bonzai3d for VISIONSELL

June 29, 2009

Two brand new products have teamed up to revolutionize the way people buy homes and real estate agents sell them. Transforming Architecture is launching a new concept, VISIONSELL, a product for architects that will facilitate real estate sales by helping buyers visualize how they can turn an "ugly duckling bargain" into their dream home with the help of bonzai3d.  Bonzai3d is the software of choice for VISIONSELL to engage architects with homebuyers. Side by side, the architect can offer design solutions that prospective buyers can see immediately.  These ideas may include an addition, floor plan alteration, or even raising the roof.  The architect helps clients visualize the changes and obtain the necessary information to make an educated buying decision.

After evaluating several different software applications for the task, Karen Pitsley, AIA, President of Transforming Architecture, and the mastermind behind VISIONSELL, selected bonzai3d, even though she was still working with the beta version.  "The potential was so obvious, it was an easy decision", said Pitsley. On one hand you have an easy to use, yet powerful and robust set of tools that can take you from a quick sketch, all the way to detailed representations, construction drawings, and 3D prints.  On the other hand, you facilitate buyers and sellers, architects and real estate agents.  A win-win situation for all involved. Learn more about how to use bonzai3d in this capacity on YouTube HERE>>

10 Reasons Why You're Going to Love bonzai3d

June 17, 2009

The facts: bonzai3d is a new 3D modeler developed by AutoDesSys for quick, easy, simple, yet robust 3d modeling.  Why bonzai3d might you ask? It is here to fill in the gap for a simple and easy to use application on the fly without restrictive limitations down the road for a dead end!

The goal is to offer conceptual and sketching stages of design, yet CAD accurate models that can be used further down the production pipeline such as construction drawings, renderings, animation, fabrication, rapid prototyping with 3D printing, or with any application that depends on good clean solid 3D models.

You can think of bonzai3d as a small and intuitive application, but BIG on features and capabilities it offers. A smart modeler that's constantly thinking behind the scene and anticipates your next move, making decisions for you based on what you are doing and where the cursor is, thus helping speed up the modeling process.

Out of the hundreds of available features, AutoDesSys has picked 10 to tell why we think users will love and get excited about bonzai3d.  Allow us to engage your attention for a few moments with the countdown (also available online HERE>>):

#10 bonzai3d offers EASY SCULPTING with
    - Draw and insert on faces
    - Reshape faces
    - Offset faces or segments
    - Done with REAL TIME BOOLEANS

#9 bonzai3d offers a FLUID, POWERFUL and SMART INTERFACE with
    - Automatic guides
    - Intelligent snapping
    - Speeds up the modeling process

#8 bonzai3d offers CLASSIC MODELING TOOLS with
    - REAL TIME DYNAMIC EDITING of
        3D walls
        Primitives
        Revolves
        Sweeps
        Helix Shapes
        and more...

#7 bonzai3d offers DEFORMATIONS that work on any solid or surface
    - Twist
    - Bend
    - Bulge
    - Taper

#6 bonzai3d offers SPECIALTY TOOLS peppered throughout the application
    - The ROOF TOOL  (Create parametric solid roof)
    - The STAIR TOOL (Create parametric solid stairs)
    - The TERRAIN TOOL (Meshed,  Stepped, or Triangulated contours)
    - The SECTION TOOL (Interactively cut sections using real-time Booleans)
    - Generates true solid objects

#5 bonzai3d offers CONTENT LIBRARY with
    - Trees, Furniture, People
    - Doors and Windows that automatically insert openings
    - Create your own content from any b3d file
    - Or download from 3D Warehouse

#4 bonzai3d PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
    - 20+ importt/export formats
    - Import aerial sites grom Google Earth
    - Insert models from 3d Warehouse

#3 bonzai3d offers ADVANCED REAL-TIME RENDERING with
    - 300 materials
    - Live interactive texture mapping

#2  bonzai3d offers the MATCH VIEW TOOL to
    - Match a bonzai3d model with a background image

#1 bonzai3d offers ORGANIC FORMS
    - If you are tired of being limited to "boxy" shapes, how about NURBZ modeling
    - Create edit, and sculpt complex forms
    
But wait!! There is more! FREE EMBEDDED VIDEO TUTORIALS  make learning bonzai3d a cinch.  

