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First published in New Zealand Macguide Magazine - Issue 21

Review
Installation & Documentation
Ease of use
Value for money
Price approx.	$189 and $129 USD (Electronic download)
Software/Hardware Requirements	Mac OS X 10.2+ Recommended 1.0 Ghz processor 512 MB RAM 25 MB disk space 1024 x 768 resolution Swift 3D Xpress requires users to have Macromedia Flash 2004
Available from	Electric Rain

3D modelling is an area of design work that thoroughly impresses me. I don't think I would have the patience or the skill to produce the kind of work that programs like Swift 3D or Swift 3D Xpress help you achieve.

The programs are aimed at Macromedia Flash designers (Xpress only works inside Flash MX) and provide the ability to develop 3D models and animation for use in Flash's SWF files. Swift 3D is a standalone 3D development and rendering application whilst Xpress is more for users wanting to quickly convert 2D text and artwork into 3D animations. This is particularly useful if you just want to add more interesting depth to your designs.

Vector objects on the Flash stage can be brought into the Swift 3D Xpress interface and customised using pre-built animations, lighting schemes and materials. The 3D scenes are rendered and placed into a specialised movie clip in Flash's timeline for further use or editing. Exporting as a standalone SWF file in either application means that your Flash projects can have a multitude of advanced files added to its layers.

It's important to realise that although you are modelling 3D shapes and designs, Flash movies are not really three-dimensional. Therefore you need to understand that what these programs do is take your 3D design and produce the vectors and drawings/animations to have your work displayed in the two-dimensional world of Flash.

Swift3D includes the ability to import existing vector-based artwork such as Adobe Illustrator or EPS files into the environment and turn them into 3D objects, as well as being able to import 3DS and DXF files, which are popular formats in the 3D modelling world. As with any 3D environment, the program includes various rendering modes when working (outline only and upwards) as well as texturing, lighting and camera placements.

My head is spinning
It's a little easy to feel slightly overwhelmed by the products and their interface, particularly when the Xpress tutorial was itself a Flash-based document (the Swift 3D tutorial on the other hand is excellent). You also might be forgiving for spending a lot of time trying to figure out the difference between the products and I even found the website wasn't always that helpful in that respect. Not being the most advanced 3D modeller, I found myself quickly leaping for the handy printed user guide that came in the groovy Swift 3D tin. But for Xpress, I finally tracked down help via the help menu once you launch Xpress from the menu in Flash MX.

Swift3D Xpress is particularly useful when developing Flash animations for things such as company logos and fancy fly-in or break apart effects. It also rapidly produces a three-dimensional look to any vector image you might import or have drawn within Flash. I found it was very easy to take some text, add depth to it, opt for one of the preset animations (nicely demoed when you click on them) and output the image back to the Flash timeline. However there are a few quirks with the interface that take a little getting used to (there's little indication how to apply an animation or undo changes you have made), so unlike other products where you might be able to get into them quickly, I found myself going back to the online help on a repeated basis.

All those panels and so little space
With Swift 3D, the majority of work is done in the scene editor and people familiar 3D modelling will feel at home in what seems a daunting interface. It also would pay to have a far bigger monitor than my 15" iMac has. The familiar extrusion and lathe tools are all present and welcome changes in this version see the introduction of a lighting gallery of lighting preset and advanced animation tools, as well as the ability to place multiple cameras.

Some of the text in the manual can be a little distracting. When discussing simple shapes that can be added to the work environment (known as 'primitives') it may be fun to read, "they are about as easy to use as a light switch", but not necessary that helpful. The author of the User Guide for Swift 3D has certainly put his enthusiasm and personality into the book.

Once you've grasped the basic concepts of 3D modelling, you'll find that the next step of animation very easy as the layout of the timeline is very Flash-like. Like most 3D packages, you have a variety of options for textures and colours that you can apply in the materials section of the program and you can work whilst viewing the designs in standard modes such as wire-frame or rendered versions that either display the images accurately (but chew up processing power) or more generic image form. Images can also be viewed at various angles, level of dept and have a variety of cameras, lighting and materials applied.

Swift 3D is a powerful authoring tool and evaluating it made me realize the power (or lack there of) of my Mac. If you are going to invest a lot of time in modelling in 3D, you're going to need a powerful Mac with plenty of processing power and memory.

When an entire CD of Press information and examples come with the software you are to review, you know you've come across a company that has gone to incredible trouble and is exceptionally proud of its products. Electric Rain (www.erain.com) certainly has good reason to be proud, with a powerful 3D modelling environment and technologies that have also been licensed and used in Maya.

Pros

• Powerful program that will help advance Flash users create stunning work
• Well supported with a lot of documentation, tutorials and examples, except Xpress sometimes seems not to be treated as its own product.
• Manual is mildly amusing and personable, but some may not like the superfluous chatter

• The two programs feel similar and you might be uncertain which to buy. There is a bundle available though
• Niggles with the interface, such as tabs that aren't tabs
• 3D is intensive so use a powerful Mac for best results

Published by kind permission NZ Macguide - © Parkside Media

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