Vue 7.5 Infinite from e-on software is a standalone product used for creating natural 3D environments from the ground up. It was released with Vue 7.5 xStream, which is a more integrated solution for use in Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya and XSI, MAXON CINEMA 4D, and Newtek LightWave (and it costs a bit more as well). They offer several versions, so there’s sure to be one for every price and level of designer, from beginner to advanced.

If you’re not familiar with Vue Infinite, it’s an advanced application used for creating, animating, and rendering 3D environments. It’s been used by many studios for matte painting and special effects, and has been featured in movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. So you can see this is a pretty amazing program that allows you create some great work with a level of detail that you’ll be very pleased with.

Vue 7.5 Infinite enables you to create scenes from scratch, beginning with the terrain, then clouds, water, plants, etc., until you have the landscape that you want. The amazing thing about how the terrain is created is that the scene is always very detailed, even when you zoom in. The overall quality and handling of the procedural terrains have been dramatically improved over the previous versions. Improvements began with version 7, which allowed you to choose from two groups of presets: ordinary procedural terrains and infinite terrains (which creates procedural terrains so large that they offer the option of using it to replace the ground plane). This carries over in 7.5, along with the new features of material mapping on terrains, planetary rendering, improved cloud technology, and animated EcoSystem population.

Not to be overlooked, Vue’s ability to create realistic 3D plants and trees is truly impressive. To create these, all you have to do is click on the Plant tool icon. Vue 7.5 has a more robust selection of species (more than 160) and includes categories such as grass, shrubs, trees, and more. But that’s not all. It’s not too often that you just want to put one tree or shrub into a scene, so that’s where Vue’s amazing EcoSystem technology comes in. This allows you to load a mixture of plants, rocks, and terrain to create a visually pleasing landscape. To top that off, the new animated EcoSystem populations feature enables you to create populations of elements that evolve over time to create effects that evolve, such as the growth of a forest.

This review only barely scratches the surface of what this program has to offer. I think this is definitely a program that you’ll want to check out if you’re creating landscapes of any kind for the digital world. I use Vue as one of the tools in my creative workflow because it works great with my other 3D applications and it’s my favorite tool to compose and render scenes.—Bruce Bicknell

Company: e-on software, inc.
Price: Download $895; Boxed $935
Web: www.e-onsoftware.com
Rating: 4.5

Hot: EcoSystem technology; clouds, water, and import options; rendering
Not: Expensive; powerful system required; steep learning curve

As an animator, I’m always excited when Smith Micro announces a new version of their products, and the release of Manga Studio EX 4 is no different. Smith Micro tweaked the existing tools and added a host of new features, including a suite of vector-graphic tools, professional color set, mesh transformation, improvements to the text capabilities, and much more. Those of you who are familiar with Manga Studio EX 4 know that it’s considered the go-to program for the comics art industry, but artists in many areas are finding the features offered are useful in their fields as well.

For those of you who aren’t sure exactly what Manga Studio is, it’s a vector- and raster-based program that allows you to create drawings using the Pencil tool naturally, as you would with a traditional pencil and paper. It’s even better if you’re using a Wacom Cintiq tablet (or any Wacom product) as it gives you total control over your lines and inking capabilities. It offers numerous tools for toning, speed lining, lettering, and perspective. It also allows the importing of 3D objects and 2D images and the importing and exporting of file types including JPEG, BMP, PNG, PICT, and TIFF.

Some really cool things are happening in the new version of Manga Studio EX 4 with both new features and improvements to toolsets and functionality. For me, the new vector toolkit and the professional color set are the two best new features. The vector toolkit allows the new vector drawing tools to integrate seamlessly with rasterized pens. This makes it possible to convert a raster layer into editable vectors. The Pen and Line tools still function as they did in the previous version no matter which format you choose, but the vectors allow you to scale up smoothly for a clean image. The professional color set is just as impressive, as it has addressed a huge limitation (lack of working in color) that Manga Studio 3 had compared to other art programs on the market. As with anything, you could work your way around this by assigning a specific color to an individual layer, but if you were going to work with many colors, this definitely wasn’t the solution. With Manga Studio EX 4, the problem has been addressed. In addition to the 1-bit (black only), 2-bit (black and white), and 8-bit (grays) layers, you now have a 32-bit color layer. This new layer allows you to place all the colors you want onto one layer, making life much easier.

