What is AddDepth?

A simple program for creating three-dimensional type and graphics, AddDepth 2 automatically extrudes and bevels 3-D objects from 2-D outlines and builds text objects from both TrueType and Adobe Type 1 fonts.

You can manipulate objects, dress them up with colors and textures (Styles), adjust lighting and perspective for the composition, and print out the results at the full resolution of a PostScript output device.

The Wizards, new routines that automate illustration design, make AddDepth easier to use than ever. The Template Wizard provides more than 100 completely customizable design templates to which you add your own text. The Step-by-Step Wizard automates the creation of text objects. You choose preset options for extrusion depth and beveling, for object rotation and perspective, for surface styles, and for lightsource orientation. Just type in your text and you’re done. (However, you can access the Wizards only by creating a new file.)

Also helpful is the new wire-frame mode, which lets you quickly reposition objects for final composition. Intended to give 680X0 Macs a speed boost, this fast-draw mode is useful on PowerMac’s as well: even on a 7100/80, complex objects in shaded mode can redraw quite slowly.

AddDepth’s drawing tools are limited — although it has a Bézier tool, it lacks tools for straight lines and free-form polygons. The program does import outlines in FreeHand, Illustrator, and PICT formats, as well as the WMF, CGM, and CDR formats used by Windows-based packages. However, you must convert text on curved paths to outlines before importing it to AddDepth. And while the program lets you export files back to illustration packages, complex extruded objects can become unwieldy if they’re ungrouped for editing.

AddDepth 2 comes with 30 typefaces and 200 clip-art objects, but you must copy and paste such objects to the working document. Also, AddDepth identifies clip-art files by number, so you must look them up in the manual. Why not a drag-and-drop floater — or at least a preview thumbnail in the Get File dialog box?

AddDepth’s Styles produce flat shadings and gradients that you can apply to individual object bevels and faces. You can also decorate objects with graphic “decals” and make surfaces invisible to simulate transparency. Overall, the Styles are fine for illustrations, but don’t expect the subtle texturing offered by 3-D rendering packages.

The Last Word AddDepth 2 provides an easy way to add simple 3-D effects to illustrations — and at $99 it costs substantially less than the original $179 version. A great addition to AddDepth, the Wizards give novices a good start in graphic design, while illustration veterans can use them as shortcuts to more-complex constructions.

Martinez, Carlos Domingo. (November 1995). AddDepth 2.0. Macworld. (pg. 81).

 

Download AddDepth for Mac

Architecture

Motorola 68K

System Requirements

From Mac OS 7.0 up to Mac OS 9.2

Compatibility notes

Architecture: 68K

At least 4.8MB of free RAM

Mac OS 7.x - Mac OS 9.2.2

 

Emulating this? It could probably run under: Basilisk II