Three dimensional holographic visualization technology company Zebra Imaging announced the launch of a 3D Hologram Creator plugin for Autodesk Revit Building Information Modeling (BIM) software users. Now, all Revit users can quickly and easily create designs that can be printed as 3D holographic prints to showcase their architecture, engineering, and construction designs.
The 3D Hologram Creator extends the native file export capabilities of Revit’s software to include OBJ files, the format required for holographic printing. The software will export all selected geometry in a 3D view along with any materials used in the scene, and it fits seamlessly into any AEC professional’s workflow.
The software in preview. Image courtesy Zebra Imaging
“Holograms are new to the architecture market, but their ability to depict depth and detail in eye-catching ways are exactly what clients want to see,” said Chuck Scullion, Zebra Imaging’s President and CEO, in a release. “Immersing clients into a design will now be as simple as preparing a file for printing. The focus belongs on the design, not the process.”
“Gone are the days of expensive, fragile, and bulky solid models that take weeks to produce,” the company said in a release. “3D holograms provide accurate portrayals of design projects that are ready to pass on to clients. Multiple copies can also be easily printed for close examination.”
Holograms help increase visual awareness of a 3D model, particularly for people who are visually challenged, which ultimately increases the collaboration and understanding of the overall design. The "wow" factor of holograms makes them a powerful tool when bidding for a project.
“Providing Revit users with the ability to create holograms from building models adds a new level of sophistication to design visualization,” said Sasha Crotty, Revit Core Product Manager, Autodesk. “We’re glad that the Revit community will be among the first to gain access to this exciting new presentation and design exploration technology.”
With the 3D Hologram Creator plugin for Revit, users can visualize and create their hologram directly within the Revit application and export their design to Zebra Imaging all in a single afternoon. The hologram will then be created at Zebra Imaging’s print center and shipped out anywhere in the world. Most projects are completed within five to seven business days of receiving the order.
Related Stories
| May 2, 2011
URS acquires Apptis Holdings, a federal IT service provider
SAN FRANCISCO, CA and CHANTILLY, VA– April 28, 2011 – URS Corporation and Apptis Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of information technology and communications services to the federal government, announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which URS will acquire Apptis.
| Apr 12, 2011
BIM Grows Up: Separating Hype from Reality in a 3D World
While BIM adoption still lags in both design and construction, some enterprising owners, architects, and contractors are unlocking the potential of this dynamic technology.
| Apr 5, 2011
Are architects falling behind on BIM?
A study by the National Building Specification arm of RIBA Enterprises showed that 43% of architects and others in the industry had still not heard of BIM, let alone started using it. It also found that of the 13% of respondents who were using BIM only a third thought they would be using it for most of their projects in a year’s time.
| Mar 15, 2011
Future-proofing BIM: A White Paper presented by Dell and BD+C
To benefit from new building design and construction technologies as well as novel project management approaches, leading AEC organizations of all sizes and scales are deploying building information modeling (BIM). This White Paper presents the comparative benefits of various kinds of hardware specification, with some guidance on the proper selection and specification of BIM workstations, compatibility with existing standards, and adoption strategies.