As with any review, there’s never enough time to go through all of the new features or updates but some others worth noting are the addition of a professional filter set that gives you a suite of advanced creative filters; a new story editor that allows you to enter and edit the text for your entire story and distribute it across pages; and advanced text input so you can enter text directly on your page. The most notable updates are that you can export to more formats than ever before with the addition of TIFF and PDF. Also updated are more 3D objects and fully customizable pattern brushes.

Manga Studio EX 4 is a comprehensive program for creating comics or illustrations of any kind. There’s a bit of a learning curve for the beginner but there’s content and tutorials that will get you up to speed in no time. Professionals will have no regrets, as this is the best program out there for creating comic graphics and boards, bar none.—Bruce Bicknell

Company: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
Price: $299.99
Web: www.smithmicro.com
Rating: 5

Hot: Natural art tools; pro-quality output; export formats; story editor; cost
Not:

Carrara created a name for itself by being an affordable, versatile 3D application that includes modeling, animating, rigging, terrain building, and rendering features. Carrara 7, available in Express, Standard, and Pro (which we’re reviewing here) editions for both Mac and Windows, offers entry-level and advanced users a cost-effective alternative to what can be a very expensive arena to break into.

I’ve been reviewing Carrara for quite a few versions now and have to admit that the new version has some much anticipated (and welcome) features. Carrara 7 Pro steps up the game with the addition of 3D Paint, Multi-pass Rendering, improved content support, UV editing/unfolding, and a COLLADA export function for Windows, making it more robust than ever before. This software package still has its familiar and easy-to-use interface, providing a professional toolset that will have you creating amazing 3D work in no time. I reviewed the new features materials and was creating scenes in no time with the models, scenes, and textures that were included in the software. (Sorry folks, the extras are only in the Pro version.) So let’s take a look at some of those new features.

Let’s begin with the four main workflow tasks: Modeling, Texturing, Animation, and Rendering. Initially, you open the project on the Assembly Room where you put the scene together. You can quickly switch between these tasks to speed up workflow and to better visualize the final output.

In this version, 3D Paint is a key new feature, which can be accessed from the Assembly Room. It allows textures to be selected, edited, and painted onto an object, as well as giving access to various channels and shading domains (RGB, RGBA, etc.). This tool gives you four standard ways of applying paint to your object: the default paintbrush, an airbrush, an image stamper, and the line tool.

Another new feature is Multi-pass Rendering, which allows you to render the image out as multiple shader layers saved as separate image files. This offers several benefits, one of which is that it increases productivity: Artists can render out a scene and perform postproduction work on individual layers, rather than having to make changes to the scene and render the whole thing out again.

Here’s another new feature that I really like. You can now import DAZ-format content without having to go through the hassle of plug-ins or workarounds! This means that you can perform DAZ Studio or Poser tasks and have the modeling, rendering, and animation features of Carrara all in one place.

Included in the Pro version is a fair number of models, scenes, and extras that are well worth the upgrade. In the Standard and Pro versions, the UV Editor has been expanded so you can edit UVs in the main viewport and you can relax UV seams when in the editor. The Pro version also gives you the ability to unfold UV maps.

Overall, Carrara 7 has a lot going for it as an entry-level 3D application. The new features definitely make this a worthwhile upgrade, as the 3D Paint, rendering options, and content support (to name a few) give it a lift from previous versions. Its low price and learning curve make it a great solution for students and amateur designers; however, its robust features makes it ideal for the professional crowd as well.—Bruce Bicknell

Company: DAZ Productions, Inc.
Price: $549 (Upgrade $349.95)
Web: www.daz3d.com
Rating: 4.5

Hot: 3D Paint; Multi-Pass Rendering; modeling/UV enhancements
Not: Toolset can be confusing; render times slower than expected

Now this is a program that will get your creativity flowing and get you out of any modeling rut that you may be in. GroBoto 2.1.8 is like a breath of fresh air as it’s unlike the majority of 3D programs out there that are complicated and expensive. This program is fun, easy to use, and best of all it’s very inexpensive! That’s almost unheard of these days because most users suffer before they can actually enjoy the 3D programs.

Why is GroBoto so cool? Well, GroBoto is designed to give the user organic 3D shapes quickly with very few modeling hassles. As a matter of fact, some of the standard 3D tools that you’re used to seeing aren’t even present. What you get here is something called a Bot, which is a preset 3D object in GroBoto derived from a collection of 3D primitives. Once you place a Bot into your scene, you use an abundant set of tools and options to customize the shape and textures that your Bot is made up of. While the ability to import your own 3D models isn’t available, there are more than 110 Bot types to inspire your creativity, and you can create some very cool stills and movies much quicker than you could in some of the other 3D programs.

