Part Two: An Evaluation of VRML Modelling Tools

5. Comparison of Features

	Caligari TrueSpace 3.0	Ligos V-Realm Builder 2.0	Paragraph Internet Space Builder 2.1	Platinum VR Creator 2.0 Learning Edition	Rendersoft VRML Editor 1.3	Sculptware LLC Site Sculptor 1.0
File Import
VRML 1.0	yes	yes	no	yes	yes
VRML 2.0	no	yes	yes	yes	no
gzipped VRML	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no
3DStudio .3ds	yes	yes	yes	no (PE yes)	no	no
AutoCAD .dxf	yes	no	no	no	no	no
File Export
VRML 1.0	yes		no	no	yes
VRML 2.0	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
gzipped VRML	no	yes	yes	no	no	no
User Interface
multiple view windows	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
real-time shading	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no (plugin req.)
scene graph	no	yes	yes	yes	no	no
publish tool	yes	no	yes	yes	no	no
customisable	no	no	yes	yes	no	yes
context-sensitive help	no	no	yes	no	no	yes
tutorials	yes	no	yes	yes	no	no
Modelling Features
primitive shapes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
polygon editor	yes	yes	yes	no (PE yes)	no	yes
boolean ops	yes	no	yes	no (PE yes)	no	yes
File Formats
texture image	BMP, JPEG, TGA, TXR	GIF, JPEG, SGI	BMP, GIF, JPEG	BMP, JPEG	BMP, JPEG	JPEG
movie	AVI	MPEG, AVI	animated GIF	none	none	none
audio		WAV, MIDI	WAV, MIDI	WAV	none	none
Supported VRML 2.0 Nodes
URL Anchor	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Background	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Billboard	no	yes	no	no	no	no
ElevationGrid	no	yes	no	no	no	no
Fog	yes	yes	no	no	no	no
Inline	yes	yes	no	yes	no	yes
LOD	yes	yes	no	yes	no	yes (auto)
Sound	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Text	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Viewpoint	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
lights	yes	yes	no	yes	yes	no
PROTO	no	yes	no	no	no	no
Animation
key-frame editor	yes	yes	no	yes	no	no
Sensors and ROUTES		yes	no	yes	no	no
JavaScript	no	yes	no	yes	no	no
Libraries
objects	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
materials	yes	yes	no	yes	no	no
textures	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
behaviours	no	no	no	yes	no	no
drag-and-drop	no	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Miscellaneous
graphics API	Direct3D/3DR	OpenGL		Direct3D	OpenGL
cost	$495	$495	$89.95	FREE (PE $115)	$15 (shareware)	$375

A blank cell indicates that feature was not determined.
PE: Personal Edition

Graphics Multimedia Virtual Environments Visualisation Contents