The Portable Document Format (PDF) has become the standard cross-platform, cross-application media in which print materials can be distributed electronically. Since Acrobat was launched in the early 90s, the software has beaten off potential rivals thanks to the ease in which documents can be converted directly from their native applications. With minimal configuration required to optimise the end results for different purposes, it’s found favour with technophobic office staff, who need a quick method of distributing files to colleagues, and with designers who require reliable methods of embedding fonts and graphics with work sent to print.

Despite its broad appeal, the format has limitations: its primary purpose is to faithfully emulate print documents. This hasn’t presented too many problems for most users, but the universal nature of the format has presented Adobe with demands from other industries keen to use it for that reason. One such sector is product and CAD design.

3D dilemma
3D designers will often work on a brief from a client and return blueprints in 2D print form that gives some indication of their efforts, but requires much explanation before the client can visualise the results. Of course, the client can always look at the original 3D renders, but unless they’re willing to pay for the software or visit the design agency, there are limited methods in which such content can be displayed. Additionally, sending out original CAD designs introduces further protection issues for designers keen not to see their hard work emerge from Far East manufacturers without their permission. With Acrobat 3D, however, things are set to change. The software is effectively an extension on the top-end Acrobat 7 Professional version that incorporates elements that recognise CAD and 3D files from a comprehensive range of key titles and formats. This includes CATIA, Solid Edge and SolidWorks, Pro/Engineer and other CAD applications running on Microsoft and UNIX platforms, plus the more creative environments such as 3D Studio Max, Lightwave and Wavefront.

Creating such content from existing CAD or 3D assets is as easy as creating PDF content from any office application. Objects can be captured directly from the native 3D application, or you can choose to import content from within Acrobat 3D itself. The process involves simply locating the 3D file and making any configurations through the intuitive interface presented.

These settings include a number of preconfigured options with the usual Custom, High Quality and Small File options for quick single-click conversions, which adopt the settings of the original file. Alternatively, you can work through the various tabs to determine options for navigation and display such as the default background colour, lighting, rendering styles and animation. Further options allow more specific settings for surface tolerance and whether to import hidden objects, sheet bodies and wireframes.

Optimisation controls provide preferences that reduce the polygon count, remove duplicates and apply compression for online delivery. Animation controls are also available, giving the designer a means of presenting their work in exploding view. This provides an easier method of comprehending the complex relationship found within the moving parts of an engine, while transformation options will help to scale and fit more detailed diagrams into the available space.

Easy 3D
Ultimately, and like regular Acrobat, the 3D version is a deceptively simple application. Much of the power behind the software is hidden away in the code that accurately understands and translates complex 3D designs into a format that is both easy to view and understand for the novice client.

No additional software is needed to view Acrobat 3D content; the Acrobat viewer is more than capable, although a reasonably high-powered computer is needed to render such PDF content to the degree that playback and render are as smooth as the designer intended. Within a PDF document, 3D content is handled by a toolbar that allows full control over rotation, scale, predefined views, render modes and lighting. Add to this the security methods, so that designers can restrict the amount of detail displayed to protect their work and the universal popularity of the PDF format, and it becomes clear that Acrobat 3D provides an industry with a welcome method of distributing their development work.