GroBoto has to be one of the most enjoyable, visually stimulating software programs that I’ve reviewed. Although it isn’t a full-featured 3D program, it is a creative outlet to get the juices flowing again. I’ll definitely keep this one on my desktop! GroBoto is a great product to expand your creativity without spending a fortune.—Bruce Bicknell

Company: Braid Art Labs LLP
Price: $79
Web: www.groboto.com
Rating: 4.5

Hot: Unlimited creativity; 3D creation tools; render time; fun
Not: Can’t import 3D models

Without a doubt, Maya is considered one of the most powerful 3D and visual-effects packages on the market today. While all of the conspiracy theorists had Autodesk buying Maya only to integrate it into 3ds Max (I admit, I thought this would be the case too, but I’m glad that I was dead wrong), Autodesk has done nothing but build upon the features that we all love while adding new ones that will take our creativity to levels we never thought possible.

Autodesk marks the 10th anniversary of this groundbreaking program with the release of Maya 2009 in Unlimited (tested) and Complete editions. Packed with new features that are sure to have 3D content creators salivating at the chance to get the newest version, Maya 2009 delivers a wide range of productivity-enhancing polygon and texture workflow enhancements, including true soft selection, updated symmetrical modeling, and a tweak mode. The new Maya Assets and Render Proxy features make complex and large scenes more manageable. This release also gives artists tools that support collaborative, iterative workflows and data reuse, including updated animation layering and Render Pass functionality, along with tools that enable them to achieve greater levels of realism and more stunning effects, such as Maya nParticles module, a fully updated Maya Muscle toolset, and a new stereo camera rig.

There are two areas that will have animators jumping for joy: the new Muscle tools and Animation Layering features. Muscle tools enable you to create lifelike muscle and skin motion on your characters. Muscles can be created as a way to deform the mesh of a character’s skin, which takes character animation beyond simple mesh and skeleton deformation tools. Maya’s new animation layering feature has a simple Animation Layer Editor located in the Channel Box. This interface gives you all of the tools and options you need to create and manipulate animation layers. This feature allows artists to create multiple layers of animation nondestructively that can be blended, merged, grouped, and reordered. These two features alone are worth the upgrade if you’re an animator. But wait, there’s more!

Other great new features can be found in the modeling area with the Soft Selection tool and symmetrical modeling feature. The Soft Selection tool is very useful in organic modeling and gives you the ability to select part of a model then have the selection fall off over a defined distance. Symmetrical modeling allows for a less-painful method of sculpting characters, while the new Merge Vertex feature gives a simpler way to stitch poly models together.

In keeping with their previous releases, Maya comes in two versions: Maya Complete (standalone $1,995; upgrade from Maya 2008 is $895) and Maya Unlimited (standalone $4,995; upgrade from Maya 2008 is $1,795). Maya Complete has all of the modeling, animation, character rigging, video f/x (vfx), and rendering tools needed to create amazing projects, while Maya Unlimited adds tools such as Fluid Effects, nCloth, nParticles, as well as Hair and Fur.

The new features and changes in Maya 2009 are well worth the upgrade for anyone looking to take their projects to another level. These updates and new features will definitely keep Maya at the forefront of digital animation and vfx for some time to come.—Bruce Bicknell

PRICE: $4,995 (Unlimited); $1,995 (Complete)
FROM: Autodesk, Inc.
WEB: www.autodesk.com
RATING: 4.5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Muscle tools, animation layering; true soft selection; Particles module
NOT Cost

I have to admit that when I saw the size of the box being delivered to my front door, I thought I was getting a small appliance for my kitchen but soon found out that it was the Cerise Quad-Core Workstation for this review. All kidding aside, this machine is a model of efficiency. From the sleek all-aluminum tower to the retractable I/O ports on top of the machine, the designers at Cerise have something pretty good going here. This workstation is truly a unique custom solution that’s built for photographers, videographers, and multimedia users.

But first, let’s focus on what it doesn’t have. It doesn’t have the “gamer” frills (you know, everything lights up; is overclocked within an inch of its life; and is optimized for gaming, not multimedia). I love my games but my work comes first, so I need my machine to be optimized to run my Adobe, Autodesk, and various other graphics and multimedia apps that I need to earn a living. I can live with Halo running a bit slower but not my Photoshop!

