HOOPS 2023 Toolkits Deliver Improved Simulation and Photorealism

Tech Soft 3D has released the HOOPS 2023 3D software development toolkits (SDKs) that power engineering applications.

The enhancements to the 2023 toolkits focus on enhanced format support to provide access to engineering and manufacturing data. Improved support for physical materials helps increase photorealism in graphic display of 3D objects in artificial and natural environments. Support for material clearcoat is now supported across all toolkits, enabling the visualization of a protective layer over a solid material or finish to exhibit shininess, reflection and depth of color.

One of the main new features across all HOOPS toolkits is support for Microsoft Visual Studio 2019, protecting partners' investment in adopting the HOOPS product suite as the supporting technology stacks evolve. This update allows ability to adopt more modern compiler and language features like C++17 in the Windows compiler. With HOOPS SDKs, developers are able to reduce product development costs and bring desktop, web and mobile applications to market faster.

"Technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, and our team is laser focused on making sure that our partners have the most sophisticated, robust and high-performing component technologies that will enable them to create the applications they need quickly and easily," says Eric Vinchon, vice president of Product Strategy at Tech Soft 3D. "Staying ahead of trends and getting to market faster than competitors is the main priority of our partners, and Tech Soft 3D is the best-in-class engine for 3D graphics, CAD data translation and 3D data publishing that will enable our partners to deliver those applications."

Enhancements to specific SDKs include:

HOOPS Exchange 2023

• Format updates for native CAD and standard formats. Currently, Revit 2023 is supported with SOLIDWORKS 2023, NX 2212, Parasolid 35.0 and Solid Edge 2023 support planned for mid-February 2023.
• Improved flexible elements support for Creo, several enhancements that improve the model fidelity by supporting more definition cases and positions.

HOOPS Visualize

• Added support for pixel and vertex shaders provides developers with greater control over how geometry is rendered.
• Access support to spatial relationship data from IFC files.

HOOPS Communicator

HOOPS Communicator 2023 now allows for separating the conversion of geometric and measurement data and enables the viewer to present 3D models sooner after conversion, while still allowing access to the full set of measurements when needed.

The 2023 version of HOOPS Communicator includes enhanced conversion support for DWG drawing elements.

HOOPS Publish

• Enhanced PMI association and cross-highlighting support of RiPointSet as well as improved thumbnail generation resulting in improved performance in file conversion and loading.

HOOPS toolkits are also available through the HOOPS Native and HOOPS Web Platforms. HOOPS Platforms combine 3D technologies for CAD data exchange, visualization and data publishing, along with connections to modeling kernels. With a single licensing fee, these offerings help leverage HOOPS functionality for existing applications and future development projects.

Developers interested in evaluating HOOPS Platform can sign up for a free 60-day evaluation experience. Users can now interact with demos, videos, download a free evaluation, walk through tutorials, read partner success stories and browse the updated documentation.