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.