Latest version of 3D CAD visualization tool adds functions

The 2022 version of 3DViewStation offers various performance improvements including 3D lighting effects and additional patches.

The advanced CAD data visualization software now features more colors, textures, light and shadow effects to enhance product presentations with ease.

Jim Eardly, U.S. Sales Director for KISTERS, observes the trend that 3D configurators are gaining more influence over their competition. “Customers expect more, especially if their purchasing power has declined. Companies will have an advantage if their sales teams can provide details as realistic as possible.”

“Use of 3DViewStation is particularly well established in the automotive and architectural sectors. As more consumers are buying cars online, they want to view of products that are more true-to-life from all angles. Many of our customers use photorealistic renderings to showcase their products and better highlight unique selling points,” Eardly explained.

In particular, transparency and luminosity within KISTERS 3DViewStation are popular lighting features with “light and glare effects complete the visual post-processing portfolio.”

Materials and textures that create detailed and vivid representation of CAD models have been available in the software for some time.

This level of advanced CAD data visualization represents a less expensive investment alternative to video production for marketing and sales budgets. Renderings are amazingly similar to conventional product photography and are more cost-effective in the medium term. Once CAD data from the design department is available, they can be used in 3DViewStation in iterative processes to promote sales at a fraction of minimal costs.

3DViewStation gives users new abilities to successfully stage complex processes and products. Consequently, consumers can quickly see new perspectives, combinations or environments.

Overview of the main improvements in V2022

New and enhanced file formats

• 3D Import: Parasolid 34.0, NX 2007, Solid Edge 2022 und SolidWorks 2022
• 2D Import: CATIA V5-6R2022 (R32), Solid Edge 2022, SolidWorks 2022 (SP0), NX 1992, 1996, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2015

New and enhanced functions & features

• CATIA: PMI reference to solids
• Light sources on node level
  allow e.g. inner parts of a car to render nicely in a night scene
• Night scene settings
• API only: New Glare effects
  Light sources will appear more realistic in the night
• Setting to load prototype views
• Setup creates backup of presets.xml
• Enhanced and accelerated file format recognition
• Copy text from 2D files to clipboard
• Import setting to load PMIs as ‘always on top’
• Enhanced: Shadow rendering
• Layer support for 2D documents