topic Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad in Collaboration with other software

Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:10:08 GMT

"SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – JUNE PROMOTION!

Graphisoft and Maxon are happy to announce a new partner solution for ArchiCAD called FreeForm. Based on Cinema 4D, FreeForm allows users of ArchiCAD to edit elements of building models as parametric primitives; with extrusions, holes, planes, points and paths; or with deformers and form generators, providing total design freedom!"

I'm not sure what this is, but it sounds pretty interesting. Total design freedom? I like that. Anyone care to comment.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 16:08:51 GMT

outpostarc wrote:
I'm not sure what this is, but it sounds pretty interesting. Total design freedom? I like that. Anyone care to comment.

Yes, it does sound interesting! I'm not sure exactly what it means or does either....hopefully we'll all know more in the next couple of days.

go to the events page and sign up to learn more http://www.graphisoftus.com/events.php

Graphisoft is offering a "Possess the Freedom to Model, TODAY!" webcast on june 22nd and June 29th

Dan K

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Petros Ioannou — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 20:51:50 GMT

It really sounds interesting, but does anyone knows any info about it?
It is very strange that there wasn't an announcement from maxon.(At least I did not see one).

Petros

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Dwight — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 00:31:08 GMT

Freeform is the modeling tools more-or-less of Cinema 4D operating as an add-on (no surprise) to ArchiCAD.

3D model components are exported to Freeform. You work in Freeform to make your irrational elements and the element is sent back exactly in place, head hanging down ignominiously, as GDL.

"The minors? Why are they sending me to Akron? I pitch better than that!"

Cinema 4D users can link to their Cinema application instead.

If you are itching to make the swoopie curvidurvies, this be it. Frank Gehry can eat your socks.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 09:13:44 GMT

So you mean that we can actually import any object made in c4d in archicad?
Something like a c4d to gdl interface?

That would be very very very nice

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Link — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:01:10 GMT

That's exactly right.

I've had the pleasure of beta testing this add on and it is very good indeed. The guys at GS deserve a lot of credit, as they have gone to a lot of trouble to fix the gap between ArchiCAD and free form shapes.

There will be no shape we can't model now!

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Dwight — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:06:36 GMT

altho you'll admit the Escher tool needs work.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:20:36 GMT

That are really great news!
Have you heard when it will be availiable?

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Dwight — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:26:56 GMT

webcast today - find out.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

rm — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 21:38:33 GMT

Anyone know if there is a demo? How about cost info? Weblink with more information about the plugin?

Thank you

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Link — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 21:40:43 GMT

Your local reseller is the person to ask.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

stefan — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 06:48:00 GMT

We heard the announcement from Mister Gallelo himself this week, on a small user meeting in Brussels. I did not sign a NDA, so not sure how official this all is.

But I'm sure pricing and details will be published soon enough.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Dwight — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 07:00:12 GMT

for instance:

http://www.intcad.com/

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 09:59:04 GMT

I was signed up for the webcast but had to miss it because of a meeting. Can someone give their impressions.

Thanks

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 10:15:46 GMT

I wonder why there is no announcement neither in Graphisoft website nor in Maxon's one.

Can please someone from Graphisoft say smthg?
There is product is seen nowhere.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

James Murray — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 12:01:39 GMT

I got the webcast, but I came in late and then the visual connection cut off early, though I heard most of the conference call.

From what I can see, it's Cinema, period. (According to Dwight's link, even the price is the same. They also said if you already own C4D, you can just use it with the add-ons.) There are add-ons on the AC and cinema sides to facilitate turning cinema stuff into GDL. It looks like all the editing is done in Cinema, although since I missed the beginning, I don't know what AC geometry they started with. There was speculation of some future smart-hotspot implementation on the AC side. Cinema materials become material parameters in the objects.

If they said a delivery date I missed it. Most such economic questions were met with "Contact your reseller."

They made a point of saying, now AC is the only VB/BIM solution with a freeform modeling extension. Yay team.

Several other 'talkers were present, maybe they can chime in.

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:20:40 GMT

From what i saw too, its the cinema's 4d modeller.

They have just developed a smart converter from and to gdl and c4d.

What i dont know , because i did not see, is how big are those edited gdls compared to the original ones.

They mystery is why there is no advertisment in either websites.!

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

TomWaltz — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:53:28 GMT

It looked kind of cool, but they mentioned early on that it was still in Beta testing....

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

rm — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:11:20 GMT

Its great that GS is working with other companies like Maxon to provide better hooks into their program back and forth.

But while many on this forum have requested better rendering capabilities., I for one would prefer better modeling. Currently, if you want to model terrain, buy an add-on; want to model a reasonable looking stair, buy an add-on, want to just about any trim profile, buy an add-on, want to extrude along a path, buy an add-on.........yes I KNOW, learn GDL Robert.

If in fact one essentially now needs to buy another program to augment another weakness in AC modeling, why the heck should one stick with AC vs., dare I say, the rapidly improving Revit.

Revit WILL be many AC customer's next program if GS doesn't start reading the tea leaves. GS, all here pretty much want to stick with AC, and like it, but it is time for some forward thinking for the program, not just for your stock value.

I have used this program since v4.1, and since then, the program has incrementally changed. From my view, Teamwork was the most significant change in the program up to now, and is a great improvement. But now it is time to really look hard at the program, because,

My office would even have to change from Mac OS to Windows to make the Revit switch.......but if it lets me model as I need to, so be it!

For what ever it is worth!

Re: Maxon Freeform in ArchiCad

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 16:44:04 GMT

Robert,

I agree with what you are saying about archicad and all of the add-ons. ArchiCad also needs a fundamental shift in its functionality- see new work environment (don't get me wrong I'm enjoying v.9 for the most part). However, if archicad can use add-ons to seamlessly connect to industry standard software for engineering, energy, freeform modelling, etc. and focus on making archicad much better for production/ presentation etc maybe that would be a good thing.

I've used Revit for several projects version 5-6.1 and it has some strengths in drawing coordnation that i hope are coming to archicad. For me the fluidity & flexibility of archicad in design through CD's wins out for me. Of course I'm back on a Mac and enjoying that as well. I'm a sole proprietor and so it was easy for me to try it out.