Freespace 7.6 now FREE

[Shawn Gillies]

Found this today. Truespace, which normaly costs $595 has been bought out by Microsoft, and now gives Truespace 7.6 for FREE.
I think it is like the Google/SketchUp situation. But not sure what is really does.

http://cart1.caligari.com/web/Truespacemainreg.aspx

Enjoy!

[John Schreiber]

That's TrueSpace instead of FreeSpace.

I've just read up on it a bit and it definitely does some things that SketchUp can't. But it doesn't seem to be oriented toward planning real world objects like SketchUp is. It's more oriented toward animation and organic shapes. Therefore, while it is cool for some purposes, I don't see it as a woodworking tool.

I'm open minded though.

[Shawn Gillies]

Oppps, I am not sure what it does at this time myself, but when SketchUp came out, I didn't really get that either.
I do CNC, and use many software programs for 2.5D drawings, so I may have a use for this, but I'm not sure. For Free, I just thought others might find it useful. These programs are for Animation (I think) but also do many other projects. Everyone finds different ways of using them.

[Wayne Watling]

Thanks for the link Shawn, I purchased this program about 15 years ago and have been using it extensive with my woodworking. There is alot to this program and its not easy to learn but its more comprehensive than sketchup and I think the final rendering tools produce a much more life like scene. It has the capability to produce animation but its certainly not the main function, you can simply use it for life like static shots.

Microsoft really has purchased a great product here.

Best,
Wayne

The rendering below is a Frank Lloyd designed lamp I first created in Caligari Truespace.


http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l227/woodworkingpics/Lamp/TalesinIIITS.jpg

[Dennis Peacock]

So.....how well does it work for woodworking drawings???

[Wayne Watling]

So.....how well does it work for woodworking drawings???

It's no CAD program, Truespace is more suited to the artist in us who enjoy's woodworking design in an artistic 3D mode.

These 2 pages give a good description of how Truespace differs from other 2D/3D CAD style packages.

http://www.caligari.com/products/trueSpace/ts75/Brochure/solutions_architecture.asp

http://www.caligari.com/products/trueSpace/ts75/Brochure/architecture_case_study2.asp


That lamp (above) was created in both Truespace and Sketchup, I wanted to checkout the lighting dynamics of the lamp and get to know the design a little more intimately before building it. Actually that rendering was done in a much older version of Truespace, the new version has many more features and interface design changes to master.

Truespace is definately not for everyone, I'd say more for those who enjoy tinkering and creating a lifelike rendered model prior to the actual real object. Its a lot of fun and can be very helpful for the woodworker enabling him/her to get a better understanding of the design detail of a particular piece before construction. However, there is quite the learning curve associated with Truespace ,that's for certain.
Fortunately Microsoft have made all the tutorials available free of charge as well so thats a good start.

Wayne

p.s. you can draw dimensioned 2D wireframed objects in any view you wish and from any angle also in a 4 window setup etc. I just can't comment on how difficult this is to accomplish in this new version in comparison to a program like Sketchup.

[John Schreiber]

. . . The rendering below is a Frank Lloyd designed lamp I first created in Caligari Truespace. . . .
That's a beautiful rendering of a beautiful lamp. I've modeled the floor version of that lamp in SketchUp and I hope to build a copy one day. Truespace really works well for that lamp where you want to see just how the light comes out.

SketchUp does require add on programs to do renderings, but it's very good for planning.

93340


In the actual model 3D Warehouse (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=18809736617cbe7e4326824bb7387d70&prevstart=0), I've got a full set of plans and even a model of the slot cutting jig needed to make the shades.

I've been experimenting recently with cutting end grain very thin, so that it is translucent and thought I might be able to actually make the light glow through the wood using LEDs.