Internet Space Builder (ISB) is the first PC-oriented VRML 2.0 authoring tool that provides the power of sophisticated 3D authoring. ISB lets you easily create professional quality 3D multimedia spaces to share with the world through the Internet. ISB allows you to build spaces from scratch or modify them using custom libraries of objects as well as your own pictures and art. You can navigate through existing 3D spaces, including those that friends send to you and those you download from the World Wide Web.

This brief overview will guide you through basic ISB features and GUI. It includes:

• Installing and starting ISB
• ISB features
• ISB basics, including screen layout, space building and scene assembling, texturing, the scene graph, and more
• Case studies

At the end of this guide, you will find a complete reference list of ISB functions.

ISB Features

ISB’s main features are outlined below:

What’s New in ISB Version 3.0

1. Support for the VRML geometry nodes Box, Cone, Cylinder, Sphere, Text.

   Now you can use VRML 2.0 primitive objects Box, Cone, Cylinder, Sphere as an objects in ISB. Using such primitives instead of their Indexed faceset simulation can significantly reduce the scene file size. Plain Text object, following the specifications of VRML geometry node Text allows to add into the scene formatted writings as well as edit them as text. You can reduce the scene file size and change the text easily using objects of Plain Text type instead of their Indexed faceset simulation by 3D text objects if you do not need their thick characters and wide font choice.

2. Support for the VRML 2.0 Background node and capability of setting the scene background schemes along with editing capabilities for the background colors.

   Now you can add Background to the scene you are editing. The background schemes include such elements as Background color and panorama images. You can apply these items from each pre-defined schemes independently and edit and save the background color settings.

3. Capability of choosing the scene landscape from a set of pre-defined landscapes.

   You can choose the scene landscape, following VRML Elevation grid node specifications, from a set of pre-build impressive landscapes. Each landscape is a part of some scene background scheme. You can choose any landscape for your scene from any scheme you like.

4. Customizable keyboard navigation commands for the camera.

   Now you can re-define keyboard camera navigation commands assignments and set the camera motion speed and acceleration coefficient.

5. Editing operations directly in the Perspective View window.

   You can change the shape and object size, location and orientation in 3D space with the help of Shape and Object Manipulators in the Perspective View window.

6. Changing, renaming and format conversion operations for the resource files, referenced in the scene file.

   You can change the resource files references in the scene file now:

   • Change the file reference in the scene to make it pointing on another file.
   • Change resource files location on your disk, and make all references in the scene pointing to the new file location. While copying the image format files proceed file format conversion from/to any of BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG formats.
   • Remove the references to the resources from the scene file.

   All operations with the resources are performed within single dialog box.

7. Full support for the image file BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG format has been added.

   ISB supports now all image formats, mentioned above, including file format conversion in any direction.

8. Importing 3DS objects (3D Studio), and DXF files (AutoCAD).

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Installation

ISB is delivered as one of two installation packages: either as a downloadable package or on CD-ROM. The Setup program provided with each package creates all necessary folders on your hard disk and installs all necessary software components along with content libraries. To install ISB:

1. Start Windows.
2. Run setup.exe program from the ISB installation package. An ISB Setup splash screen appears.
3. Follow setup.exe instructions.
4. To start the program click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Internet Space Builder, and then click Internet Space Builder.