AW Tools
I. Platform, Price, and Company
Platforms : o
Supported Operating Systems: Windows® ˇ XP Professional SP2, Windows® ˇ 2000 Professional SP4,Windows® ˇ NT
SGI IRIX 6.5, HP-UX, Sun Solaris operating
environment,
o Minimum hardware requirements: CD-ROM drive
3-button mouse
Graphics tablet for sketching
o Windows:
Intel® ˇ Pentium® ˇ III, Pentium 4 CPU recommended
512 MB of RAM, 1GB or more recommended
OpenGL Graphics Card with minimum of 64 MB memory
Prices : $$$, $$$ ( For software) and Prices Education please follow: http://www.studica.com/alias/
Company : Alias WaveFront (URL Contact information : www.aliaswavefront.com/contact )
Main Page : Software main
page : http://www.alias.com/studiotools
Company main page : http://www.aliaswavefront.com
II. Application
StudioTools is the leading 3D software for industrial design of consumer products such as marine, aircraft, sporting equipment, electronic enclosure, children's toy and fashion accessory markets, etc, and automotive styling and technical surfacing, it facilitates better designed products coupled with reduced time to market. StudioTools is a scaleable solution starting with DesignStudio, the entry level conceptual design system through to AutoStudio. The StudioTools software family, which includes DesignStudio, Studio, AutoStudio, SurfaceStudio, EvalViewer and Spider, provides designers with a comprehensive suite of tools that enables complete integration throughout the entire design process. Studiotools is one of the world's leading developers of CAID (computer aided industrial design) software, especially since it has a tool for every normal industrial design stage. StudioTools delivers a full digital design workflow in a single package from 2D sketches to production models and Class-A surfaces. StudioTools 12 builds on its artist-centric tools that support creativity and flexibility producing higher quality end results, whether that result is a sketch, concept model, rendering, animation, or production-ready surface.
III. Examples/Samples
The following URL are great example to use and practice a software AW Tools:
http://www.design-engine.com/photorealchairs/mwilson/mwilson01.jpg
http://www.design-engine.com/photorealchairs/mwilson/mwilson04.jpg
http://www.design-engine.com/photorealchairs/chairs02.html
http://store.alias.com/dr/v2/ec_dynamic.main?sp=1&pn=6&sid=41107
http://www.alias.com/eng/community/galleries/image_gallery/land_rover/index.jhtml
http://www.alias.com/eng/community/galleries/image_gallery/pininfarina_ferrari_360_modena/index.jhtml
http://www.alias.com/eng/community/galleries/image_gallery/stile_bertone_alfa_romeo/index.jhtml
http://www.alias.com/eng/community/galleries/image_gallery/seat/index.jhtml
http://www.alias.com/eng/community/galleries/image_gallery/saab_93/index.jhtml
http://www.proetools.com/courses/pro_surface/week_long.htm
IV. Functions/Future
Functions:
Product Design:
o DesignStudio:
DesignStudio is our entry level conceptual design for developing and visualizing conceptual designs.
DesignStudio is a complete design package that provides designers with tools for the entire design
process, from concept sketching, modeling, evaluation and presentation to data ˇintegration with CAD
for engineering. ˇ
o Studio:
Studio provides advanced design tools for precision surfacing, with powerful conceptual modeling and rendering
capabilities, all in one integrated sketch and paint tools enable designers to use imported 3D geometry/
ergonomic data as a reference while developing concepts. Sketch tools can be used throughout the design
process for exploration and annotation of 3D models. ˇ
o Workflow:
StudioTools has a comprehensive toolset to handle the need for sketching, modeling and visualization. Using
the new Workflows Submenus, available in Preferences, the user interface can be streamlined to display
only the tools required for a particular task. These toolsets will accelerate learning time and make
experienced users more efficient.
Transportation: o Auto Studio:
AutoStudio is the industry standard for automotive design and styling that are implemented throughout the
world by all leading automotive manufacturers. AutoStudio allows transportation designers both freedom
and flexibility for total creativity, and the precision and accuracy of CAD software. This is the industry's
best technology for designing, 3D modeling, rendering and engineering integration. ˇ
o Surface Studio:
SurfaceStudio is a technical surfacing product for the developing of Class-A surfaces. It offers
advanced modeling and reverse engineering tools, real-time diagnostics and scan data processing
technology. It provides a complete suite of accuracy and precision required in ˇautomotive styling.
o Studio Paint:
Design-focused image manipulation tools make it possible to change the shape and color of sketches and
images without switching to another application. Color adjustment tools are provided for easy changes to
color balance, brightness and contrast, color saturation and value. All or parts of an image can now be
deformed to experiment with shape or adjust the image of, for example, a headlamp, to fit inside a new
front end concept.
o Transportation
Workflow: An intuitive UI speeds workflow for experienced users and accelerates the learning curve
for new users. Patented marking-menu technology uses context sensitive gestures to select
commands without looking away from the design and to work much faster than with
conventional menus. Many aspects of the UI such as hot-keys, tool shelves and marking
menus can be customized to suit the demands of a particular project or an individual user’s
preferred workflow.
