Flight Studio is a sophisticated suite of OpenFlight® importing, editing, and exporting tools for 3ds max 6 and higher. Most tools that read and write OpenFlight files typically change the structure of the data, which forces timely reworks and limits the usefulness for visual simulation. This major issue has been addressed in Flight Studio so that the original OpenFlight structures are preserved while allowing the simulation modeler to edit and create new 3D elements that can be directly placed in the scene.

Flight Studio lets the user to import, edit and export OpenFlight scene graphs and databases from within Discreet's 3ds max, all while retaining scene graph structure and attributes. This provides OpenFlight artists unparalleled access to the scene graph and its attributes, enabling new capabilities not currently available in any other tool. New features include scene graph and attribute editing, LOD and Switch node management and easy to use hierarchy display, all while maintaining the original scene graph structure. In addition to these features, OpenFlight artists can now use the full range of award wining content creation tools available in 3ds max, including polygonal and multi-resolution mesh modeling, Unwrap UV mapping, texture baking, real-world lighting, and Vertex Painting. Given the powerful creation tools available with 3ds max, artists will have a new platform for creating accurate, efficient and compelling OpenFlight databases.

Key features:

Importing

• Loading: OpenFlight files from v14.2 to 15.8
• Geometry: Read all geometry, faces, meshes, materials and textures
• Image Files: Full .rgb texture file support
• Controls: Various parameters control how model is imported, including vertex weld, extern read control and unit conversion

Editing

• Hierarchy Browser: Easy to use Hierarchy Browser lets you scroll through the scene graph selecting individual nodes
• Edit Data: Direct node attribute editing
• UI Controls: Familiar drag and drop interface for easy reconfiguration of the scene graph
• Display: Switch and LOD node viewing work in concert to give you instant access to all models
• Selection: Use the hierarchy or viewport to select and edit objects

Exporting

• Saving: OpenFlight files from v14.2 to 15.8
• Auto Group/Object: Auto group and auto object functions make it easy to organize the scene graph
• Selective export: export entire scene or only selected individual objects

Suggested Vertical Applications

• Military Simulation
• Training & Development
• Visual Simulations and Walkthroughs
• Game development
• Geographic Information Systems