Simply 3D 3.0 (1-user)

Simply 3D features a ray-tracing render engine capable of reflective and refractive light properties, and the included material presets are fairly extensive. They include a wide variety of light and glasslike object materials, which nicely showcase the ray-trace renderer. The materials can be edited and tweaked to suit, as well. Other materials include woods, metals, organic textures, background images, and stones. In addition, this package is ideal for 3-D logos and text. It can import and extrude 2-D shapes, as well as create beveled text based on fonts installed in the system.

The speed of the rendered, interactive display is impressive. By utilizing Microsoft's Direct3D for screen drawing and by keeping the camera window small, Simply 3D is able to rotate, move, and scale objects in real time, fully shaded and textured. Note that this is only available in the camera view, and feedback is slower if the window is scaled to full screen. Still, it is an excellent aid when composing the objects and lighting in a scene.

Over 1800 assorted prebuilt objects and textures are included, which helps offset the rudimentary modeler. Happily, the publisher doesn't sell this application as something that it isn't--you won't be creating the next digitally animated masterpiece with it--but it's perfectly capable of meeting the needs of the majority of industrial-level computer graphics work. Like any tool, it is capable of more as you learn the limits and how to work around them, but as with any tool, there is a limit to how far you can go. For the money, this is an excellent utility for basic work. --Mike Caputo

Amazon.com Product Description
Simply 3D 3 from Micrografx helps you create professional-quality 3-D text, Web graphics, and animations for all kinds of projects, including Web sites, print, video, multimedia, and even interactive 3-D scenes for PowerPoint presentations. Simply 3D performs with a powerful 3-D rendering engines for incredible ray-traced realism and sharp, professional image quality. Complete support for MMX technology and 3-D accelerators means you'll be producing top-notch work in a dynamic, real-time, creative 3-D environment.

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Not too impressed   July 16, 2002
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Simply 3D 3.0 is decent for simple text or Very simple object rendering and animation. Rendering is good, but the animation engine kinda sucks. It claims to support importing of *.dxf files, but it doesn't import well, if at all. I do use it to create 3D animated text for web developement, but if you want more out of it, try spending a little more money on professional software.


Good for Beginners   August 2, 2001
Thomas Santomartino (Newark, DE USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Simply 3D is a good program for beginners in that it has many templates and wizards to assist new users. Perhaps this is why the program comes with such poor documentation. The manual that comes with the software is mostly a series of tutorials geared to creating business related web graphics. The online help system gives bare bone information about program features, but lacks detailed information about more advanced modeling techniques. A book that may help a user get more out of this software is Getting Started With 3D, by Janet Ashford and John Odam, which explains 3D software terminology and techniques and isn't software specific. Although geared to the graphic artist and student, this book can also be an asset to the imaging hobbiest.

So if your looking for a program to create web graphics, indoor still life images, or backdrops for other 3D models this program offers a good value for the money. Advanced users would most likely be frustrated by the programs lack of export capabilities, making it harder to use it with other 3D applications and from what I see it's import capabilities are also somewhat lacking. Images from various programs can, however, be combined in 2D programs like Photoshop post production. If you are looking for something easy to produce impressive web graphics or a good program for someone who isn't sure they will like working with 3D graphics and want to try it, Simply 3D may be your most economical answer.


Simple Software   April 26, 2001
bullz (United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Simply 3D is just that - simple. This wonderful program allows it's users to created 3D graphics and animations for the web or presentations with just a few clicks of their mouse. Simply 3D also comes with a text editor and a variety of different clip art and patterns. A truly great program for those with little experience in 3D graphics.


The Bomb   March 10, 2001
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

It was easy, simple and just plain fun making your own animations. You can render it and put it ON YOUR WEB PAGE. You can make movies and create your own objects.