December 30, 2005 - P3DO Explorer 1.8 beta now available

Exit 1.7.8, which was a waiting release, today comes 1.8.
Of course 1.8 is close to 1.7.8 and only adds few improvements from previous updates.
Although called a beta this release is quite stable. I will spent next 2 weks in fixing various details. Final 1.8 release will be available on January 13th.

Content of 1.8 is detailed in January 27th announce.

Happy new year and best wishes for 2006.

December 15, 2005 - P3dO Explorer 1.7.8 beta is available

Today is a dual update with 1.7.8 freeware beta and another 1.7.8 pro beta.
Nothing new for the pro except Scene Manager fix and a smoother loader for textured scenes.
Although called betas those releases are quite stable, and can be considered close to final release. The only left task for 1.8 is to modify the 3D engine, next update in 2 weeks will be 1.8 beta (1.7.8 is nothing more than pre-1.8 version). 1.8 itself will be available on January 15th.

Content of 1.7.8 is detailed in January 27th announce.

December 8, 2005 - P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 5 is available

Yet another update for 1.7.8, just some Scene Manager and PoserPython fix.
1.7.8 is an update every 2 weeks, up to 1.8 release (in december). This one is 4th 1.7.8 beta and the final state of 1.7.8 will be 1.8.
I'm affraid there is still a lot to do on 1.8, since I still have the 3D engine and 2 plugins to complete. But whatever updates will continue, with release of P3dO Explorer 1.7.8 (freeware beta) next week.

December 1, 2005 - P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 4 is available

1.7.8 fourth update is now online.
1.7.8 is an update every 2 weeks, up to 1.8 release (in december). This one is 4th 1.7.8 beta and the final state of 1.7.8 will be 1.8.
I'm affraid there is still a lot to do on 1.8, since I still have the 3D engine and 2 plugins to complete. But whatever updates will continue, with release of P3dO Explorer 1.7.8 (freeware beta) in 2 weeks.

Content of 1.7.8 is detailed in January 27th announce.

P3dO pro 1.7.8 can be freely downloaded and used. No time limit, just some disabled features for unregistered users.

In 2 weeks is P3dO Explorer 1.7.8 (freeware) and final P3dO pro 1.7.8.

November 24, 2005 - P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 3 is available

This is third update of our 1.7.8 beta.
1.7.8 is an update every 2 weeks, up to 1.8 release (in december). This one is 3nd 1.7.8 beta and the final state of 1.7.8 will be 1.8. I plan another update next week with completed Scene Manager and in 3 weeks the last beta with completed 3D engine.
As soon as the 3D engine is fixed, 1.8 will be released (in December).

Content of 1.7.8 is detailed in January 27th announce.

Next week is P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 4 with completed Scene Manager for Poser.

November 10, 2005 - P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 2 is available

This is second update of our 1.7.8 beta.
1.7.8 is an update every 2 weeks, up to 1.8 release (in december). This one is 2nd 1.7.8 beta and the final state of 1.7.8 will be 1.8.

Content of 1.7.8 is detailed in January 27th announce.

In 2 weeks is P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 3 with the long awaited - and requested - Scene Manager for Poser.

October 27, 2005 - P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 1 is available

1.7.8 is a special version, the 1.8 introduction. 1.7.8 will only last 2 months, then I will remove it. Also 1.7.8 is for P3dO pro, only.
There won't be a single 1.7.8 but a new one every 2 weeks. Every 2 thursdays I will upload an updated 1.7.8 that will improve steadily. This one is 1st beta and the final state of 1.7.8 will be 1.8.
Why do I do this like this ?
There are 2 reasons : I didn't want you to wait any longer for the update (some 1.8 points are finished for long), and this gives another 2 months to have an even more complete 1.8.

Content of 1.7.8 is detailed in January 27th announce.

In 2 weeks is P3dO pro 1.7.8 beta 2 with some of the missing stuff.

October 17, 2005 - Announcing P3dO 1.7.8

Well, well. Seems like everybody's eager to see that 1.8 and I have still lot of things to do. Here's how it goes : Since the beginning of september I can't stop adding new stuff to the release. As a consequence I see the 1.8 could take another month to be available.
Since you, and me, are eager to have 1.8 available I will launch a *stable* 1.8 beta which we will call 1.7.8. 1.7.8 will be updated every 2 weeks starting from next tuesday (27th).
People who are waiting for updates - like Vue users for the Vue 5 thumbnails - will have their stuff now, and others will be able to request improvements while the release is still under construction.
This could make an even more complete 1.8.
The goal is to release 1.8 at the beginning of december (1 month and a half). Because I want 1.8 to be complete and stable, I won't hurry.
So 1.7.8 is the solution cause it gives me another month and you because you'll have a newer P3dO next week.

Since it is not an official version 1.7.8 won't be available on the download page. Come back next week on this page to see where to get it.

