert Lightwave scene and model files into
3ds Max for further processing prior to exporting to our 3D World
databases. Having PolyTrans in our toolbox has enabled our artists to avoid
the need for an excessive degree of retraining, allowing them to retain their
preferred Lightwave platform for content production in the knowledge our
models will be preserved throughout the conversion process.
Prior to my purchase of the PolyTrans software I was initially impressed with
the Okino product support staff as they took the trouble to answer
all of my queries with detailed technical analyses based on the problem at
hand, and gave me the freedom to make a value-judgment as to whether or not
PolyTrans was suitable for my use. This put Okino Computer Graphics way ahead
of the competition, who either didn't respond in as technical a level as
was required, or just didn't respond at all. Add to this the attractive
package Okino offers to its customers, such as free updates of the
import/export filters as they are developed, clinched it for me!"
"At Paradigm Productions we have found NuGraf to be an invaluable tool when
it comes to clean file transfer between the variety of 3D and CAD packages
that we use. It's ability to save paths, heirarchies, and attributes allows
us to utilize the 3D package that meets our need for a specific effect or
look on a given project."
-Charles Gaushell. Game Development * 3D Computer Graphics * Design
Advanced Productions Inc.
"PolyTrans 3D Model Translator is one of the most versatile graphics
tools that we currently use. Okino's tech support is also excellent.
These guys have a true understanding of 3D graphics."
-Herve Marcel, V.P. of Operations
Tim Wilson
"Okino Computer Graphics has done a great job with the PolyTrans product! The
frequent software updates, in particular, are easy to install without
disrupting any user settings. I have also found the program easy to learn
and use."
-Tim Wilson, Software Engineer
Stuuts Tech
"The DirectX export converter in PolyTrans is fantastic, allowing for the easy
conversion of objects and animation from trueSpace2 COB and SCN files or
AutoCAD DXF files for use in factory automation software. Okino has
provided me with superb customer support answering all my needs in a
timely and professional manner; though, the software is so well written
and easy to use that support has not really been needed. PolyTrans has
provided me with an outstanding bridge between various 3D software modeling
environments and development tools I use allowing for the rapid
application development of 3D GUI's."
-Stewart Grant McDonald
Virginia Tech.
"I used PolyTrans to translate some 41 (7.5 degree) DEM files to DXF. The batch translate dialogue boxes were
absolutely flawless. There was absolutely no need to read documentation or look for help.
The speed was just fantastic and was a big hit in the lab. The 1.1 meg
DEM files translated EXTREMELY quickly into 27 to 29 meg. DXF files.
Each translation took approximately a minute. We're all very, very happy."
-Ben Logan
Kelly Murdock - Author of many 3D graphics books
"NuGraf (/PolyTrans) is an excellent companion package
regardless of the 3D package you work in. Its strong conversion
utilities are indispensable if you are working with libraries of 3D
models. The Batch Convert feature has saved me a considerable amount
of time. If I wasn't comfortable with other 3D packages I would be
tempted to learn 3D with this system and I still turn to it for
features that my packages don't have."
I found an *excellent* file conversion tool, namely PolyTrans by Okino
Computer Graphics (the same folks that make NuGraf). I've
tried others and have been sorely disappointed. I primarily convert trueSpace2
COBs and SCN files to Lightwave-5 and vice versa. PolyTrans does an absolutely
phenomenal job! All of my textures were retained.
Want to hear about great customer support? When I initially experienced a
problem with SCN file conversions (due to multiple viewpoints open in the
SCN file), these folks had a new DLL for me within 1 business day. One
business day!!! Now that's service.
I highly recommend this product to anyone doing 3D graphic file conversion.
I am not affiliated with this company in any way, other than being a *very*
satisfied customer. Way to go Okino!
-Vytas Gaizutis
R. Shamms Mortier Review
Excerpts from the review of NuGraf in "TV Technology" by R. Shamms Mortier.
