Designer 4 from Ray Dream Studio adds a number of important features
that bring this moderately priced 3D illustration package to the level enjoyed
by its pricier competitors. Some of those features, including design wizards and
a very easy-to-use animation system, help bring these sophisticated functions to
most users. Now, nearly anyone can design professional-quality illustrations and
make animated movies almost as soon as they've installed this software.
I used Designer 4 with Windows NT Workstation, but it's also available for
Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, as well as for the Macintosh. On the Digital
Celebris XL 5133 Dual Processor, this package was speedy, as you'd expect. While
it didn't take full advantage of both processors for some functions--notably,
rendering animation into movies--it did use them in other places. The result is
a very fast, capable, and attractive package that most companies wouldn't mind
having for presentations and other computer-based illustrations.
In fact, learning to use Designer 4 is quite easy. Most of the hard parts
can be automated or are handled by wizards, so you have to know surprisingly
little to get acceptable results. On the other hand, Designer 4 allows trained
professionals to have as much control as they want, so they're not limited by
too much automation.
Adding to the ease of use are more than 500 models, over 300 textures, and
a number of other shapes, colors, and related animation tools. Most operations
are performed by dragging and dropping the desired feature onto the object
you're designing. The Animator is also easy to use and lets you create
animations much like those from much more expensive packages. Most Windows NT
users won't need to look beyond Ray Dream Studio's Designer 4 for their 3D and
animation needs.