To watch a demonstration of the above follow this LINK>>

THE BOTTOM LINE: Easy, Fun, Smart and very Affordable at the introductory price of US $499!  

bonzai3d RELEASED

June 11, 2009

AutoDesSys is pleased to announced the release of bonzai3d, its newest product and contribution to the 3D industry. Bonzai3d is a small, intuitive application with BIG capabilities. The goal is to offer conceptual and sketching stages of design, yet CAD accurate models that can be used further down the project pipeline for  construction drawings, renderings, animation, 3d printing and so much more. 

Bonzai3d was developed to fill in the gap for an affordable, quick, easy, simple, yet geometrically robust 3D modeler without restrictive limitations that can quickly bog down a project.  It has a fluid, smart interface. It offers easy sculpting with real time booleans and all the classic modeling tools with real time dynamic editing.  The Roof, Stair, Terrain, and Section Tools help architects articulate and communicate their thoughts clearly.  If you are not happy with the boxy look, you can create organic shapes with NURBZ modeling to create, sculpt and edit complex forms.  Bonzai3d also comes with Content Library, 300 Materials, Textures, and 20+ import/export formats. 

Get more information on bonzai3d, and find out how to obtain it HERE>>

Predefined Materials Set for form•Z

May 21, 2009

Intuitionusa.com has updated and enhanced the Predefined Materials Set for form•Z - Industrial Design Series. These materials fit neatly into your Predefined Materials so that they are always at your fingertips without making your file's size larger.  These materials can be used for all kinds of Industrial Design projects such as Exhibits, Stores, Buildings, and Products. There are also many Corians and Wilsonart Solid Surfaces which allow you to quickly view different material combinations and have the name of the material handy.

You can find the Predefined Materials Set for form•Z HERE>>

More bonzai3d Impressions

May 18, 2009

As more 3d industry analysts and press publish their reports about AIA 2009, and their take on bonzai3d the more positive impressions surface about bonzai3d's tools, power, and capabilities.  Two new reviews by Lachmi Khemlani of AECbytes and Anthony Fausto Robledo of Architosh, reflect the bright future ahead for this new application that left AIA attendees inspired and hopeful at the thought of having an entry level tool they can use as a stepping stone to the next level of their project, whatever it may be, instead of facing a dead end at the end of a day of modeling.  Khemlani opens her section of the overview of the Conceptual Design secion of her AIA 2009 report by saying:  "In the conceptual design space, while Google was there to demonstrate version 7 of SketchUp, it seemed to be over-shadowed by the new bonzai3d from AutoDesSys Inc." (To read the entire article at AECbytes click HERE)

Robledo sat down with Chris Yessios, president of AutoDesSys, and had a candid talk with him about bonzai3d.  His wrap up of the conversation and the demo he saw at AIA was this: "With a combination of strengths ranging from robust modeling kernel technologies to advantages in modeling creation and editing–to solid strengths in learning the application–bonzai3d is clearly the front-runner rival to Google’s popular SketchUp, and is well worth reviewing for anyone interested in an easy-to-use but powerful modeling application." (You can read the entire article HERE)

bonzai3d Impressions

May 8, 2009

We are getting the first impressions and feedback about bonzai3d from the press at AIA 2009 in San Francisco.  You can read Kenneth Wong's (Desktop Engineering) and Anthony Fausto-Robledo's (Architosh) observations and watch a video by Kenneth following these links:
http://architosh.com/2009/04/aia-formz-makers-announce-bonzai-3d-release/
http://www.deskeng.com/virtual_desktop/?p=229

bonzai3d Shines at AIA 2009

May 1, 2009

Let There b3d at AIA 2009

March 17, 2009

Check out the latest on bonzai3d in San Francisco, April 30 - May 2, at booth 1639, during the AIA 2009 National Convention.  AutoDesSys will be demonstrating its latest product along side form•Z  at the Moscone Convention Center.  You are invited to join the excitement it has generated during the beta testing period. Register for the conference HERE>>

