Last week, 3DVIA announced that you can now create personalized Avatars on 3dvia.com, and use them in your 3DVIA Scenes.  See the announcement here.
We partnered with Evolver to bring our users this functionality, for FREE!
However, there has been one problem, we have created an AVATAR INVASION!  Traffic to 3DVIA Scenes has risen, and all sorts [...]

I recently traveled to New York City, and was reminded of the great architecture in the city.  A clash of modern and traditional architecture on every corner.  As you are probably aware, can take a virtual tour of New York using Google Earth, or Bing Maps online, however, if you wanted to take an online [...]

Last week Adobe promoted our 3DVIA plugin for Photoshop video on the 550,000+ strong Photoshop Fan page.  New functionality within Adobe Photoshop CS4 and CS5 allows Photoshop Extended users the ability to create a virtual photo shoot, and this is easier with the direct download from 3dvia.com.
That video, shown here, shows how simple it is [...]

Most websites and Blogs are made up of text, images, and sometimes Video.  A few include Flash applications as well, but the number that contain true 3D immersive content are very rare.  The reason this number is low is due to the difficulty of building 3D Apps for the web…before NOW!
With 3DVIA, you can now, [...]

The most common question we receive lately is: “What is 3DVIA Studio?”.  The answer is sometimes not as easy to answer, as it depends on the audience.  3DVIA Studio is something different depending on if you are a programmer, an artist, a designer, an engineer.
The short answer is:  3DVIA Studio is a 3D game development [...]

There was one BIG message at the Game Developers Conference this year, and it was not “Mobile”.  3DVIA made a huge impression at the conference, as we released a new game engine, opened a new product, and showed everyone our new 3D game for Facebook:  Billions.
Watch my latest video to find out what the “BIG [...]

If you are planning on attending the Game Development Conference this year 3DVIA has three great reasons to stop by our booth (Booth #1432, in the South Hall).
If you are not attending, we will be recording our presentations for you to see in the weeks after GDC, here on 3dvia.tv.
These three reasons to visit Booth [...]

I disguised myself as a 4th grader to enter a primary school and see how children are using computers and the internet to learn.  I discovered that children are not using the internet just for research, but are learning how to build and use 3D easily with 3DVIA tools.  This generation (ofter referred to as [...]

SolidWorks World 2010 was a great event!
This was my first SWW ever, and I was extremely impressed with the presentations, the strong community of users, and how well organized the event was.  It was great to speak to so many users, and meet other SolidWorks and Dassault Systèmes employees.  From my perspective, there were four [...]

This 3DVIA Shape tutorial shows how easy it is to build a 3D logo from a 2D logo using 3DVIA Shape.  Within minutes, you can have a great looking 3D logo, which can be stored on 3dvia.com, and easily accessed by anyone to used.
For more detail on functions used in this video, see the following [...]

We have some exciting news here at 3DVIA.   Our 3D Web player has expanded to include rich 3D environments which can be created very easily.  3DVIA Scenes allows users to easily add 3D models into a rich 3D environment, on the web.
See how I easily created a walk through of my kitchen remodel in this [...]

2009 was a very BIG year for 3DVIA. 3DVIA grew leaps and bounds this year, proving that users are responding to our mission of democratizing ‘3D for everyone’.  In 2009, 3DVIA.com grew to almost 150,000 users and our warehouse of 3D models grew to almost 20-thousand.  We also launched an impressive lineup of new products [...]

See your home redesign before you make any purchase.  Pick out cabinets, flooring, counter tops, with just a few measurements and 3DVIA Shape.
This video walks you through how simple it is to build a 3D space.  I am currently remodeling my kitchen within 3DVIA Shape which allows me to make critical decisions on cabinets, flooring, [...]

One of the primary uses of Adobe Photoshop users is editing or enhancing Photos.  This can be from quick touch-up to major changes in the photo.  One of the quickest ways to accomplish this is using 3D Models.  3D Models allow you to adjust the perspective, lighting, colors, textures easily, whereas building in 2D does [...]

This video tutorial covers three great examples of how using the 3DVIA Plugin for Adobe Photoshop can greatly speed up a design.  Some things are quicker in 2D, but when creating silhouettes, a 3D filmstrip, or a 3D icon, using the 3D capabilities within Adobe Photoshop, and the 3DVIA plugin for Photoshop can be created [...]

Could you be suffering from 3DAD? Many Graphic Designers are, and they are not even aware! See how to overcome 3DAD with the 3DVIA Plugin for Photoshop.
See the real benefits of 3D for Adobe Photoshop users in this video.  Adobe Photoshop recently added more 3D functionality within the last two versions of their Creative Suite [...]

I had the opportunity to sit down with Jon Hirschtick (founder of SolidWorks) to talk about SolidWorks, 3DVIA, and to pick up a few Blackjack tips from the expert.  Most anyone in the 3D design and CAD industries know of Jon, if not for his great interest in innovations in Manufacturing design software, but for [...]

When designing a new product or concept, and need to show the concept to other members of our team (Marketing, Management, Graphic Design, Sales, Customers, etc.) we often have to deal with exporting many formats, both 3D and 2D images.  However, downloading your 3D models to 3DVIA is a “one-stop shop”, as everyone on the [...]

We put many of our products together (3dvia.com, 3DVIA Composer, 3DVIA Mobile) into one video to tell the story of how users can take advantage of all the new 3D technologies we offer.
In this video, I play the role of a Copier Salesman, Emmy is an Office Manager (the customer), and Garth plays the Product [...]