Technical Features:
Usability: o
Efficient UI: The intuitive user interface shortens learning time for new users and features like context-sensitive gestural
marking menus allow experienced users ˇ to work quickly.
o Customizable UI: Hot keys, marking menus and tools shelves can be customized
to suit your workflow.
o Menu Presets: Streamline the interface for design tasks like sketching, modeling or rendering by displaying only the tools
required for the job.
Modeling: o Construction History:
Most tools retain the history of how objects were constructed so that they can be automatically
rebuilt if the curves or surfaces they were ˇconstructed from are modified. ˇ
o History View : A graphical interface that allows you to view and edit construction
history.
o Global Deformation: Modify the shape of a collection of surfaces, including trim surfaces, while maintaining full curvature
continuity of the model.
o Fit Scan: Automatically modifies a surface to fit section data or a polygonal surface.
o Curve Tools: Create and edit lines, arcs, circles and high quality freeform
NURBS curves.
o Blend Curves: Curves automatically update to maintain constraints set by the user. Constraints may be position, direction, or
continuity with other geometry.
o Sweep Curves: Set of industry standard sweep (French) curves for sketching or
modeling. Create and save custom curves.
o Curve Planarize: Make a curve, or the boundary of a surface, planar along a
specified or best-fit plane.
o Curve Section: Trim, detach, edit, and create curves using surfaces, point,
planes or curves.
o Basic Surfacing: Create surfaces by revolving, extruding, skinning, boundary
curves, bounded planes and filleting.
o Rotational Scaling: Scale a set of curves or surfaces around a common
pivot point.
o Round: Create variable or constant radius fillets between multiple surfaces.
o Trimmed Surfaces: Interactively trim away regions of a surface.
o Tubular Offset: Automatically trim out regions for cut lines, grooves and ridges.
o Stitching: Form shells by stitching together adjacent NURBS surfaces.
o Boolean Operations: Produce new shells formed by the
union, intersection or difference of two shells.
o Align: Creates high quality surfaces by modifying existing curves or surfaces to achieve G0,
G1 or G2 continuity between them.
o Smooth: Interactively modify curves or surfaces to improve curvature distribution.
o Layers: Organize related parts of a model into groups that can be picked,
displayed, and edited individually or together.
o Proportional Modification: Interactively move groups of CV’s proportionally,
relative to a master CV.
o Fit Curve: Interactive tool which enables the user to automatically create
curves from cross-section data.
o Symmetry Plane Align: Automatically aligns an object tangent to a defined axis.
o Construction Planes: Free Planes, Surface Planes and Three Point Planes.
Advanced Surfacing Tools:
o Rail: Create surfaces by sweeping one or more curves along path curves.
o Square: Create surfaces by blending four bounding curves.
o Draft/Flange: Create surfaces with draft angles or flange surfaces. Create more complex surfaces by
setting multiplepull depths and angles using interactive manipulators.
o Multi-surface Filleting: Create circular, circular with lead radius, or freeform fillets across multiple
surfaces with constant, variable radius or user-defined chordal distance blending options.
Direct Modeling Functions:
o Explicit Control: Control degree and segmentation while viewing deviation
from the original object.
o Align Hull: Move CV’s to planar positions creating smooth control hull forms.
o CV and Hull Movement: The Direct Modeling panel allows for the control of both CV’s and Hulls using
XYZ, NUV, Slide and Project. ˇIncremental micro movements with either the
mouse or arrow keys.
o Deviation Display: Interactively displays Min, Max and Mean deviation to
scan data.
o Cross Section: Create cross sections from X, Y, Z orientations or allows the use of background data for
irregular section detail.
o Curvature Control: Control the Scale, Density and Sampling of curvature display on curves, curves on
surface, and surfaces.