September 6, 2005 - Support for Vue 5 in 1.8

Thank to e-on Software support I just added Vue 5 format to supported thumbnails. This gives the opportunity to enhance the Vue support and I intend to display some information (like comments) in the information tree. Vue 5 thumbnailer is currently under beta testing by some Vue users and it will be available with P3dO 1.8.
Then, when will P3dO 1.8 be available ?
Quite soon. I'm still working on the 3D viewer. The beta will be available by the end of the month.

August 6, 2005 - CR2/PZ3 Pose engine (WIP)

In the end I did it ! I'm pleased to announce that the P3dO Pose engine will soon be available.
There are some joints and other remaining problems but it already gives good enough renders. I will fix those in August and upload a release asap. This will be 1.8 which was orignally scheduled in June, that is to say how hard it has been. August will be an easy month ;)

Not to be confused with a Pose animation engine the CR2/PZ3 Pose engine gives the ability to render CR2 & PZ3 posed in the 3D viewport.
Of course Pose animation is next to come, along with BVH animation.

July 30, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.7 pro (R4) is available

I'm still working on the new 3D engine which was rather hard work but at last I've now got the Poser figures posing.
Far to be completed though, but the most difficult stuff is done.

Because 1.8 is so late I updated the 1.7.7 pro. This update, called R4, is available on the P3dO pro download page. 1.7.7 pro (R4) contains a new address bar, support for Poser 6 MC6 file format (Poser Material Collection) as well as better support for MT5 ones.

The Hot spot section will be updated soon with screenshots of posing figures, just have to complete vertex skinning - caution wet paint ;)

