SOME 3D-RELATED ACRONYMS, NAMES AND ABBREVIATIONS

3DS

1. [3d]: 3D Studio. It is being used to refer to both 3D Studio DOS (R1-R4) and 3D Studio MAX, but if you want to be understood correctly, you should use it to refer to 3D Studio DOS only. It is used in this manner throughout this page. (Compare "MAX")

2. [3ds]: The 3D Studio DOS File Format. 3DS is the standard mesh and animation file format (See also "PRJ"). It is compatible between all Releases of 3D Studio, but some infomation specific to later Releases (like second texture channel of R3 & R4 and Inverse Kinematics of R4) might be lost when switching between releases. 3DS is also used as a mesh exchange format by 3D Studio MAX, and is widely supported by other programs. It is one of the popular mesh exchange formats on the Web.

• [3d]: 3D Studio Release 4. Used to quickly refer to the last release of the DOS version. It has been introduced in 1994 as a plug-in extended version of Release 3 providing features like Inverse Kinematics (IK), Shaded Mode Camera Match and Scene View, Map Browser and Keyscript Language.

AXP

• [3ds]: Animated stand-in eXternal Process. One of the 4 plug-in types introduced with 3D Studio Release 2. Creates particle systems and complex animated special effects based on size and/or position of a base object that is being replaced by the effect. Geometry is being generated procedurally on rendertime. Assigned in Modify/Object/Attributes in the 3D Editor, or Object/Attributes in Keyframer, which is more appropriate to ensure correct motion data. (See also IPAS).

BXP

• [3ds]: Bitmap eXternal Process. One of the 2 enhanced plug-in types introduced with 3D Studio Release 3. It provides 3D Studio with new bitmap import/export capabilities. Unlike all other plug-in types, there is no unser interaction, and there are only few such plug-ins, because some developers used the IXP type to create Bitmap Export processes like JPEG for R2, YUV, MPEG and QuickTime for R3 & 4. (See also IPAS)

CGI

1. [3d]: Computer Graphics Imagery
2. [net]:Common Gateway Interface

1. [3d]: Control Vertex in NURBS CV-Curves or CV-Surfaces. Part of the deforming lattice, not of the curve/surface itself. Has individual influence settings.

• [pers]: Abbreviation for Dan Silva, member of the Yost Group, one of the two programmers behind 3DS DOS and one of the MAX team. (See also Yost Group)

1. [cad]: Drawing (Dee-Dablyu-Gee) file format of AutoCAD by Autodesk. Version-specific!
2. [3d]: The file extension of the Autocad drawing files.

• [cad]: Drawing eXchange Format developed by Autodesk and supported by most CAD and 3D programs. It has changed among versions of AutoCAD, the most popular versions are DXF 10 and DXF 13.

• [3d]: Free Form Deformation A modeling technology by Viewpoint Datalabs licensed by Kinetix. Allows the deformation of a mesh using the position and influence of control points on a surrounding lattice. FFD has been introduced in MAX 1.1 as cubic lattice with 2x2x2, 3x3x3 and 4x4x4 control points. MAX 2.0 extended the FFD with a cylindrical lattice and a WSM version.

• Filter file format extension for MAX Video Post (VP) plug-ins.

• [pers]: Abbreviation for Gary Yost, the mastermind behind 3D Studio and the Yost Group (YG). Also known as Prince Garag Jost to anyone who has read the original Tutorials to 3DS and/or MAX :o)

HDI

• [sw]: Hoops Device Interface is more popular as Heidi and is the software API used for the graphics pipeline of 3D Studio MAX and the Autodesk WHIP Technology (WHIP is available as extension for AutoCAD R13 and is built in AutoCAD R14). It is an Immediate Mode API developed by the authors of HOOPS from Ithaca Software, a company that has been acquired by Autodesk.

• [sw]: The popular name of the HDI technology.

• [sw]: Hierarchical Object-Oriented Pipeline System (or something like that!) by Ithaca Software. An Object-oriented Display List 2D and 3D system.
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I

IPAS

• [3ds]: Ixp/Pxp/Axp/Sxp. This plug-in concept introduced in 1992 with 3D Studio Release 2 contained the 4 types of external processes for Image Processing (IXP), Procedural modeling (PXP), Animated Processes (AXP) and Solid-pattern Procedural maps (SXP). Written in C using the IPAS SDK provided by Autodesk, they provided a variety of extensions not found in the basis product. In 1994 with the introduction of Release 3 the IPAS has been extended to include Keyframer Processes (KXP) and Bitmap Processes (BXP), but the name remained IPAS with the addition of a version number (IPAS3). NOTE that IPAS plug-ins are NOT downwards compatible. IPAS for R2 will work with R3 and R4, but NOT vice-versa. Release 4 introduced in 1995 was a so-called "IPAS" Release, since it added its new functions using IPAS processes. This step was a kind of "training" for 3D Studio MAX which relies completely on the plug-in concept.

