Electric Rain Unveils Preview Release of ZAM 3D Enabling Next Generation Interface Design for Microsoft WinFX-Based Applications
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Visual 3D Design Tool Exports 3D Scenes as XAML Markup for Integration With Microsoft Expression 'Sparkle Interactive Designer' to Develop Rich and Engaging 3D UI Controls
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14 -- Today Electric Rain, Inc.(R) announced the second major preview release of ZAM 3D(TM), a 3D modeling and animation product aimed at developers and designers utilizing Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation to build new applications for the forthcoming Windows Vista operating system.
ZAM 3D enables application developers to move beyond traditional user interface design and begin utilizing compelling and immersive 3D elements in their products. ZAM 3D radically increases productivity when building 3D interface components by providing an approachable, yet powerful 3D authoring environment that automatically generates XAML markup for the Windows Presentation Foundation, eliminating the need to hand code the geometry, lights, cameras and animation that make up a 3D scene.
Output from ZAM 3D will seamlessly integrate with the new Microsoft Expression "Sparkle Interactive Designer" application, allowing 3D components and controls to be composited directly into an application's user interface. 3D XAML objects can be taken a step further within Microsoft Expression "Sparkle Interactive Designer" by mapping 2D images and video onto 3D elements and applying interactive code to create broadcast-quality visual experiences that will clearly differentiate WinFX-based applications from conventional software experiences.
"Microsoft WinFX and Windows Presentation Foundation are going to enable a new level of visual expressiveness in software applications, and 3D user interface controls and components will play a major role in delivering these experiences," said Mike Soucie, President of Electric Rain, Inc. "Application developers have been offered a great opportunity with new 3D rendering capabilities built into the Windows Vista operating system, and Electric Rain is excited to supply a 3D authoring solution that allows them to successfully explore this new frontier of interface design."
Key benefits of ZAM 3D:
o Provides an easy to use 3D authoring environment
o Offers both basic and advanced 3D modeling and animation capabilities
o Converts existing 2D artwork in the AI and EPS formats into 3D models
o Imports pre-built 3DS and DXF models for quick conversion to XAML
o Outputs 3D XAML markup that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Expression "Sparkle Interactive Designer" and Visual Studio 2005
o Takes advantage of the Microsoft unified presentation subsystem for Windows Vista, Windows Presentation Foundation, to enhance WinFX-based application user interfaces
"We're excited that Electric Rain is producing a 3D modeling and animation product that will integrate with the Microsoft Expression 'Sparkle Interactive Designer'," said Forest Key, group product manager of the .NET Developer Product Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "Electric Rain's product brings powerful 3D modeling and animation capabilities to both the creative designer and application developer, and will offer exciting opportunities for creating superior content and rich user experiences for Windows Vista."
More information on ZAM 3D, as well as a public preview version that supports Microsoft's latest CTP build of WinFX is currently available for download at zam3d.com/. The SRP and availability of ZAM 3D will be announced towards the end of 2005.
About Electric Rain, Inc.
Electric Rain is a software company with a vision of bringing easy-to-use 3D and multimedia tools to designers and developers. Through the release of their Swift 3D product line and the company's proprietary RAViX(R) rendering technology, Electric Rain has become the industry-leading developer of 3D-to-vector Macromedia(R) Flash(R) solutions. More information about Electric Rain, its products and technologies is available at www.erain.com/ or by calling 1-888-613-1500.
All other product or company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Carrie Cochrane of Electric Rain, Inc., +1-303-543-8233, or fax, +1-303-543-8225, ccochrane@erain.com