"The NuGraf interface is easy to understand, whether you select
the "beginner" or the "expert" mode. As with all
professional computer graphics software, this simplicity of design
hides a very deep and full-featured collection of tools.",
"The texture controls are extensive enough to impress the most picky
engineering types, offering manipulation of every texture parameter.",
"The text option is excellent, drawing upon any TrueType or Postscript
font in your PC... these are far more options than provided by many 3D
full-featured animation systems.",
"(NuGraf) is an excellent utility to add to your creative kit."
David Duberman Review
Excerpts from the 6 page review of NuGraf in "3D Design"
Magazine by David Duberman:
"The program has since grown to import a wide variety of data
formats, with an emphasis on rendering large data sets quickly, even on platforms
with limited memory. Its import filters don’t require many alterations and
its program defaults allow automatic scene and light setup with simple manipulation.",
"The Surface Attribute Editor is simple on the surface… however,
the program provides a wealth of complexity and control underneath, perhaps
best exemplified by the Texture Layer Editor (figure referenced)",
"There’s much more to surface (material) definitions. At least
one month of full-time experimentation would be necessary to begin to exhaust
the possibilities of this (texture layering) aspect of NuGraf.".
SoftLandscapes
"I have found NuGraf to have the strongest and most
reliable import/export capabilities of ANY visualization package I have
ever worked with. In my research in landscape architecture, I often deal
with files which have extremely large polygon counts, the DXF's of which
are huge. Such DXF files have defeated 3D Studio and smaller packages like
trueSpace(R). NuGraf always brings them in reliably -
quite amazing! And since NuGraf itself reads and translates a variety
of formats that I must contend with in my work (USGS and Vistapro DEM's,
.3ds, obj., IGES), I have found that I can always rely on it both as
a central terminus of translation and as a final destination for my
visualizations. For all forms of architecture, this is truly a
professional level product. And as a former 3D Studio user, it's wonderful
to have a versatile, feature-laden, heavy-duty renderer that is accessible
from a quick, intuitive interface."
-Ben Logan
R. Shamms Mortier
"PolyTrans is one of the nicest, easiest to use all-around 3d translators I
have used. It's worthy of a look by anyone doing serious modeling and
animation work."
-R. Shamms Mortier
Artist, animator, author for 13 magazines.
Mike DiVuolo
"...The tutorials that come with NuGraf are
incredibly detailed and well thought out. Now i'm texture-mappin',
light-source-shadin', and renderin' my way to the stars!"
-Mike DiVuolo
"3D Graphics and VRML 2" Book
Quotations from the book "3D Graphics and VRML 2" by Lauara Leemay, Kelly Murdock and Justin Couch.
"NuGraf has a strong array of conversion filters. It
also has one of the fastest (photo-realistic) rendering engines available
in this class. If you work with (3d model) libraries fairly often, you'll
find the batch-conversion mode invaluable."
"One of the best file conversion pieces of software is produced by a
company called Okino. The product is NuGraf. Not
only is it a full-fledged RMA, but it can import and export more file
formats than any program I've seen."
"NuGraf has a fast, efficient (photo-realistic)
renderer and many advanced features, such as tip-of-the-day box,
model optimization commands, and unlimited texture layering. You can
see its interface on (page 131)."
"We had a 12mb USGS DEM that no matter what we tried
it would not load into 3D Studio 4. The file had two huge objects,
that was all (USGS DEM terrain & 2D splines that were
actual street data). Since it was just two objects it
exceeded 3ds4 64k face limit. The only way we could
convert it (to 3ds Max format) was with PolyTrans/NuGraf.
As (PolyTrans/NuGraf) exports 3ds files it does it in a series
of "chunks" that have less than
64k faces. Worked great and was quite fast. Plus one of
its features that saved us hours is the ability to extrude
2d polylines into 3d objects; we just set a user-defined
variable & our 2d lines were converted to wide 3d streets,
very cool!
It's the best converter on the market in my opinion."
-Kelly Michels
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