The Html Online Editor Window

Editor's Many Dialog Windows

Visit WYSIWYG Editor Site

InnovaStudio has developed a web based WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) html editor that can edit web pages directly online.

There are a few free ones on the market that are kind of slow and do not have all the features that InnovaStudio offers. There are some that cost $150 and more and still can not come close. How about these features, full tables, span, styles, CSS, file manager, lines, boxes, borders, lists, images, flash, spell check and the list goes on.

But, the two most important things to this editor is 1) The fast loading of the editor; 2) The cost.. ONLY $59 and royalty free distribution to clients!!

The package comes with plenty of examples for ASP, ASP.NET and PHP. You can edit full html or just the body of an html file.. cool! The Asset Manager (file manager) can also run as a standalone component.

PROS: Fast loading, easy setup, lots of features, file manager and the cost.
CONS: Well.. not many con's. The only thing you have to setup is an authentication script to secure the interface, but that is normal in programming.

For the speed and features that is available for the cost, why use a slow free version? You got to get it!

The Box Shot 3D Main Window

eBook Cover We Made

Visit Box Shot 3D Web Site

When you first launch Box Shot 3D you kind of get the impression that it is a small utility. But when we got into it, we found out that it is a powerful 3D application that handles camera angles, lighting, shadowing, enviroments, background color, cover layouts (called shapes) and raytracing rendering.

Cover layouts in Box Shot 3D consist of Software Box, Vista Box, Panda Box, F-Secure Box, Tagged Box, CD-DVD Box, CD in Envelope, Image/Card, eBook Covers, Spiral Bounded Book/Reports, Magazine, Brochure and several others.

To use Box Shot 3D, all you have to do is create your cover graphic in a paint program such as PhotoShop. Then you can apply regions (maps) of your image to reflect which part of the cover you want that map to display as. You can do front, back and sides of covers.

The magic comes when you apply all the 3D settings, rotate your view to where you want it and then render it using the built-in raytracing engine. The realism is incredible.

See the image on left that we made using Box Shot 3D. It took us 10 minutes to create the cover in our paint program. It then took 5 minutes to setup our report, then another 3 minutes to render it.

PROS: Will save you lots of time creating 3d covers, realistic renderings, many layouts and 3d settings to bring your cover to life.
CONS: Well.. not many con's. The raytracing is slow, but that is the raytracing technology and not Box Shot 3d's issue.

For the time that you save creating covers compared to doing them in a 3D application, getting this application should be on the top of the list. And for only $54 us dollars... it is a great deal!

The GroupMail Interface

GroupMail's Group Email Lists Window

The Message Window

Visit GroupMail's Web Site

GroupMail offers several versions from a free (100 sent email limit per mailing) to an Enterprise version packed with powerful tools. On their web site they list the companies who use their product; and they have some big names using their program.

When I first downloaded GroupMail Personal Edition, I was able to setup Smtp, group (email address list) and message using an already made html page in 5 minutes. Their approach to groups (mailing lists) and messages is so easy to understand.

The Personal Edition allows unlimited email campaigns, unlimited groups and unlimited message templates. GroupMail also includes a number of already made html templates.

The biggest asset of GroupMail is the ability to compose html messages either by importing an already made html page or you can compose a message right in GroupMail's own html editor. And just for kicks... you can even link directly to an already made web page on your web site. That is awesome!!

After composing your message, you can test it right in GroupMail to preview it or send out a test email to yourself. When you are ready to send, you just select the group (email list) campaign that you want to send it to. You can send your group mailings either by using your email's SMTP settings or using GroupMails own on-board smtp which is faster.

Of course, GroupMail also has a robust set of functions to handle subscriptions, unsubscriptions and bounce-back emails right inside the program. All you have to do is setup a form on your web site for your visitors to subscribe or unsubscribe. There are lots of free PHP form codes online to accomplish this easily.

PROS: Unlimited group emailing lists, message templates and unlimited email smtp setups. Preview messages, options to send both html and text based messages. Composing your own, importing or linking to html page templates.
CONS: Well.. not many con's. One feature we would like to see, is the ability to just check off hand selected recipients without using the email exclusion functions.

We tried several mass mailing programs, even the $400 ones; and we feel that this was the easiest and most natural feeling program out there. For the price and flexible functionality, you must check this out.

The Poser Interface with Library Open

The Face setting Window

Visit E-Frontier's Web Site

Human, animal and mammal figures are a difficult undertaking as a programmer. So, when you consider the complexity of such mesh modeling, you will notice when Poser 7 starts, it takes a few moments to load. Poser 7's interface is not like a traditional windows/mac interface.

You adjust your views on the stage by using the colorful hands, head and navigation ball on the left. You can control the direction of your light source very easily. You have the options of how the rendering window displays in design mode and render mode.

On the top of the application are tabs where you can set options for material, face (see below left), hair and clothes. You can add props (other mesh models) to the stage.

The library is where all your figures, preset poses, expressions, hands, props, lights and cameras come from. You add an object onto the stage. I like the preset poses, which allow you set set your figures pose automatically.

Then to fine-tune your figures poses, you can adjust every part of their body right down to the fingertips. You can even customize the face with your own face. You can adjust the lips and eye expressions.

PROS: A very powerful application for figures. A lot of options to get the right pose. You can export your rendering too. Oh, I didn't mention that you can create a movie with your figure and export that too!
CONS: Well.. the interface takes a little getting use to, but it is not hard. Can be sluggish on slower PC's

Poser 7 is an awesome application. I cannot wait to really dive into this thing and produce some decent stuff. There is so much more I could say!! Go get it!!