So what makes this machine cook? The unit tested ran Microsoft XP 32-Bit Home Edition powered by an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 (2.66 GHz), 4 GB of 800-MHz DDR2 memory, and a 512-MB GeForce 8800 GT graphics card that provided adequate horsepower to tackle the multimedia tasks I tossed its way. Also included in this configuration are five (yes, five) 500-GB hard drives. One hard drive is for the OS and programs and the other four are set up in RAID 5 configuration for editing, ensuring that no data will ever be lost if there’s a drive failure. What’s really cool about this setup is that it uses a hardware RAID card instead of the typical software solution. The hardware card handles the bottlenecking that typically happens when you’re trying to access files on your computer, allowing you more time to produce and less time waiting for things to happen. I’m always looking for ways to improve productivity, so that was a welcomed feature. (The unit also came with an 18X DVD+R DVD burner and 7.1 channel audio integrated into the motherboard.)

The computer is configured with strategically placed fans and one large cooling vent that cuts through the box to ensure maximum airflow, keeping everything nice and cool so that it doesn’t become a space heater under your desk. This also helps keep the machine operating quietly. In fact, it runs so quietly you may find yourself checking to see if the machine is turned on. The inside of the box is pretty impressive as well with every cable, card, fan, and screw in its place and neatly put together.

Now that I’ve told you about the features, you probably want to know how it actually performed. Sure, I ran all of the benchmarks (Cinebench R10: 9526; OpenGL: 5292; PS CS3 Action Set: 0:25; and Windows Media Encoder: 0:54) and yes, this thing is fast. The numbers are nice but what it boils down to is real-world performance. On any given day in my studio, I could be (and usually am) working on anything from photography to animation, then throw in some video editing and voiceover work for good measure. So I loaded everything I had on this box. I can honestly say this machine handled everything I threw at it without a grunt or lag. At one point I had more than 20 images open in Photoshop; a 20-minute After Effects composition rendering; while tweaking a problem in Maya for a client—and I had no problems with lag or hang-ups. It took it like a champ. And for the month that I used the Cerise as my main workstation, it breezed right through even the most difficult tasks. I do have to say, however, that if you’re doing a lot of multimedia or animation, I would strongly suggest upgrading to a more powerful video card to take advantage of rendering times.

For the price and capabilities, the Cerise Quad-Core Workstation is definitely a machine worth considering for your workspace, as they can set you up with a box that meets your needs, not something that’s made for the masses.—Bruce Bicknell

PRICE: $3,479 (as tested)
FROM: Cerise Computers, LLC
WEB: www.cerise.com
RATING: 4

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Hardware RAID Controller; quiet and cool; no bloatware
NOT Box is huge; price is up there

Let me begin by saying that the HP xw4600 Workstation was not what I was expecting. When I knew that I was going to get a workstation priced at $3,044, with 1.5 TB of storage and a Core 2 processor with an NVIDIA Quadro FX video card, I was sure that the FedEx guy would probably need a visit to the doctor after he dropped it off, but I was pleasantly surprised and admittedly very doubtful when I saw the size of the machine, as it was literally about half the size of my current “under-desk space heater.” How did they get everything in there and how was it going to stay cool? I was sure that, with the small footprint of the box and all that horsepower, something was going to give.

So…I took it out of the box and proceeded to open it, noting that the wiring and components were very well organized and nothing was out of place or difficult to get to. I then put the cover back on and, within minutes, had it hooked up and running. Now it was time to get to the good stuff. I loaded the Adobe Creative Suite and Autodesk’s Maya software on the workstation without a problem.

But, here’s where the fun began. I wanted to put the HP xw4600 through its paces, so I simply used it in my studio for a project that I’m working on, which included illustration, animation, voice-overs, video, and special effects. You can do all of the benchmarking you want but in the real world, what it comes down to is how many programs can you have open (and move between) before you bring the system to its knees. I have to admit that I dubbed this the “little machine that could.” There were many times that I had Maya, Adobe After Effects, Premiere, and Photoshop open all at once (not intentionally, until I figured out that the machine could handle it). Not once did I notice the machine bogging down or hesitating.

To give you an idea of what I put the xw4600 through: I was character modeling in Maya while rendering out and exporting a 42-minute video that included 120 illustrations, 15 sequenced short animations, complete voice-overs, and transitions. I don’t know about you but I’ve never found a box in this price category that could do that.

