PDF3D v2.15 Released with a host of New Features and Enhancements

PDF3D's ReportGen V2.15 has landed, bringing with it new U3D-to-PRC technology, Panoramic 360 functionality, patented point cloud simplification, and support for 3D printing.

This latest release of PDF3D's end-user conversion tool brings with it a host of exciting new features that are now made possible thanks to new U3D-to-PRC bridging technology, only available in PDF3D's suite of 3D PDF conversion tools.

"Most of the established vendors have moved to PRC," explained Ian Curington, Head Developer of PDF3D. "This new U3D to PRC workflow provides a unique new solution that extends the functionality of the traditional U3D, enriching and enhancing the value of the 3D PDF for users in the process."

Key features of ReportGen V2.15 include the eagerly awaited panoramic 360 image functionality, which is unavailable in other conversion tools and will be as popular with photographers and drone operators as it will with forensics teams, surveyors and scientists.

In addition to U3D to PRC workflows, PDF3D's developers have also added new support for AMF for 3D-Printing, e57 and RCS point-cloud format support, popular DWG 2018 versions, and improvements to a number of the existing CAD and graphics file formats. The release also includes image overlay wipe interaction, image sequence animation, CAD model layer and material enhancements using new patented point cloud technology.

"As ever, our tech is driven by the needs of our customers. These formats significantly strengthen the product for geospatial, survey, scanning and point-cloud processing and manufacturing applications, which is a key reason why our users continue to use ReportGen for 3D PDF conversion," added Ian.

For developers, moving to Visual Studio 2017 has been central to this latest release, along with substantial new API methods in the areas of texture processing, animation, and PDF font style handling.

Another key feature of the PDF3D SDK Pro release is the emphasis on bringing U3D into the modern world of PRC. The kit now enables workflows to repurpose U3D-based 3D PDF documents, converting them into the modern, compressed PRC versions that support animation and make it easier to share and archive large files.

"Most of the established vendors have moved to PRC," explained Ian Curington, Head Developer of PDF3D. "This new U3D to PRC workflow provides a bridge and unique new solution that extends the functionality of the traditional U3D, enriching and enhancing the value of the 3D PDF for users in the process."

The 'PRC bridge' provides a smart pathway for new functional operations that uniquely allows developers and users to:

• Merge multiple 3D PDF (U3D) into a combined view
• Add Metadata, Extra Views, Annotations, Hyperlinks on 3D parts
• Apply mesh reduction, simplification to create much smaller PDF files
• Add BOM, PMI, 3D Labels, Views, Responsive part-highlight interaction

In addition to the enhancements in image loading and importing, PDF3D has also added new algorithms for text formatting, and introduced an optimized scene mode, texture splitters and colour-to-texture methods.

"The toolkit goes beyond simple 3D PDF conversion. V2.15 gives developers the functionality they need to integrate one-click 3D PDF conversion technology into their software with enhanced styling options that allow their users to create 3D PDF documents and reports with a rich choice of annotations, textures, colour, scenes and more," added Ian.