Anim8or is a freeware OpenGL based 3D modeling program by R. Steven Glanville, a software engineer at NVidia. Currently at version 0.9, it is a very capable freeware program with many features and tools. Its small size and easy to follow tutorials make it a gateway into the world of 3D graphics for many computer users who normally would never get a chance to try their hand at modelling and animation.

Development

On July 20, 1999, a message was posted to the newsgroup comp.graphics.packages.3dstudio, introducing the first version of Anim8or to the public. In its first week, the original version was downloaded almost 100 times. The next version, 0.2, was released on September 6, 1999, containing bug fixes and the ability to save images as JPEG files.

In the past few years, newer versions have been released, introducing features such as undo and redo commands, keyboard shortcuts, an improved renderer and morph targets. With new each version, the popularity of has Anim8or grown. It has been featured in numerous magazines around the world including 3D User, Freelog, c't and the Lockergnome newsletter. Thanks to the community, there are many fan sites with user-created tutorials, image galleries and programs. Anyone wishing to learn more can now visit the Anim8or IRC chat room or read the Anim8or ezine, .an8. The main Anim8or website also contains an active forum with places to post creations, discuss the program and get support.

Anim8or's latest version, 0.9, was released to the public on January 29, 2005, although beta versions were available earlier for users wanting to test them and provide feedback. This version introduced features such as morph targets, edge extrude, painted skinning weights, improved splines, the ability to add multiple figures and cameras and more hot keys.

Anim8or's mascot is a red bird-like creature that most users learn to model in Anim8or's "Simple Walk Tutorial". Users are also very familiar with the eggplant, a model first designed by Steven to demonstrate 3D printers at SIGGRAPH. It is likely the first model most Anim8or modellers have ever created, as it is taught in the introductory tutorial to demonstrate the basics of the modeller and the tools available.

Features

Although it isn't as powerful as commercial programs such as Lightwave and 3D Studio Max, it contains many features that are important to a 3D computer graphics package while remaining free. Such features include:

• 3D Modeller with primitives such as spheres, cubes, cylinders, etc.
• Mesh modification and subdivision
• Splines, extrusions, lathing, modifiers, bevelling and warping
• TrueType font support allowing for 2D and 3D text
• The ability to import .3DS, .LWO and .OBJ files for modification
• The ability to export .3DS, .LWO, .VTX and .C files for use in external programs
• 3D object browser to allow the user to view 3D files in a specified directory
• Textures in .BMP, .GIF and .JPG formats
• Environment maps, bump maps, transparency, specularity and more
• Character editor with joints
• Morph Targets
• Renderer supporting fog, infinite, local and spot lights, anti-aliasing, alpha channels and depth channels
• Printing directly from the program
• Soft shadows
• A plain text file format, allowing for the development of external tools such as Terranim8or

A complete feature list can be found at the Anim8or website.

System Requirements

With its low system requirements, Anim8or is able to work on computers ranging from low-end systems to top of the line machines. While originally designed to work with Windows, users have reported running it successfully on Apple computers with Connectix Virtual PC and on Linux with WINE. The minimum requirements are:

• 300 MHz Processor
• Windows 95 or higher
• OpenGL graphics card with full ICD support
• 64MB of RAM (128MB recommended, 256MB with Windows XP)
• 5MB of hard drive space

Future Releases

Not much is known about what features will be modified or included in future versions. Inverse kinematics will likely be added, as it didn't make the latest release. It is expected that Anim8or's popularity will continue to increase, as it has done in the years since it was first announced on the internet. User have posted their thoughts on what they would like added in future releases to Anim8or related forums, but for now, it is just speculation.

• "Anim8or has come a long way since the first release called v0.1. There are still may areas that need improvement, primarily the renderer, but it's getting close to what I had originally imagined as the magic v1.0. I don't plan on stopping there, but it'll be a nice milestone along the way." - R. Steven Glanville

External Links

• Official Anim8or Site, containing Tutorials, news, a gallery, etc.
• User run Anim8or forums
• Anim8or User Manual
• An external tool for developing terrain and special effects
• Original newsgroup message introducing Anim8or. Archived by Google Groups
• Description of Anim8or's file format, .AN8