New bonzai3d Tutorial Videos Released

March 16, 2009

Bonzai3d tutorial videos are a great resource to learn this application quickly and easily. More are being released constantly and beta testers have found them invaluable in the learning process. Watch the videos to learn about the features and tools of bonzai3d and how to streamline your 3D productivity simply and powerfully. You can find them HERE>>

bonzai3d Public Beta Launched

February 5, 2009

The much anticipated new 3D modeler, bonzai3d, is now available to download. Find out more details about bonzai3d  at bonzai3d.com and download your copy HERE>

Bonzai3d is a new 3D modeler developed to fill in the demand for a quick, easy, simple but, most importantly, geometrically robust approach to 3D, based on  design industry essentials and designer requests.

In many ways, bonzai3d is an offspring of the form•Z experience of the past 20 years.  At the same time, it is a different application with a fresh approach to 3D modeling, aimed at delivering your conceptual design and sketching ideas on the fly while maintaining the option to transform them into accurate and robust models that can be used for construction drawings, can be smoothly rendered, and manufactured. 

To participate in the forum discussion about bonzai3d CLICK HERE>

form•Z Special Offer

February 4, 2009

form•Z RenderZone Plus 6.6 is being offered at 25% discount plus a free update to version 7.0 when it is released.
For details go HERE>

form•Z Joint Study Student Awards Announced

October 17, 2008

AutoDesSys, Inc. announced the 16th annual student awards, at the annual conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), held at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis. The awards were presented by Chris Yessios, President of AutoDesSys. Awards of Distinction received a copy of form•Z RenderZone Plus and one thousand US dollars. Honorable Mentions received an annual academic license. Congratulations and prizes were extended to the winners at a dinner that AutoDesSys sponsored for the conference attendees. All of the winning projects can be seen HERE>>

With an academic program that involves Universities and some High Schools worldwide, AutoDesSys supports and subsidizes the “Joint Study Program” (JSP) to facilitate the teaching of design with digital tools - 3D in particular. Currently in its 17th year, the JSP offers the use of form•Z in academic departments that are interested in educating their students in the articulation of three dimensional forms. The goal of the JSP is twofold: It aims to promote education in 3D modeling and computer enhanced design, and to contribute to the evolution of computer driven design tools.  At the end of each academic year, the faculty members in charge of administering the JSP are invited to submit a report with feedback and samples of student work that are compiled by AutoDesSys into the annual Joint Study Report, aptly named "Partnerships in Learning".  In addition to this, each year, a guest editor invites colleagues from member schools to submit articles for the "Joint Study Journal", a collection of thematic and intellectually stimulating views that present new and challenging ideas in the fields of digital design. Edited and reviewed by prominent members of the global academic community, these articles cover various aspects of digital design and represent the work of faculty, students and researchers in the field. This is inspirational reading for anyone desiring to explore how advanced digital design is influencing the future of architecture as well as other industries engaged in three dimensional expressions. Both the JSP Report (on DVD) and the Journal (in print) are widely distributed in the academic community and form•Z users world wide as well as any others who may be interested in them.  There is no doubt that the form•Z Joint Study Program is unique, contributes to academics in unparalleled  ways, and remains a testament of AutoDesSys' passion for research, development, and its contribution to the advancement of the 3D industry.

One of the traditions of the JSP is the nomination of student projects for awards that are presented to a distinguished jury comprised of five individuals outside of AutoDesSys, both experts or theorists of computer aided design.  They are charged with selecting the award winners in a setting that does not disclose names of the nominees or school affiliations.  This year the jurors were:

Craig Beddow, Craig Beddow Design, Architect, Minneapolis, MN
Beth Blostein, Associate Professor of Architecture, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Robert Brainard, IDSA, RBID, Industrial Designer, Danbury, CT
Frank Elmer, FAIA, FAICP, Principal, Lincoln Street Studio, Columbus, OH
Susan Melsop, Assistant Professor of Interior Design, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Award recipients are selected based on the grading they receive from the jurors in the following categories listed along side the winners’ names.  For a complete and detailed list of the projects with graphic illustrations  VISIT>>

This year five awards of distinction and six honorable mentions have been granted. The nominated projects were divided in five categories: Architectural Design, Interior Design, Fabrication, Visualization/Illustration, and Animation.

