As of 01 2022
This page provides you with some insights about the HOOPS Visualize roadmap. If you are interested in providing input or collaborating on any of the projects below, please contact HOOPS Visualize's Product Manager or Tech Soft 3D support.
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Provisional plan – Subject to change
Format | Version |
|---|---|
Sketchup 20212023 | 3DF 25.30, 3DF 26.1027.xx LTS / 28.xx |
Additionally, refer to the HOOPS Exchange Roadmap for Format Updates Plan, if applicable.
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Projects planned to be delivered in next release (next 4 months)
Improve custom shader support
3DF has supported custom shaders for many years. However this functionality needs improvements. These improvements extend across improving the documentation, supporting custom shaders across all entities (not just triangles), and extending the capabilities allowed.
Improved rendering quality
Several improvements are planned for PBR in Visualize. This should include better support for environment mapping, image based lighting, and rendering which is similar to the rendering in HOOPS Communicator. Finally we will add a mechanism to allow non-PBR models (such as CAD models) to be displayed in a PBR mode, providing higher quality renderings without having to re-author all data in a PBR application.
Visualize will improve our PBR rendering support, including clearcoat and specular materials. This is required to render many glTF models as expected.
.Net 5 Support (Relased in 28.00)
Mid-term projects
Planned or on-going projects that might be delivered mid-term (in one or two releases) – After 4 months / before 12 months
Rendering of liquid and gas volumes
HOOPS Visualize will add support for rendering of liquid and gas volumes. This is to better support our partners in the CAE market.
Out Of Core Point Cloud Improvements
OOC will be ported to all Visualize 3DF supported platforms.
Point clouds will be insertable via API into OOC, instead of having to supply a file for preprocessing.
Long-term projects
Longer term projects we are considering
Improved performance for large models
This project will focus on improving frames per second performance and resource management optimization when working with large models, or data sets comprised of many files. Examples include BIM federation workflows and Digital Factory simulations.
PBR output through Exchange sprocket
The Exchange Sprocket will be updated to offer the ability to take a HOOPS Visualize model and export it to GLTF through HOOPS Exchange.
Client-side Collision Detection
While HOOPS Exchange licensees can use an integration between Visualize and Exchange to check for collisions, this is not designed for interactivity. This project would aim to have collision detection performed in Visualize without reliance on Exchange.
Point Clouds workflows Improvements
Reduce the time required to process point cloud data
Point clouds will be insertable via API into OOC, instead of having to supply a file for preprocessing
Linux ARM support
Long-term projects
Longer term projects we are considering
Add support for implicit modeling
The generative design market is pushing the boundaries of what can be manufactured. However since they do not typically use standard BRep / single body mesh forms HOOPS Visualize cannot display these models efficiently. This project will be to investigate what changes would be required to make it easier for generative design applications to use HOOPS Visualize.
Vulkan or DX12 drivers
Adding support for new generation graphics APIs will enable Visualize to add new functionality and to also begin refactoring the 3DF GS to take advantage of modern GPU architecture.
Improved rendering quality
Several improvements are planned for PBR in Visualize. This should include better support for environment mapping, image based lighting, and rendering which is similar to the rendering in HOOPS Communicator. Finally we will add a mechanism to allow non-PBR models (such as CAD models) to be displayed in a PBR mode, providing higher quality renderings without having to re-author all data in a PBR application.
Visualize will improve our PBR rendering support, including clearcoat and specular materials. This is required to render many glTF models as expected.
Perform Collision Detection in Visualize
While HOOPS Exchange licensees can use an integration between Visualize and Exchange to check for collisions, this is not designed for interactivity. This project would aim to have collision detection performed in Visualize without reliance on Exchange.
PBR output through Exchange sprocket
The Exchange Sprocket will be updated to offer the ability to take a HOOPS Visualize model and export it to GLTF through HOOPS Exchange.