Adobe debuts Acrobat 3D

Adobe Systems today debuted Adobe Acrobat 3D for UNIX variants and Microsoft Windows, but not for Mac OS X. The new desktop software designed to help extend document-based 3D design collaboration, allowing users to easily convert 3D models from a wide variety of major computer-aided design (CAD) formats and embed them into Adobe PDF files—regardless of whether they have CAD software. The software enables users to enhance the interactivity of 3D objects in PDF documents by editing lighting, adding textures and materials, and creating animations such as assembly and disassembly instructions. Adobe's Acrobat product manager told Architosh that nothing is precluding them from developing a version for Mac OS X, and that if the market responds by requesting a native Mac OS X native version of Acrobat 3D, Adobe is willing to produce one.

"It is Windows only at the moment because it was driven by the product manufacturing sector customers -- not AEC," said Patrick Aragon, who is Adobe's Acrobat product manager. "Adobe has even limited the languages of this product for this first release."

Adobe Reader enabled by Acrobat 3D allows users to view product structure and leverage commenting, measurement and cross-section tools directly on 3D objects in Adobe PDF files.

The software also helps reduce the costs of slower and often error-prone methods of communication, such as screen shots or paper-based processes. Additionally, technical publishing and creative professionals can use Acrobat 3D to help increase productivity by inserting 3D models into Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

Adobe Acrobat 3D is available for $1,000, with upgrades from Acrobat 7.0 Pro and Acrobat 6.0 Pro priced at $550 and $700, respectively.

by MacNN Staff