May 21, 2005 - Spotlight on Poser Python

The PoserPython plugin is a P3dO plugin that enables to load Poser files into Poser without the need of Poser Library Palette.
PoserPython bypasses severall Poser Library Palette limits :
- it is able to load a file from outside a Poser runtime
- it is able to load severall files at a time
- it can run python scripts
PoserPython is available for free with the Poser plugins pack from the P3dO download page.
The PoserPython is in fact a wrapper around the so called Poser Remote Procedure Call (prpc) by Tromnek. Prpc now has a web page which you are invited to visit to find more infos on that powerful utility: Prpc home page
~~~
P3dO 1.8 is under construction, I'm still working on the new 3D engine that will add character Pose support which means I'm awfully late and 1.8 will most probably be available in July and not in June.
Although the Pose function has not yet been plugged I'm confident - and excited - in the final result. First screenshots of P3dO 1.8 with posing figures should be available soon.
1.8 will also include a new view to organize Poser scenes (in the pro version), a folder combo to complete the folder tree and the new catalog print plugin.

April 22, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.7 is available

The freeware release of 1.7.7 is now available. 1.7.7 has support for Poser 6 new file formats and also a PoserPtyhon plugin update. For a detailed list of this release features please read the April 8th news.

We are now preparing the 1.8 update in June with a new 3D engine. The goal is to support Poser poses. If this engine proves successfull other 3D file formats will be added to the list.
Among planned improvements for 1.8 is a new catalogue print - like the one in XP - and a new slide show.
I'm also planning some Vue d'Esprit and Carrara features.

I'm eager to finish that 3D engine and see 3D characters coming to life in P3dO.

April 8, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.7 pro is available

1.7.7 is an update to support new Poser 6 features in P3dO. These are especially the 2 new file formats that P6 introduces (on the P3dO point of vue, P6 has of course much more new features).
1.7.7 brings:
- Support for .obz (compressed Wavefront Objects) and .pmd (Poser Binary Morph Targets)
- 3D preview for .obz (in pro only, freeware .obz preview in September)
- Updated PoserPython plugin

At the moment P3dO is not able to read .pmd files content, this is in my todo list.
The 1.7.7 update is not so small as it appears in the list. I reworked many internals in March and 1.7.7 is more stable (this was a problem since 1.7.2) and most problems with the folder tree have been fixed.

The update to PoserPython removes the PoserPythonSender.py which is now included in the PoserPythonSender.exe itself. Not only, the PoserPythonSender script has been reworked by Tromnek and is much more powerful.
Some more features like the ability to select body parts when loading a file, will be available with another PoserPython plugin update later this month (April 21st).
All that PoserPython stuff by TromNek.

The freeware version of P3dO will be available at the end of the month (April 21st), this will be P3dO's 5th anniversary ;)

April 2, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.7 pro beta is available

March 29, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.7 pro update for Poser 6

As said with the release of 1.7.6 an update is necessary to support new P6 features. 1.7.7 pro will be available at the beginning of April and will include:
- Support for .obz (compressed Wavefront Objects) and .pmd (Poser Binary Morph Targets)
- 3D preview for .obz (in pro only, freeware .obz preview in September)
- Updated PoserPython plugin

1.7.7 pro should be available in a week or 2, and the freeware version at the end of the month.
I recall that the unregistered pro setup is freely available and won't bother you with "buy now" messages, athough I would prefer you massively suscribe (Should I need to say ;).

March 5, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.6 is available

P3dO 1.7.6 is now available for download. Here's the list of 1.7.6 new features and improvements:

1.7.6 freeware :
- Color selector for 3D view
- Improved information tree layout
- Support for Daz|Studio runtimes in P3dO path
- CopyPath plugin (copies the location of selected files to the clipboard)

1.7.6 pro also has:
- Updated ZipInstaller plugin (ability to read text files from ZipInstaller)
- Awk Scene manager Plugin to clean an entire 3D/Poser scene (figure file, mesh files, textures) from disk.
- CopyPath plugin (also copies the location of all files in a Poser scene)

Scene Manager is another time saver which gives you the ability to clean your disk without effort. Scene Maneger is hightlighted in Hot Spot section beside. Hot spot also shows the new information tree layout.

The Vue5 thumbnails which were previously announced with 1.7.6 will come on a separate update as soon as I finish this task. Just a matter of weeks, not months. Since it will be a spearate update I will also add a bit more infos on the Vue files (like comments and probably more).

Now I'm looking toward the next P3dO update (1.8 will come around June) with a new UI, customizable toolbar, a better slide show and a better catalog print, high resolution pictures, improved 3D viewing (including Poser) and more 3D formats (among which Renderware).

February 28, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.6 beta is available

P3dO 1.7.6 beta is now available for download, final release next saturday (march 5th).

I'm waiting for information from e-on software to finish the Vue thumbnails. Since e-on told me they were very busy I don't know if I'll be able to complete this task before the end of the week. If so there will be a separate update for Vue 5 thumbs asap.

February 12, 2005 - Vue d'Esprit 5 thumbnails support in 1.7.6

Vue d'Esprit 5 has a new thumbnail format that P3dO can't read anymore.
So I asked e-on Software for information about this new picture format and they replied quite positively - let's thank them for their long time support to P3dO.
Thank to e-on I will be able to include Vue d'Esprit 5 thumbnails in 1.7.6.

I've also been asked for a long time to support Carrara Studio thumbs. Eovia is as helpfull as e-on, on this point of vue, all my fault. I decided to add Carrara support to P3dO asap. I will do my best to add Carrara support to 1.7.6.

February 7, 2005 - P3dO 1.7.6 on the way

As anounced - this time ;) - P3dO 1.7.6 will be available in february. Late february of course ;)

1.7.6 freeware will have:
- Color selector for 3D view
- Improved information tree layout
- Support for Daz|Studio runtimes in P3dO path
- CopyPath plugin

1.7.6 pro will also have:
- Updated ZipInstaller plugin (ability to read text files from ZipInstaller)
- Awk Scene manager Plugin to clean an entire 3D/Poser scene (figure file, mesh files, textures) from disk.

1.7.6 is a small update between 1.7.5 and 1.8, but it brings very interesting new plugins and also a more powerful plugin engine.
1.8 will follow in June with both 3D and Photos improvements, huge work that one.
Also note that since Poser 6 is announced in spring, P3dO could be updated to reflect any change in Poser.

I haven't read anything about the ZipInstaller and PoserPython plugins.
Don't hesitate to send feedbacks on latest P3dO features. It is important for the quality of the software and also for further improvements. You can send anonymous or signed feedbacks from our support form.

January 17, 2005 - P3dO PoserPython plugin 1.0 now available

This great plugin makes it possible to use P3dO as a front-end for Poser.

PoserPython core is based on work by TromNek who found the way to open Poser files directly from Windows. P3dO PoserPython plugin ease the setup process (partly manual), wraps TromNek's scripts and filters files so that Poser only gets what it can handle (Poser library files).
There are some limits : PoserPython is not a Windows shell opener, i.e it can't open Poser if Poser is not running.
Also there is a security issue with the way files are opened in Poser. For this reason we shipped 2 versions of the plugin:
- 1 standard version now included with Poser plugins pack (downloads section).
- 1 with the extended ability to run python scripts from P3dO to Poser which you can only get from the plugins download section.
Please get the Poser plugins pack first, carrefuly read the plugin's help file and then you will decide if you wish to download the PoserPython extended plugin.
In a further version we will merge both distributions in a single one with an option to enable/disable runing python scripts.

P3dO
I'm working on next P3dO pro feature : ability to clean your disk from a whole Poser scene (including geometries and textures). This feature is not that easy to do as we need to protect some major files (like the Vicky mesh) from user mistakes.
I'm also completing ZipInstaller giving it the ability to read the Readme's and other goodies.
Also adding a color picker for 3D view background.

Once those features are completed there could be a 1.7.6 pro update (february)