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Click here to play with the interactive 3D model.
Here you can see a real reflective material effect placed on our Hummingbird logo.
You can see just how much improved this new gold material effect is over the last time we updated on this topic:
Material effects like these are only possible because Hummingbird, our Flash-based 3D modeller, utilizes the powerful open source Away3D flash engine.
Why did we choose Away3D to power Hummingbird when there were other very competent 3D engines like Papervision3D and Sandy available?
Simple: Technical realism is a must. Hummingbird will be used to render realistic 3d photo objects for use in other Aviary tools (like Phoenix). Away3D supports features like corrective z-sorting, ensuring us that pictures will be rendered correctly, with polygons appearing exactly as they should. Add incredible real-time material effects previously unseen in Flash and it was perfect for our needs.
Update! More interactive demos:
- Reflective directional lighting
- smooth shading
- transparent reflections
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Comments
Posted by Vox on 2007-10-20 19:53:58
Interesting. But as i know, Papervision is going to merge Away3d features, as a result of agreement between Papervision and Away3d developers. Therefore, Papervision will not lack technical realism. And even more, as I'm monitoring for some time Flash 3d engines, I must say; Papervision is maybe not technically most advanced engine so far, but it's most widely used and supported 3d engine in Flash community.
Posted by Avi Muchnick on 2007-10-20 20:34:48
Vox, actually that's not true any longer. Although it was the hope earlier on, Papervision3D and Away3D are no longer going to merge, as they have been developed to far in two different directions to make it possible at this point.
Posted by Vox on 2007-10-22 05:57:57
O.K. that's true for API, but there is no problem to implement materials based on Away3d technical implemenation. Anyway, it shouldn't really matter as long we can export our work in common format like Collada and use it in another engine. Visual apperance will probably differ then, but I suposse we can live with that.
Posted by Avi Muchnick on 2007-10-22 13:24:48
Yup, you will definitely have that ability. Objects being displayed in PV3D vs Away3D should still be quite similar in appearance.
Posted by Avi Muchnick on 2007-10-22 13:25:47
By the way, I saw your comments on the Activa engine. I'm really excited to see what that team comes up with, as they have posted some really advanced technical demos of their progress.
Posted by Dave on 2007-10-23 19:08:36
This is so awesome! Will we will be able to export a 3d .swf for use in outside projects, commercial or otherwise? or will it be locked into the Aviary "marketplace"?
Posted by Vox on 2007-10-26 17:56:44
@Dave - as we discussed above, you should be able to export 3d model in one of the common formats like Collada and then load in your engine of choice or another 3d modeler which supports Collada. I'm not member of Aviary team, therefore don't take my answer for sure. @Avi - you mean AlternativaGame engine? Yup, I made comments there. Have you seen this? http://blog.alternativagame.com/ru/files/2007/10/3denginedemo_en.swf
Posted by Avi Muchnick on 2007-10-29 00:19:01
Yes, vox. Their demo is utterly fantastic. I do hope they license out their code, as they have made some advances in lighting and shading in Flash that are truly amazing. And Dave, vox's answer is correct. You will be able to take the model outside of the market.