Sketching: o Integrated Paint:
Create concept sketches and annotate models with integrated pencils, markers and brushes.
o Brushes: Paint Brushes, Airbrushes, Smear, Clone, Blur, Sharpen, Flood Fill, Hide and show. Highest interactive
performance and quality.
o Shapes: Quickly create illustration-like drawings by assigning line and fill attributes to curves. Editing the curve automatically
updates the shape.
o Multiple Layers: Sketch in front or behind geometry.
o Masks: Protect parts of an image while painting.
o Snap to Geometry: Use curves or other reference geometry as sketching guides.
Raw Data Processing using EvalViewer or
Spider: Process scan data points from measurement systems, such as 3D laser scanners.
EvalViewer and Spider are standalone applications that offer fast, interactive tools for
cloud data processing and are tightly integrated for use with AutoStudio.
Evaluation Tools:
o Iso-Angle: Displays iso-angle lines across surface boundaries as either white shaded lines, color shaded lines or
curves on surface.
o Diagnostic Shading: Interactive shaded display of highlights, reflections, curvature,
and draft angle.
o Check Model: Check geometry for potential data transfer problems to CAD.
o Curve Curvature Display: Interactively plot curvature information by displaying
vectors normal to the curve.
o Parting Lines: Dynamic Parting Line on a surface relative to a specified angle
and pull direction.
o Continuity Checker: Evaluate G1 and G2 continuity across multiple surfaces.
o Min/Max Curve Curvature: Identify points of minimum and maximum curvature.
o Min/Max Distance: Measure the minimum and maximum distance between
points, curves and surfaces.
o Mass Properties: Examine mass properties such as volume and surface area.
o Surface Evaluation Tool: Interactive tool that creates modeling curves on surfaces. Generates highlight, curvature,
horizon, contour and parting lines.
o Dynamic Cross Section: Drag discreet sections across a surface while displaying curvature in real time. Sections
may be captured to be used for modeling.
o 3D Stereo Viewing: 3D stereo viewing mode using liquid-crystal shutter glasses enhances your ability to
interactively view and evaluate 3D models.
Animation :
o Design Animation: Present your design with turntable animation. Define parameter-based animations using key
frames and motion paths.
o Inverse Kinematics: Position articulated objects in full 3D.
Rendering :
o ClearCoat: Rendering technology that simulates the lacquer finish typical
of automotive paint finishes.
o Project Sketch: Project a 2D sketch onto the surfaces of a 3D model.
o RayTracing: Achieve realistic effects for glass, water or shadows.
o Rendering Effects: Apply realistic effects such as motion blur to individual objects or an entire scene. Create
camera and lighting effects including lens flare, fog, light beams, object and light glows, projector glows.
Alias Open Digital Studio:
o OpenAlias: Develop plug-ins that can be integrated with AutoStudio’s user
interface.
o Alias OpenModel: Write your own programs to manipulate models and
animations.
o CAD/CAM Data Input/Output: STEP (AP203/214), IGES, ACIS SAT, VDA/FS, VDA/IS, DES,
DXF, JAMA-IS, Pro/RENDER input, UG® ˇ FAC input.
o Vendor-Specific IGES Interfaces: CATIA® ˇ , Pro/ENGINEER® ˇ , I-DEAS® ˇ , UNIGRAPHICS ® ˇ ,
COMPUTERVISION® ˇ , EUCLID® ˇ .
o Rapid Prototype: Output STL (triangle based) or SLC (contour based) formats.
V. Web Resources
Tools Functional Descriptions: http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/studiotools/file/StudioTools12_SpecSheet.pdf
Tools Descriptions: http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/studiotools/index.shtml#glance
Software Descriptions: http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2000/001228aw-3dec2/
Help Functional: http://www.design.polimi.it/tool/tooldocenti/toolcorsi/oggetti/400130/files/AW_interfaccia.pdf
Software Information: http://www.proetools.com/courses/alias/why.htm
Company contact information: http://www.alias.com/eng/about/file/corporate_overview.pdf
Web information for MAC: http://us.indiantelevision.com/anex/y2k4/headlines/anex46.htm
Web resources : http://www10.dcccafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=131479
Software News: http://www.creativepro.com/story/news/20319.html
Software News : http://www.design-engine.com/news/alias/news_release2004.htm
Software News : http://www.computerarts.co.uk/news/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=17079&subsectionid=841
Software news resources: http://www10.mcadcafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=81185
News Letter : http://www.dvguys.com/viewsonnews/2004_05_06.html
News letter : http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/studiotools/autostudio/index.shtml
FAQ about Tools: http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/studiotools/studio_ple/faq.shtml