Announcing a spectacular demonstration of a new 3D translation technology called InterChange... The "Syndesis 3D-ROM" is a CDROM collection of more than 500 freely distributable 3D models, all present in AutoCAD DXF, 3D Studio, Wavefront .obj, Video Toaster LightWave and Impulse's Imagine PC/Amiga formats. It's also got more than 400 tileable, wrappable texture maps. It includes a fully indexed, cross-referenced catalog of the objects. The disc includes demonstration models from companies such as Viewpoint Animation Engineering. 28 Viewpoint demo models are present. More demo objects were contributed by Noumenon Labs, VRS Media, Mira Imaging and other commercial modeling companies. The 3D-ROM is a demonstration of the translation abilities of InterChange, Syndesis's system for converting between 3D file formats. InterChange translates between AutoCAD DXF, 3D Studio, Digital Arts, Wavefront, Swivel, Sculpt, VideoScape, LightWave, Imagine, CAD-3D, PAGErender and Vista DEM formats. Soon to come is support for StereoLithography, Macromedia 3DGF, Super 3D, Alias StyleGuide, Topas, Softimage, Inventor and Vertigo formats. All material and hierarchy information is preserved as best as possible. This ISO-9660 disc is fully accessible from MS-DOS, Macintosh, Amiga and Unix workstations. (The 3D-ROM does not include InterChange itself. InterChange translated each model to the five different formats on the disc.) If you'd like to find out about this CDROM, we'd be glad to add you to our mailing list. Syndesis Corporation P.O. Box 65 235 South Main Street Jefferson, WI 53549 (414) 674-5200 (414) 674-6363 FAX Compuserve 76004,1763, support forum at 'GO AMIGAV'. Internet 76004.1763@compuserve.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Questions about the Syndesis 3D-ROM Q: Are there any restrictions on these models? A: Yes and no. The vast majority have no royalty or usage restrictions. We want you to be able to use them however you like! We have permission to redistribute the demo models from commercial modeling companies, but if you want to redistribute these, you'll need to get permission on your own. Q: Are the models hierarchical and animate-able? A: Some are, some aren't. Many of them are hierarchical, in the formats that support it. The DXF versions have sub-objects separated on layers, and surfaces are distinct pen numbers, which is perfect for programs like Topas. LightWave versions are present both as single models and as full LightWave scenes with separate sub-objects. Q: Do the models use splines and patches? A: No. They are all made of polygons. Some are all triangles, others are polygons, depending on the file format. Q: Are the models high-resolution? A: Some are, some aren't. They range from just a few hundred polygons to some with more than 50,000 polygons. Q: Do they include texture maps? A: A few do, but most contain only colored polygons. (DXF files do not contain true color information.) Q: Can I get a catalog of the models? A: Yes, send us your postal address and we'll send you a catalog. Or look online for our 3DROMI.ZIP file for thumbnail gray-scale renderings of all the models, although the actual models are in color. Q: I see duplicates in the thumbnail renderings, for example, NCC-1701. A: You can't tell from the thumbnail renderings, but these are different resolution versions of the same model. (They vary in the number of polygons, but not the basic shape.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like a free Syndesis 3D-ROM? We're looking for contributions for the next edition of the 3D-ROM. We're sending this letter to everyone who asked to submit models for the next disc. Why did we make the first Syndesis 3D-ROM? Syndesis is not in the business of making objects. Foremost, the 3D-ROM is our way of demonstrating our 3D translation software, InterChange. Second, it promotes the efforts of other 3D-related companies. For example, the first edition of the 3D-ROM included demo objects from modeling companies such as Viewpoint DataLabs, Noumenon Labs, VRS Media and Imagination Works. We have a friendly back-scratching relationship with these companies. We give them the tools they need to deliver high-quality 3D data to you in the format you want. We often share the same customers, too. Artists who buy models often need file translators, and people who translate files often need models. Finally, the Syndesis 3D-ROM helps our customers, too. There are a lot of useful but non-commercial models that wouldn't see the light of day without a high-capacity medium like the 3D-ROM. We help you in other ways, too. You can use the 3D-ROM to demonstrate your skills as a 3D modeler. The 3D-ROM is a great way for you to promote your business. And best of all, we can help you earn a free copy of the next edition of the 3D-ROM. What should you send? We want 3D models in any 3D format. We require original 3D models that you created yourself. Send 3D objects, related texture map images and descriptive text files. Please don't send any animations for the disc. We hope that you will send as many objects as you can. We will choose the best models for the disc. We reserve the right to choose which files and objects will appear on the final 3D-ROM disc. For each model, we require a simple rendering of the object that we can use in the catalog. It should be on a pure white background unless you're providing an entire scene. Include a short text file on disk that describes the models. You can also include text files or images that describe what you do. You are free to promote yourself in any way. Be as commercial as you want. You, too, can use the 3D-ROM to find new customers. We'll do our best to include these files if we publish your models. How should you send them? We can accept models on various media. We can read data in PC, Mac and Amiga format, on floppies, Syquest 44 cartridges, Exabyte 8200/8500 8mm 'tar' tapes, and Macintosh Soft Backup II 8mm tapes. Media will be returned upon request. Is there a deadline? Yes. We need your files before April 29, 1994. Don't wait. (If you find this file after 4/29/94, please call us to see if we're continuing this offer for future editions of the disc.) What happens next? After completing this submission form, return it to Syndesis with your models and renderings. We'll consider adding your models for the next edition of the Syndesis 3D-ROM. If we include any of your models on a future 3D-ROM, you'll get a free copy of that edition of the 3D-ROM. If you have any questions, call us at (414) 674-5200. Syndesis Corporation P.O. Box 65 235 South Main Street Jefferson, WI 53549 (414) 674-5200 (414) 674-6363 FAX -------------- print your own copy of the agreement below -------- Syndesis 3D-ROM Artist Agreement I, _____________________, known here as 'Artist,' certify that the 3D models and images listed below are my own creation, and that I have all rights to redistribute these files: Filename Description __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ __________ __________________________________________________ (To describe additional files, please attach additional pages to this agreement.) "Artist" agrees that these models have been sent to Syndesis Corporation ("Publisher") for the sole purpose of consideration for their inclusion in a future edition of the Syndesis 3D-ROM. "Artist" agrees that Syndesis Corporation is granted the non-exclusive right to redistribute these works in the original as well as any translated forms, in any electronic and print distribution, in forms such as, but not limited to, floppy disk, CDROM, promotional archives and special 3D object collections. Syndesis does not claim any other rights or copyright on "Artist's" contributed works. If Syndesis Corporation accepts any of the above described models for inclusion in any future editions of the Syndesis 3D-ROM collection, "Artist" is entitled to sole compensation in the form of a single copy of the CDROM edition of any Syndesis 3D-ROM that includes "Artist's" models. In this case, Syndesis Corporation will give full credit to "Artist" as the creator of this data when it is distributed in any form. Syndesis Corporation is under no obligation to include any model on any edition of the 3D-ROM. If Syndesis Corporation does not choose to include these models in a future edition of the Syndesis 3D-ROM, Syndesis Corporation has no right to redistribute these models. Artist Signature ____________________________ Date: ___________ Please print: Name ____________________________________________ Company ____________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ City, State, Zip ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Phone and FAX ____________________________________________