• [3ds]: Image processing eXternal Process. One of the 4 plug-in types introduced with 3D Studio Release 2. It provides 3D Studio with special effects not unlike the Photoshop filters. These effects are being applied to the rendered image based on Alpha, Z-buffer, hue, brightness or mask information. The IXP routines are being applied using the Video Post queue. (See also IPAS)

JPEG

• [org]: Joint Photograph Expert Group. Defined the JPEG lossy compression bitmap format (Image information is lost while compressing). Uses 24bit color depth. Allows for high compression rates/small file sizes. Web standard. Note that the subjective quality of a JPEG image created in 3DS or MAX at highest quality settings is generally much lower than a medium quality Photoshop JPEG.

• [file]: The PC file extension of the JPEG image format.

KF

• [3ds]: Keyframer. The animation module of 3DS DOS. Provides functions for animating the Position, Rotation, Scale and Morphing of objects based on TCB control keys.

• [3d]: Lightwave 3D by NewTek.
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1. [3d]: 3D Studio MAX. It is being used to shortly refer to 3D Studio MAX (Compare "3DS")

2. [file]: The 3D Studio MAX File Format. MAX is the standard scene file format. It is a procedural format and cannot be parsed/converted by external software. The MAX files are currently NOT downwards compatible.

• [3ds][max]: Material Editor in both 3DS and MAX. (See also Medit). The module for setting up surface properties, colors and maps. A separate module in 3D Studio DOS activated thru the F5 key. A modeless floater in 3D Studio MAX.

• [3ds][max]: Material Editor in both 3DS and MAX. (See also ME).

• [3d]: Martin Hash's 3D Animation Master. A low-cost modeling and animation software with an excellent spline modeler.

• [sw]: Motion JPEG video compression format. A hardware-based CODEC compresses every frame of the video stream separatelly using the JPEG image format. The result is saved as Video for Windows or similar format. Single frames do not depend on each-other. (Compare MPEG)

1. Motion Picture Expert Group defined the MPEG specifications for Mutimedia, Video and Digital Television.
2. MPEG video compression format. A hardware or software-based CODEC. (Compare MJPEG)

NURBS

• Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines

OpenGL

• Open Graphics Language has been created by Silicon Graphics as an API for their graphics subsystems.
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• Object Space Modifier. The standard type of 3DS MAX modifier that uses Local coordinates. Compare WSM/SpaceWarp

PRJ

• [3ds]: PROJECT File in 3D Studio DOS. Similar to 3DS (2), but saves the state of all 5 program modules - 2D Shaper, 3D Lofter, 3D Editor, Keyframer and Material Editor.

PXP

• [3ds]: Procedural modeling eXternal Process One of the 4 plug-in types introduced with 3D Studio Release 2. It provides 3D Studio with procedural modeling extensions for creating complex geometries (Gearwheel, Teapot, Terrain), modifications to existing geometry (Displace, Optimize) or other extensions to the main code of the program (EPS Postscript interface, Shaded view / Camera match). These plug-ins are activated using the F12 button from within 3D Editor. (See also IPAS)

SDK

• [prog]: Software Development Kit - a package of libraries, source code parts and instructions for developing a certain kind of program code.

• [3d]: SoftImage line of products has been developed since the end of the 80s by Daniel Langlois. His company Softimage whas been acquired by Microsoft Corp. The modeling and animation package SoftImage|3D is available for SGI IRIX and Windows NT and is widely used for animation in big studios.
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• Solid-pattern eXternal Process. One of the 4 plug-in types introduced with 3D Studio Release 2. It provides 3D Studio with 3d procedural maps and textures. These are based on mathematical expressions and are generated in local XYZ space so mapping coordinates are NOT required. (See also IPAS)

T

TCB

• Tension-Continuity-Bias. A method for controlling keyframed animations. The only animation method in 3DS and one of the controller types in MAX. No function curve display is available for this controller type.

• Abbreviation for Tom Hudson, member of the Yost Group, one of the two programmers behind 3DS DOS and one of the MAX team. (See also Yost Group)

• Track View - a key, time and function curve manipulation interface of 3D Studio MAX.

U

UVW

• [3d]: UVW mapping is an extended version of UV texture mapping. UVW stand for the 3 dimensions in texture coordinate space. The texture coordinates control how a map is project onto an object's surface.

VP

1. Video Post

2. Video Post in MAX

WSM

• World Space Modifier a.k.a. Space Warp. A special kind of 3DS MAX modifier that uses World Space coordinates instead of Local (object) coordinates. The modifications depend on the relative position of the objects to the WSM Gizmo. Requires explicit Binding. In MAX 2.x some WSMs are added as modifiers to the Stack instead, so the name WSM is reserved for this special kind only.

YG

• Yost Group, Inc. is the team of tallented people who created such innovative products as Autodesk Animator, 3D Studio DOS and 3D Studio MAX exclusively for Autodesk.