Well, the HP xw4600 Workstation performed well above my expectations and with the flexibility of being able to customize the machine to your own specs online (depending, of course, on your budget and needs), I think HP has a serious contender in this market and a very welcome alternative to the machines that are designed for gamers (nothing wrong with that, I play and design games) and not creative professionals. (For a list of the specs of the HP xw4600 Workstation that I tested, see “Customized Specs.”)

I would recommend the xw4600 to anyone on a reasonable budget who’s looking for a machine designed with creative professionals in mind.—Bruce Bicknel

PRICE: From $628
FROM: Hewlett-Packard
WEB: www.hp.com
RATING: 4.5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Customizable; energy efficient; very quiet
NOT Needs a better sound card

I’ve had the privilege of reviewing the past few versions of Poser and been pleased with the content and improvements made from the previous versions. Well, the newest version, Poser Pro, is no exception. The new enhancements left me with a big smile on my face and just so you know, Poser Pro is targeted at users who want to take their creativity and work to another level.

Under new direction from Smith Micro Software, Inc. (which purchased the Poser line as well as some other titles from eFrontier late last year), Poser Pro was developed with a feature set and functionality that’s geared for professional content creators in studio and production environments. This version offers pro-level application integration, as well as a 64-bit render engine, COLLADA support, and advanced network rendering, which allows users to reduce their design and production time while allowing them access to thousands of rigged and textured models.
Let’s take a look at the new features:
• Unrestrictive Network Rendering allows you to use unlimited computers/nodes to render your images. (This is limited to three nodes in the Base version. The Base version is a sidegrade option available to Poser 6 and 7 users only.)
• Queue Manager is a powerful tool that lets you manage your rendering process.
• With Background Rendering, you can work on Poser scenes in the foreground while rendering time-consuming images in the background.
• The 64-bit Firefly Render Engine takes advantage of today’s more powerful 64-bit systems.
• Gamma Control lets you specify gamma and apply the values to textures.
• Create High Dynamic Resolution Images with HDRI Support.
• Normal Mapping support is a resource-efficient technique to add the appearance of complexity and surface detail to 3D objects.
• Distributable Content is available with a set of four redistributable 3D characters to help you save production time.
• PoserFusion Plug-ins include hosting plug-in licenses for Maxon’s CINEMA 4D and Autodesk’s 3ds Max and Maya. The plug-ins let users integrate Poser Pro scene files within these production applications. (These plug-ins are not available in the Base version.)
• Full COLLADA support gives you unrestricted ability for import and export via COLLADA to assist with the integration of 3D character content and scene data into third-party applications. (Limited to export of geometry and textures in the Base version.)

Getting into the product was familiar and as usual, the interface is very intuitive. Even newbies will be up and running once they familiarize themselves with the tools and take a run through the tutorials. I can see where designers, animators, and modelers in professional environments will benefit greatly from the Pro version of Poser, as the new features rocked and integrated nicely into both Maya and Max without a problem.

Current users will find that the new features are well worth the upgrade. The network and background rendering, along with the 64-bit support, make this a must-have for anyone creating complex scenes or projects. Add to that other features, such as HDRI export, COLLADA import/export, normal mapping, and gamma correction, and this is a no-brainer for anyone wanting to create great content quickly and affordably.—Bruce Bicknell

PRICE: $499.99
FROM: Smith Micro Software, Inc.
WEB: www.smithmicro.com
RATING: 5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Integration with professional applications
NOT

modo 302 from Luxology is an amazing 3D program that honestly, until this review, had me very skeptical about its capabilities and position in the world of 3D. But after spending some time with it, I have no doubt that it’s a pro-level 3D modeling solution.

I was up and running with the software in about an hour with the help of the tutorials available in the program. The tools were clear and I was able to import models that I already created in other programs without any problem. modo also allows you to export your model to many of the top programs.

Although I use a few of the more expensive programs, I was pleasantly surprised with the number of features available in modo 302. These include 3D modeling, painting, rendering, and animation tools for artists who want to create 3D images without having to resort to other software. It supports polygonal and subdivision surface modeling and has impressive rendering capabilities along with an awesome Sculpting tool. Features new to this version are pretty impressive as well. The addition of PSD support, Physical Sun and Physical Sky (which provide more realistic outdoor scenes), and a new Flex tool are only a few of the cool new features available.