Here at DSCC 2009 (Dassault Systemes Customer Conference), the CEO, Bernard Charlès presented connecting the real and virtual worlds in this presentation using 3DVIA Mobile and 3DVIA Shape.
3D Model uploads on 3DVIA.com, are immediately seen on 3DVIA Mobile, for the iPhone.  A great way to collaborate new ideas.

I went to see Dr. Polycount, “THE” Doctor of 3D Models. I needed some expert advice on how to clean up my 3D models, to make them smaller, cleaner, and more efficient.
With advanced computing power, and internet speeds, we still need our 3D models is their top shape when used on the web and real-time [...]

If you have an iPhone, you must download this App. If you don’t have an iPhone, you may want to pick up one, just for this App. Seriously, this is that cool!
We have developed our first iPhone app for 3DVIA, which allows you to view and inspect any public 3D model from the 3DVIA.com [...]

Who’s Garth Coleman? We’ll around here, he is known as ScubaGarth, or “The Composer Guy”. Garth is one of the most passionate people at 3DVIA and someone who we want you to meet.
Garth works almost entirely on 3DVIA Composer, and and has been helping companies to make technical documentation easier for the people who produce and [...]

One of the best ways to create realistic 3D models is by incorporating good textures.  Textures can make a model more realistic, by adding details which would be impossible as part of the geometry.  This is a tutorial on the basics of texture mapping.
This video details the texturing functions within 3DVIA Shape, but these fundamentals [...]

With the introduction of Microsoft’s new Bing search engine and maps comes 3DVIA Shape for Maps.  It’s basically 3DVIA Shape with some navigation tools, but it can really add some excitement to your maps, and a great way to display any building models.  You can build your own models, or use any [...]

Following up from our week in New Orleans, where we showed-off some new technology, met a lot of new people, and our many of our guests played the Subsurface game…many times!
In case you missed it, or want to see it again, we have some highlights from our booth in the following video, and some important [...]

Question:  Why is the 3DVIA Store better than so many other 3D modeling warehouses?
Answer:  Top Quality Models, Simple Pricing (most models just $10).
We have officially opened the 3DVIA Store to offer an alternative to the larger warehouses of 3D models.  The 3DVIA alternative offers “ready to use” top quality 3D models, that are very reasonably priced.  Here [...]

An exciting announcement from 3DVIA: We now support Collada’s DAE format for our library of 3D models. Watch this Cliff’s Clips video to see how this will benefit you.
The process is very simple: ANY model in ANY format you upload to 3DVIA.com gets automatically converted into a DAE file as well as a 3DXML file. [...]

Last week Dassault Systemes CEO, Bernard Charlès was in town, and stopped by the office to inspire us. This video is an excerpt from our interview with him, where he discusses his passion for 3D, his vision for 3DVIA, and what to expect from 3DVIA, as we grow.
A couple notes: At the end of the [...]

Need to create realistic 3D models quickly? The best way to accomplish this is to build from pictures (textures). This short video will walk you through how easy this is to do using 3DVIA Shape.
We want to see your 3D models that you have created from pictures. Reply to this post with your examples.
Remember, we [...]

Floor plans on 2D sheets cannot give you a real feel of how a room will ultimately look. You can’t see the walls or furniture as they will actually appear in real life. This video details how easy it is to create a 3D floor plan for a very realistic view of any area:
This is [...]

Want to learn the robot walk? No, well how about three useful 3D Modeling techniques while building a robot? This should help with your entry for the Classic Transformers Challenge.
Check out this video, and you are sure to pick up some useful modeling tips.
Be sure to review all the detailed 3DVIA Shape Video Tips and [...]

This was a first for me…the opportunity to interview a 3D game character. Okay, it was really Juan, but he personifies himself as a Space Marine.
Juan del Rio is one of our Community Managers here at 3DVIA. Juan is an expert in the world of 3D, like so many on the 3DVIA team. This short [...]

Most of our users know Don virtually, through his constant feedback and attention to the users on 3DVIA. I interviewed Don to show you the other side of Don. Many do not know about Don’s amazing career: He has worked as a mechanical design engineer; from toys to neonatal blood pressure units – in advertising; [...]

Meet Emmy, another 3DVIA EXPERT! Emmy is a 3D artist as well as our Marketing Specialist. She tells us all about her work, and her passion for 3D, and even reveals her Star Trek Geek side (sorry Emmy, the secret is out).
Make sure you watch the video to the end!
Keep up to date with all [...]

If you can embed a YouTube video, then you already know how to embed 3D into your site. This short video shows you how simple it is.
It doesn’t get much easier!
This is a great way to share and show off your 3D models and collaborate on your 3D designs with others.
Be sure to reply to [...]

3DVIA.com is much more than a warehouse of 3D models, but a thriving community of users, and tools for all 3D enthusiasts.  Watch this short video to see what we’re all about.
I will have Cliff’s Clips every Tuesday concentrating on all things 3D!
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3DVIA Shape 3.0 has more freeform modeling tools, and makes creating non-square objects much easier.  New features include: revolve, mirroring, drawing on curved surfaces, deform, and offset.  Watch this 1.5 minute overview of what’s new in 3DVIA Shape 3.0.
For a free download of 3DVIA Shape, click here.
Be sure to check out the library of new [...]

Here at 3DVIA, we receive many questions about 3D formats and standards, which we want to answer, so we started a new series of Cliff’s Clips titled:  “3D Format Spotlight”.  In this first episode we wanted to clarify the two most common exchange formats:  STEP and IGES.  We wanted to better explain these formats in layman’s [...]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what is a 3D model worth? Combining (or “remixing”) 3D models to create a large scene or assembly tells a story, and is easy to do. This video quickly walks you through how to remix models, and some benefits.
I only scratched the surface for the uses [...]