1. Architectural Design
Award of Distinction:    Student Name: Farzam Yazdanseta   
            School: University of Maryland
Honorable Mention:    Student Name: Ben Mokri  
            School: New School of Architecture and Design

2. Interior Design
Award of Distinction:    Student Name: Poppy Weston  
            School: University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Honorable Mention:    Student Name: Rachel Chotin
            School: Rhode Island School of Design
Honorable Mention:    Student Name: Oriel Poole
            School: Drexel University

3. Fabrication
Award of Distinction:    Student Names: Drew Weinheimer, Keith Labutta
            School: Pennsylvania State University
Honorable Mention:    Student Name: Cheng-Yuan Huang
            School: Tamkang University

4. Visualization and Illustration
Award of Distinction:    Student Names: Lauren Segapeli
            School:  Texas Tech University
Honorable Mention:    Student Name: Marielis Suarez
            School: Rhode Island School of Design

5. Animation
Award of Distinction:    Student Name: Sophia Chan
            School: Rhode Island School of Design
Honorable Mention:    St. Names: Andréanne Houde, Sandie Janelle, Simon             Leclair, Valérie Ouellette, Ralph Potvin
                        School: CÉGEP de Saint-Laurent

BonZai 3D draws much interest at Siggraph 2008

August 14, 2008

  A pre-beta version of BonZai 3D, AutoDesSys’ new 3D modeler, was shown at Siggraph, in Los Angeles, August 12-14, 2008, and drew an enthusiastic welcome by both current form.Z users and the general attendee public.  The most common comment heard around the AutoDesSys booth was: "Finally an easy modeler to sketch with, but producing robust models that can export geometry correctly and can even go to fabrication".  Find out the highlights of bonZai 3D HERE>>

form•Z 6.6 and form.Z RenderZone Plus 6.6 Released

July 1, 2008

AutoDesSys is pleased to release update form•Z and form•Z 6.6 and RenderZone Plus 6.6.  This version includes the following improvements.

Foremost, update 6.6 offers corrections to irregularities reported to AutoDesSys since our previous release and introduces a variety of stability and performance enhancements.  Some of these can be attributed to new and updated versions of the Lightworks libraries for rendering and of the ACIS libraries for smooth modeling. form•Z 6.6 also offers a few new features, mostly in the area of export/import.

New export/import translators and additions to existing
Collada (.dae) files can now be imported to and exported from form•Z, using a new translator. Collada can be used to transfer object geometry, textures, and other 3D data.
Google Earth (.kmz) files with 3D content can now be imported into form•Z and vice versa. Also, Google Earth views can now be created as textured objects directly in form•Z, after they have been captured in Google Earth.
Google SketchUp (.skp) files can be imported directly into form•Z through a new translator, which includes support for textures that import smoothly into RenderZone Plus.
The DWG/DXF translator now also supports the 2007/2008 formats and has been updated to support text elements better.
The ZPR (Zcorp) translator now also supports version 2 of the ZPR file format.

More tree symbols
The form•Z tree symbols have been enhanced with over 30 new trees including seasonal variations and palm trees.
This update is free of charge to all form•Z users who subscribe to the form•Z Family Plan and will be sent to them on a DVD.  Users on version 6.5.6 will also be able to update their software through automatic update.  However, this method will not include the tree libraries. A DVD that contains the update and the tree libraries can be obtained for the cost of processing and shipping for 6.5 users.  ORDER HERE>>

AutoDesSys previews new 3D modeler, BonZai 3D

May 15, 2008

AIA 2008 Convention, Boston - AutoDesSys is pleased to preview BonZai 3D in Booth 22139.