I’d recommend this program to anyone who wants a very capable 3D content-creation program that has a very powerful set of tools.—Bruce Bicknell

PRICE: $895 (Free upgrade from Modo 301)
FROM: Luxology LLC
WEB: www.luxology.com
RATING: 4.5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Polygon and subdivision surface support
NOT No rigging controls for character animation

Swift 3D kicks it up a notch with the release of Version 5! Designed with graphic and Flash designers in mind, Swift 3D has always been the easiest 3D program on the market to use with very little training. By following one or two of the provided tutorials, even users with little graphic design skills are easily creating content within an hour and rendering 3D objects as vector files to export.

Along with the ease of use, Electric Rain keeps adding to the great features of the product. In this latest release, they’ve added some groundbreaking new features that make upgrading worth every cent; for example, Mesh Morphing and Animations that allow users to create Morph targets for 3D objects. This support is an absolute must for animating objects that are continuous with no joints—allowing Swift users to animate faces, mouths, fishtails, and any other solid object that moves in a way that can’t be achieved by standard methods.

Other key new features include an enhanced user interface that’s more user friendly, Keyframe Easing, and the ability to export true 3D models using 3DS files from the RAViX rendering engine. These new features add a new dimension to Swift 3D’s capabilities, making it a fantastic tool for anyone looking to add 3D to their websites.—Bruce Bicknell

PRICE: $249 (Upgrades from $79)
FROM: Electric Rain, Inc.
WEB: www.erain.com
RATING: 4.5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Great 3D-to-Flash integration; ease of use
NOT Confusing lighting setup; modeling tools still lacking

Well the folks over at Logitech have done it again with the SpaceNavigator for Notebooks. As a professional on the go, I’ve either had to leave my SpaceNavigator at home or lug it along with me in my laptop bag—only to have airport security look at it 10 times before they let it go through. Now Logitech has come up with a portable 3D mouse that you can take with you! The great thing is that you can use it both as a 3D navigator and a traditional mouse. It was actually a pleasure to use on planes and even in hotel rooms as it takes up very little space and I didn’t have to move it around like a typical mouse.

The SpaceNavigator sports a redesigned grip cap for easier movement through 3D environments, dual mouse buttons, a USB 2 connector, and a travel case. With its ability to be used with programs such as AutoCAD, Maya, Photoshop CS2/3, and, of course, Google Earth, the possibilities are endless with this great tool.

From flying through your hometown to working with cameras, models, and tools in your favorite 3D program, the SpaceNavigator does it all quite well; however, it’s not exactly the easiest device to get used to. But if you follow the provided instructions and tutorials, you’ll be fine with a little practice. Overall, this is a great product that will become a fixture in my laptop bag.
—Bruce Bicknell

PRICE: $129
FROM: 3Dconnexion
WEB: www.3dconnexion.com
RATING: 4.5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Great for 3D applications; portability
NOT Price; learning curve

All of you 3D designers get ready for this! 3Dconnexion (a Logitech company) has come out with what’s basically a 3D mouse called the SpaceNavigator. It’s primarily designed to work with 3D programs, such as 3ds Max, Maya, and Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended, to name a few (visit www.3dconnexion.com for a complete list of supported applications). And it’s pretty amazing when you use it with Google Earth. The SpaceNavigator is also a very cool-looking piece of equipment that will have everyone trying to figure out exactly what’s sitting on your desk.

The SpaceNavigator is not like your conventional mouse because it allows you to navigate through 3D space with ease. Simply push, pull, tilt, or twist the controller to pan, zoom, and rotate—you can even do all three at once. There are also two programmable function keys.

What’s really cool is that it’s designed to work with your mouse. I’ve been using this with both 3ds Max and Maya. Here’s how it works: I use the SpaceNavigator with my left hand then use my mouse for normal controls like menu selection commands and manipulation controls. This took a little getting used to and the manual was virtually nonexistent, so a little trial and error was necessary. Once I got the hang of it though, I was flying through my scenes and through Google Earth like a fighter pilot! The Space Navigator responds like a precision joystick that’s fluid and has great control.

This will definitely become a part of my workstation because it gives me flexibility that I haven’t had before. If it weren’t for the lack of a real manual, this would get 5 stars.— Bruce Bicknell

PRICE: $99 (standard edition), $59 (personal edition)
FROM: 3Dconnexion
PHONE: 408-376-2500
WEB: www.3dconnexion.com
FOR: Mac and Windows
RATING: 4.5

LAYERS VERDICT
HOT Precision control; ease of use; cool looks
NOT Lack of detailed manual