Amapi

Original author(s)Yonowat S. A., Laurent Billy and Jean-Marc Noirot-Cosson
Developer(s)Smith Micro
Initial release1993; 31 years ago (1993)
Final release
v 7.5 / August 18, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-08-18)[1]
Written inC++
Type3D computer graphics
LicenseProprietary commercial software

Amapi was a 3D modeler created by Yonowat S.A. that incorporates both polygonal modeling and NURBS surface modeling. Amapi was used to create models for industrial design, architecture, interior design, furniture, exhibit design, packaging, bottling, illustration, video games and multimedia. The name of both the company and the software originate from a common saying by the cartoon character Droopy: "You know what? I'm happy.".

Amapi offered an original interface compared to other contemporary modeling software. The software divided modeling into three main activities: construction, modeling, and assembly. Switching between these three activities was accomplished by swiping the cursor against the right hand side of the screen, an example of a gestural user interface.

History

Originally developed by Yonowat S.A. in 1993, Amapi was sold to Template Graphics Software in 1997.[2] TGS developed and sold the software under its Eovia brand.[3] In 2006, Eovia sold the Carrara and Amapi based Hexagon software products to Daz 3D, while Amapi was sold to e frontier.[4] In 2007, e frontier closed its French offices and dissolved the Amapi team.[5] In 2008, e frontier sold the Amapi asset to Smith Micro.[6] Smith Micro sold version 7.5 of Amapi Pro for a few years on its web site, but apparently did not continue to develop the software. The software is no longer listed for sale by Smith Micro.

Version History

Version Platform Release Date Notes
1.0 Macintosh, Windows 1993 Initial Release
4.0[7] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows July 8, 1998 3D Text, Texturing
4.1[8] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows December 2, 1998
4.1.5[9] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows February 17, 1999 Intel SIMD CPU support
4.15[10] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows May 11, 1999 Gordon Surfaces
5.0[11][12] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows January 5, 2000 Dynamic Geometry
6.0[13] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows June 9, 2001
7.0[14] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows July 29, 2003
7.5.1[15] PowerPC Macintosh, Windows March 14, 2006

References

  1. ^ "Amapi Pro 7.5". August 18, 2006. Archived from the original on August 18, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "TGS Signs Definitive Letter of Intent to Acquire Yonowat S.A., Maker of Popular Amapi 3D Modeler". August 4, 1997. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "Eovia Corporation Ships First Cross Platform Web Export Tool for Viewpoint Format: WebXport 2". July 23, 2002. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "e frontier Acquires Amapi from Eovia Europe". July 18, 2006. Archived from the original on July 18, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  5. ^ "Good bye e frontier, Good bye Amapi..." July 31, 2007. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "Smith Micro Software Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2007 Results". March 5, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  7. ^ "New Amapi 3D v4.0 From TGS is the Natural Way to Create 3D Models for Electric Image, Form. Z, Softimage, 3D Studio MAX and More". July 8, 1998. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  8. ^ "TGS Ships New Amapi 3D Modeler; The Natural Way to Create 3D Models for Strata, Electric Image, Form-Z, Softimage, 3D Studio MAX and More". December 2, 1998. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  9. ^ "Amapi 3D Modeler Optimized for Intel Pentium III Processor; New Amapi Web Player Provides Lightweight Component for Fast, Interactive Rendering on the Web". February 17, 1999. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  10. ^ "TGS Releases Amapi 4.15; Includes Improved Gordon Surfaces, Error Recovery, ZAP File Export and more". May 11, 1999. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  11. ^ "TGS Announces Availability of Amapi 3D v.5 In The U.S.; Unmatched Modeling Features Abound in Newest Release". January 5, 2000. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  12. ^ "REVIEWS: Amapi 3D 5". April 2000. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  13. ^ "Amapi 3D". June 9, 2001. Archived from the original on June 25, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  14. ^ "Immersion Offers SIGGRAPH Attendees Early Look at MOCAP Plug-in for Capturing and Editing Live Animation". July 29, 2003. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  15. ^ "Amapi Pro 7.5.1 Updater". March 14, 2006. Archived from the original on March 14, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2015.