The SWF Plugin Window

My First Flash Desktop Application

Visit NorthCode's Web Site

When you SWF Studio 3.4 for the first time, you are not overwhelmed by it's plain simple look; it is not a flash application. But, have you even opened up a hood of an old car and heard the engine roar!!

SWF Studio allows you to customize almost every part of your Flash/Windows application, including the icon, title caption, wher it displays, whether it is minimized or maximized at startup.

You can also save your Flash projects as a screen saver, with settings too! You can even include "Plugin" functionality into your project. You also have the option to include all external files inside your EXE or extract them when the app is first started. Can you say "Truly standalone application!!"

And let's not forget the most powerful aspect of SWF Studio... it's own ActionScript API, you can load and save files locally on a PC, run databases with Flash!! You can also work with a lot of Windows API's too!

Something I think will be neat to do (which I haven't tried yet) is to have your flash application talk to your own DLL if you have VB or C# development tools. That's right!! You can do a whole lot more with your flash app, then just animations!

On the left is my first program (Web Launch) that I made using SWf Studio. I love using flash to make interfaces pretty, but when I was able to load and save XML... within the application, I was thrilled!

PROS: A very powerful Flash application projector application with a lot of options. They have an awesome support staff!!
CONS: Well.. I haven't found any yet. It is still new to me.

SWF Studio is a great application to develop desktop applications on the Windows platform using Flash. I would recommend this to anyone!!

The New WorkSpace Window

trueSpace Interface

Layers In TrueSpace

Rendered Model Mobile Home

Visit Caligari's Web Site

"TrueSpace is so fun to use, that it is
one of the best applications
that I have on my computer!!" - Frank Hilton

When you run TrueSpace 7.5 you are greeted with a new interface that is virtually a wide open area of squares and buttons (called icons). They have added a new "WorkSpace" (simulates a stage) where you can set your models in place and play with them. There is also a "modeling" window where you actual edit and create your models. You even have the option of using the old TrueSpace 6 interface if you prefer that. There is now a collaspeable panel where your models, settings and library is stored for easy retrieval.

One of the most valuable things to me, is how you can manipulate objects on the stage using object handles and rotating controls. This allows you to move and rotate objects directly.

One feature that is retained in version 7.5 is Layers. This makes modeling so much easier. Separate models or grouped models can be on separate colored layers. The layers can be hidden or locked!

TrueSpace is excellent when it comes to lighting and shading. With several preset lighting schemes, any render can look so real. There are spot lights, area lights, local light, infinite lights and each light has several light and shading settings.

TrueSpace has many color, textures and image map settings to make any object look so real. They have improved upon these material editors in the new version. There is also functions that allow you to paint directly on the object surface. Objects can be made to look real with various reflection, shine, textures and transparency settings.

What is a 3D project without cameras. I really like using the camera as a view. Why? Because you can use your mouse to "walk" through your scene. I did this when I built a full model home (see below).

Animation is pretty easy by just adding a frame and move objects around your screen. You even have the choice of using motion paths. Then you can export your animation to a video. Now that is fun!

By far, one of the biggest strengths of TrueSpace is it's easy rendering functions. You can purchase the addon renderer V-Ray that will knock your sox's off.

Unfortunately, I haven't master it's full potential yet to show you. The model of my mobile home (on left) where I currently live is rendered with basic light and shading using TrueSpaces basic renderer. If you want to see some "totally realistic" rendering that is done with TrueSpace, see Caligari's gallery here.

PROS: Too many to list. Layers, Rendering, model editing, animation, sculpturing, Python scripting and even game development!
CONS: Well.. I wish I had more time to master it!!

TrueSpace has always been my choice because it is fun and easier to use then even some of those free 3D programs out there. If you have even the slightest idea about 3D graphics then TrueSpace is a must have!! View some of my models.

Visit Swift3D Web Site

Swift3D creates very clean flash (swf) files that can be imported into Flash either as one frame or multiple frames if you are doing any animations.

Swift3D comes with several basic model objects that you can design with. You can even import models from other 3D programs. There is also an Extrude and Lathe editors to create various 2D objects into 3D. Editing individual nodes is now possible. Also included is an animation system to do animation with, a big plus for Flash developers!!.

If you use traditional 3D programs, you will feel at home using perspective, front, back and side views. You also have control of light sources and material textures.

PROS: Great export options for flash file (swf).
CONS: The 3D windows are a bit tricky to get used to. Not much options to customise the interface.

Too many features to list. But Swift3D is the leading software for Flash 3D creation. A must have!!

Panels • StatusBars • Docking Windows
Balloon Tips • ExplorerBar
Custom Editable Tab Control
Translucent Windows • Menus • ToolBars

Visit QIOS.DevSuite Web Site

Qios.DevSuite.Components are capable of changing their color scheme with a click of a button. You can fully customize their appearance by setting the thickness of borders and colors of their gradients.

There are many docking options to dock menus, toolbars and toolwindows on each other or on every other dockable position on the MainForm.

When working with these set of controls, I was able to get a basic docking system up and running within an half hour using forms and user controls. What I find very powerful is the option to not allow a dockable toolwindow to be closed at all. Others I have tried failed in getting this to work properly.

PROS: Lots of tools for the price
CONS: Requires minimum coding to get working. But, that is not such a bad thing.

Without question, QIOS DevSuite Controls is a great value. I have seen much higher priced docking suites that do not do or offer what this one can. A must-have for any creative developer.