What is BonZai 3D?
BonZai 3D is a new 3D modeler developed to fill in the demand for a quick, easy, simple but, most importantly, geometrically robust approach to 3D.  A response to those who wish to express their thoughts graphically in 3D, on the fly, without too much hassle, and then be able to advance to the next level of detailed solid modeling and production, if they wish to do so.

In many ways, BonZai is an offspring of form•Z.  At the same time, it is a different tool and represents a fresh approach to 3D modeling.  The BonZai tools have resulted from experiences, experiments, research, and user input of the past 15 years.  Its goal is to support the conceptual and sketching stages of design with utmost ease, but also the production of accurate and robust models that can be used for construction drawings, can be smoothly rendered, animated, and fabricated (i.e. printed in 3D).  All this and more at an affordable price.

You can think of form•Z as the Swiss army knife of 3D modeling and BonZai as a pen knife you carry around to depend on for quick solutions to all kinds of immediate needs.

Anatomy of Bonzai
BonZai is the next generation of ease of use, combined with underlying solid modeling, that leads to effective workflow that minimizes input effort while maximizing productivity.  It offers all the basic tools a designer needs to present one’s ideas in a 3D representation. It is built on form•Z’s trademark strengths that include solids and nurbz, multi-platform support, reliable Booleans, import/export file translators, and above all its solid reputation for the mark of excellence in 3D.

Some of the individual features in BonZai are:
• Fluid, powerful, and smart interface.
• All the classic modeling tools (extrusions, sweeps, transformations, etc.).
• Real time Booleans.
• NURBS curves and surfaces.
• Smart 3D drawing.
• Dynamic graphic editing.
• Push/Pull tool for easy sculpting and shape editing.
• Advanced OpenGL rendering with shadows, transparencies, and textures.
• Graphic texture map editing.
• Over 200 free materials (texture maps).
• Content library for trees, furniture, entourage elements.
• Support of 3D Warehouse.
• Google Earth and SketchUp file compatibility.
• Over 30 export/import formats for easy inter-operability.
• Embedded video tutorials
                    
When to Expect bonZai 3D?
What is presented at AIA 2008 - BOOTH #22139 - is a sneak preview of what’s to come in the summer of 2008.  AutoDesSys expects to start public Beta testing soon.

form•Z User Wins Lightworks Image Competition

May 14, 2008

AutoDesSys is very happy to announce that the first Lightwork Design Image Competition award has gone to Paal Reksten of Opus Architects, in Norway.  Congratulations to a long time user of form•Z for his masterful use of the tools in RenderZone.

According to the Lightwork announcement on its web site, "There was a fantastic response, with entries submitted from across the globe, created using a broad variety of different LightWorks-based applications and illustrating a range of different sectors."  Several entries came from form.Z users. You can see the winning entry and submissions  here>>

Webcast: Modeling for 3D printing

May 13, 2008

This webcast hosted by Z Corp, describes tools in form•Z that help create models targeted for 3D printing, adding relief to surfaces and cleaning up data for dependable exporting with ZPR files, including textures.   You can see a Displacement tutorial and project examples, review 3DPrinting related tools such as Doctor, 3DPrint, Attributes Display resolution, etc. To link to the webcast click here>>

New DXF/DWG Beta Plugin

March 14, 2008

A new form•Z DXF/DWG (beta 1) translator is available. This updated plugin adds support for the DWG 2007/2008 format and includes export of DWG materials. There are also a number of improvements in the handling of text elements. This plugin is compatible with any version of form•Z 6.5. It is available to all registered form•Z and form•Z RenderZone Plus v6.5 users. Download >>

form•Z Joint Study Journal Published

March 14, 2008

The Joint Study Journal is a collection of academic articles that deal with practical and philosophical issues relating to 3D design, that pre-occupy faculty, students, and researchers. The title of the 2007 Journal is "Digital Intentions, Explorations, and Accidents." The guest editor is Andrzej Zarzycki, Professor of Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design. View JS Journal>>

Patch 6.5.6 released

March 13, 2008

Version 6.5.6 offers corrections to irregularities reported since the previous update.  Users running version 6.5 will be patched automatically once they respond to respective prompts. The patch may also be applied manually after downloading it by clicking here>>

Version 6.5.4 released

November 14, 2007

Version 6.5.4 offers corrections to reported irregularities and is also the first release of form·Z RenderZone Plus in Japanese. This is one more localization in addition to German, Spanish, Italian and Korean. A 6.5.4 patch has also been made available. Get more information on how to patch your 6.5 license by clicking here.

