TGS Ships Java Version of 3D-MasterSuite Tools for Sun Solaris and Windows 95, 98 & NT; Robust 3D/VRML Tool Set Ideal for Internet and Intranet Enterprise Applications

Business Wire, August 9, 1999

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 1999--

TGS is now shipping a new version of the popular 3D-MasterSuite(TM) developer's tool set with support for the Java(TM) programming interface.

3D-MasterSuite is a robust, object-oriented tool set that delivers high-level classes to developers who need to add interactive 3D, large model visualization, VRML, 2D & 3D data visualization, charting and enhanced vector hard copy to Windows(R) and UNIX(R) applications.

3D-MasterSuite enables Java developers to quickly build cross-platform, interactive 3D graphics applications supporting visualization and graphics for the enterprise, distributed within Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator. Additionally, 3D-MasterSuite creates applications that automatically support important network graphics standards, including VRML 1.0 and VRML97. TGS will be demonstrating 3D-MasterSuite for Java in booth no. 1361 during the Siggraph exhibition, Aug. 10-12 in the Los Angeles Convention Center.

3D-MasterSuite for Java is a library of Java-based objects and methods used to write interactive 3D graphics applications using the Java programming language. Based on OpenGL(R), the product takes advantage of powerful graphics hardware features to provide high performance with minimal programming effort. It is fully integrated into the Java AWT framework, enabling software developers to write stand-alone 3D Java applets which share a common interface and can be distributed via Web browsers. The performance of 3D-MasterSuite for Java is optimized so that 3D can be displayed and manipulated in real-time.

3D-MasterSuite for Java is also integrated into the Java Developer's Kit v1.2, and can be used with the Swing components of the JFC. The software components are compatible with the Java Beans specification, and support Java application builders, such as Sun's Java 2 Workshop(R), IBM's Visual Age, Symantec Visual Cafe... "With the addition of a Java programming interface, developers can now create interactive 3D Web-enabled applications using a proven, performance-oriented solution," said Jean-Bernard Cazeaux, president and CEO of TGS. "3D-MasterSuite is the only real solution for building commercial-grade 3D applications and data visualization for the enterprise."

More About 3D-MasterSuite v3.5.1.5

3D-MasterSuite enables Java developers to quickly build interactive 3D graphics applications targeting a wide range of requirements, including those in the automotive, oil & gas, manufacturing, scientific, engineering, financial, data visualization and simulation markets. 3D-MasterSuite v3.515 components include: -0-

--   Open Inventor -- a general-purpose, object-oriented toolkit used
     to develop interactive 3D graphics applications. Open Inventor's
     file format was the original basis for VRML and Open Inventor
     continues to provide native support for both VRML 1.0 and VRML97.

--   GraphMaster(TM) -- is a powerful 2D and 3D graphing extension to
     Open Inventor, which is integrated with VRML standards, allowing
     applications built using this toolkit to create VRML-compliant
     charts and graphs for use on the Web, making it possible to
     distribute business and financial visualizations over the
     Internet.

--   3D-DataMaster(TM) -- extends Open Inventor and VRML into the
     scientific and engineering visualization markets. Using
     3D-DataMaster, programmers can develop interactive 3D
     visualizations of contours, ISO surfaces and meshes.

--   LMV-Master(TM) -- extends Open Inventor to support large model
     visualization, which allows programmers to develop applications
     that can render very large 3D models of more than one million
     polygons in real or near real time. (C  only)

--   PlotMaster(TM) -- extends Open Inventor and VRML to support
     vector hard copy devices, including the ANSI standard CGM file
     format plus PostScript and HP-GL.

--   VRMLMaster(TM) -- implements the VRML 2.0 specification as an
     extension to Open Inventor. It enables developers to take
     advantage of VRML in a broad range of simulation and virtual
     reality applications, including science and engineering.

3D-MasterSuite 3.5.1.5 for Java Availability

The 3D-MasterSuite v3.5.1.5 software developer's kit for Java is available now directly from TGS for Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Sun Solaris(R). Versions for IBM(R) AIX(R), SGI IRIX(R) and HP-UX(R) will be available soon. For more information, visit the TGS Web site at www.tgs.com or consult our demo web page at www.europe.tgs.com/demoJava.> More about TGS

A pioneer in VRML and interactive 3D graphics, TGS delivers software products to professional developers and end-users. TGS is the largest supplier of PC and UNIX software products based on Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), ANSI/ISO PHIGS , OpenGL and Open Inventor standards. TGS products facilitate the creation and use of 2D and 3D graphics by developers and end-users.

TGS' Open Inventor-based 3D graphics software development tools and 3Space end-user applications have been bundled by Microsoft Corporation for Visual C (R) and the Internet Explorer Starter Kit, and by Digital Equipment Corporation for Windows NT Intel(R) and Alpha(R) systems. Applications using TGS' 3D technology have been distributed to over 1,000,000 systems worldwide.