Strata 3D CX 5.5

Mac 3D design veteran Strata today released Strata 3D CX v5.5, an update to its 3D rendering program. Incorporating Strata's 3D[in] technology, Strata 3D CX v5.5 adds a powerful set of 3D tools to Photoshop CS3 Extended, allowing 2D designers to easily add three-dimensional elements into their work, without having to load up a second program. The update adds a "Connect to Photoshop" feature, allowing users to work from Strata 3D to collaborate with Photoshop. The application is available for $700 for new users.

Strata 3D CX 5.5 is a very Photoshop-centric update, offering new functions for both 2D- and 3D-designers alike. Three-dimensional objects can be created or modified by using the various modeling tools, such as Subdivision Surface modeling, Boolean operations, and Deformations. 3D information can be supplied directly into Photoshop CS3 Extended, even blended to match the perspective in the image a user is editing. Objects can be influenced by lighting effects, such as soft shadows, refractive materials and reflected light, using elements from the 2D image.

Users can create textures using the new "Texture Maker" CS3 plug-ins. These plugins allow textures to be linked fully between the two applications, giving users the opportunity to create complex surfaces, by taking advantage of CS3's powerful layering capabilities. When changes occur within CS3, the developer says any Strata 3D projects are updated automatically.

“Rarely have there been two design applications from different companies that work together so seamlessly,” says Ken Bringhurst, President of Strata.

The retail price of the new Strata 3D CX version 5.5 is $700. The upgrade price for current Strata 3D CX 5 users is $150, while upgrades for any other Strata 3D version are $300; the upgrade price from Strata Design 3D[in], a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, is $550.

by MacNN Staff