2007 Joint Study Award Winners

October 24, 2007

New Pylon Plugins

October 3, 2007

AutoDesSys is pleased to welcome the release of a new collection of plugins for form•Z: the Views + Navigation Collection from Pylon Technical, the second set from this developer. This collection introduces 5 plugins designed to boost productivity and optimize the form•Z workflow. Featured highlights include: easy sectioning of large architectural models and mechanical assemblies, moving and scaling underlays interactively, enhanced grid management, and more. Full descriptions of these plugins, including comprehensive video demonstrations and user manuals, can be found at: http://www.pylontechnical.com/products.html

form.Z SketchUp Plugin Beta released

September 21, 2007

form.Z SketchUp Plugin (beta 1) is a new plugin that imports data from SkecthUp files (.skp) and is now available to all registered form.Z and form.Z RenderZone Plus v6.5 users to test. It can be downloaded from here.

Version 6.5.2 released

September 20, 2007

Version 6.5.2 is the first release of formZ 6.5 and RenderZone Plus software in German, Spanish, Italian, and Korean. A patch for 6.5.2 has also been released. Get additional information and how to patch your 6.5 license by clicking here.

New how-to form.Z videos released

September 20, 2007

Take a look at the underwater animation and find out how each object in the scene was modeled.  Find out how easily and simply the scene on the ocean floor can be created, rendered and animated. Learn how to model the architecture of ruins, including the capitals of Corinthian, Doric, and Ionian style columns, a variety of sea creatures and other objects you may find on the ocean floor such as an anchor or a shell! It's can all be found by clicking here.

3D printing video

September 20, 2007

Ever wondered how to prepare a model for 3D printing? Watch the video that examines the basics of getting an object ready for the task. See examples that were output in color with textures. Please click here to learn more.

form•Z used to design ships in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean

August 5, 2007

In an article titled "Ship Shape", in the Computer Graphics World Magazine, Karen Moltenbrey describes the process used to design and build six full size ships that graced the big screen. Find out how the art directors relied on form·Z to get this monumental task accomplished. Click here to read the article.

form·Z 6.5 and RenderZone Plus Released

June 26, 2007

AutoDesSys is pleased to announce the release of form•Z 6.5 and a new rendering application. RenderZone Plus offers an uncomplicated approach to powerful results that enrich 3D modeling for presentations, visualization, and animation. To learn more about these products click here.

Bundle with Maxwell Renderer Announced

June 26, 2007

AutoDesSys and Next Limit Technologies (www.maxwellrender.com) have teamed to offer form•Z RenderZone Plus users a special discount for Maxwell Renderer. For a limited time, through the end of September 2007, RenderZone Plus users can buy Maxwell at a special price. To order contact sales@formz.com or your local form•Z dealer.

One More Time

May 24, 2007

form·Z Joint Study Award Winners featured in Architecture Week for also winning the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's competition for a million square foot design of an airport using form·Z and other digital tools. To read more, Click Here. To see the complete 2005-2006 form·Z Joint Study report, Click Here.

An Interview with Christos Yessios

May 24, 2007

Chris Yessios, President of AutoDesSys, was recently interviewed by Franco Folini of Novedge. To read the interview,  please feel free to  Click Here.

November 30, 1999

AutoDesSys Previews new 3D modeler, BonZai 3D, at AIA 2008

November 30, 1999

May 15, 2008, AIA Convention, Boston - AutoDesSys is pleased to preview BonZai 3D in Booth 22139.