The latest release of form.Z, the 3D modeling software popular in architecture firms, adds what developer AutoDesSys calls “object-centric animation” to the product feature set. In effect, animation can be part of the modeling and object development process, instead of being a separate process that focuses only on visualization.
Animation is new to form.Z, and its addition is typical of how AutoDesSys continues to march to its own drumbeat. Animation has been a “must-have” check-list item for most CAD vendors for years, but in all cases animation is a separate process, not considered part of design. AutoDesSys waited to release animation in form.Z until they “got it right,” which in this case means extending animation back into the design process.
This new object animation feature could be helpful in preliminary factory and process/power design work, where initial motion study ideas could be modeled without the overhead of “everything has to be just so” as when using typical CAD applications. Any architectural scenario where movement has to be included in the preliminary design is also a natural use for form.Z’s new animation capabilities. Read complete article for more details on form.Z Version 6.0.
--RSN