Among 3-D-design packages, StrataVision 3d is a standout for high-quality photo-realistic rendering. Version 2.0 added an elegant rendering interface and plug-in extensions that provide an almost unlimited upgrade path. With version 2.5, the most recent release. Strata has improved StrataVision's redraw and rendering speed and added a variety of important new tools for modeling, rendering, and animation.
A Better Model
StrataVision provides separate tool palettes for modeling, lighting, texture application, and animation. Most work is done in the program's Modeling window, in which you build 3-D models and then apply textures and lighting. If your model comprises several individual objects, you can build each object in a separate window, but all components exist within the same file. You can draw 3-D objects in wire-frame or shaded views, and objects can intersect without requiring any special procedures. Essentially, rendered images are 2-D snapshots of 3-D models that “develop” in their own rendering, windows.
To create smoother curves, StrataVision version 2.5 supports Bézier splines in its polygon-modeling environment. You can convert polygons to splines, using the 2D Reshape command in the Modeling window. Other objects, such as Type 1 and TrueType fonts, are created as Bézier splines, so text as well as other 2-D objects can be extruded to create 3-D objects.
Another new tool, the Skin Modeler, lets you wrap a surface around a series of cross sections called ribs. You can create your own ribs, using the program's 2D Sculpt window, or import them from programs such as Adobe Illustrator. The Skin Modeler can also create FlexObjects — 3-D objects that can twist and bend in animated sequences.
You set up your animations before you render images. StrataVision provides a variety of sophisticated animation techniques, including metamorphosis, which causes objects to change scale, proportion. and surface characteristics overtime. The QuickTime and PICS animation formats are both supported for output.
StrataVision 3d's modeling environment works, but it’s more difficult to use than that of Infini-D, a less-powerful 3-D design package from Specular International that features an exceptionally good interface. Fortunately, you can avoid modeling in StrataVision by importing objects in a variety of file formats, including PICT, TIFF. EPS. DXF, and IGES, and in native format from graphics programs such as Swivel Pro and MiniCAD.
Strata Vision 3d excels in texture mapping, which gives objects the look of wood, glass, stone, or other materials. StrataVision offers surface maps as well as solid textures (these look as if they go all the way through an object). You can also create your own surface and bump maps, using imported PICT images.
New with version 2.5 is environment mapping, a feature that provides a variety of simulated environments (or you can create your own), which you map to reflective objects such as a glass bottle. This is a tremendously valuable shortcut, because it saves you from the time-consuming process of modeling complex scenes that serve no other purpose than to provide a reflection in the object.
To check the progress of your designs, you can render them in one of several preview or draft modes. All rendering can occur as a background task, so you can work with other applications as StrataVision processes your designs. You can also set rendering to occur at a specific time or interrupt it and save the results as a partial render. When you come back to the program later, the rendering will begin where it left off.
StrataVision gives you lots or options for controlling the rendering process itself. You can choose to turn on a slew' of parameters, including anti-aliasing, glowing surfaces, shadows, reflectivity, and refraction. You can also choose among rendering algorithms, such as phong shading or ray tracing. StrataVision also offers radiosity, the slowest but most advanced rendering method.
The rendering process requires a lot of memory; too little can slow or even prevent rendering. The minimum memory requirement for StrataVision 3d is 4 megabytes of RAM, but the manual recommends at least 8 megabytes for optimal performance.
Rendering can be an extremely time-consuming process when large, complex images are involved. Strata is one of several companies that have recently developed a way to divide the rendering process among several Macs on a network. The company's Render Pro, which works with StrataVision 3d version 2.5, speeds the rendering proeess by dividing an image into hundreds of individual rendering calculations. The calculations are distributed among several Macs on a network and processed simultaneously in the background.
The Bottom Line
Unlike rival MacRenderMan, from Pixar, StrataVision 3d puts a friendly interface on texture-mapping and rendering. The addition of Bézier splines in version 2.5 greatly strengthens the program’s modeling environment. It may take you a while to master StrataVision 3d, but the photo-realislic images it produces make it well worth the effort.
Rizzo, John. (July 1992). StrataVision 3d. MacUser. (pgs. 58-59).
Strata Inc.
Applications
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StrataVision_3D_26.zip
Emulating this? It could probably run under: 
Basilisk II
