The new technology, to be released today, allows users to save 3D images as portable document format (PDF) files. The files can then be viewed using Adobe’s free Acrobat reader, with no special viewer required.
With Adobe Acrobat 3D, users can convert 3D image designs from all major computer-aided-design (CAD) applications into PDF files. The software also can be used to embed 3D images into Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, which can be converted into PDFs and viewed with the reader.
While the new Adobe Acrobat 3D player isn’t expected to change the face of online imaging overnight, the company clearly sees it as a step in the right direction, piggybacking on its extremely popular PDF reader that already dominates the market.
The use of 3D imaging online has so far been fairly limited, due primarily to a lack of leadership heralding the technology. Attempts at popularizing online 3D use include that of Microsoft's Chromeffects effort, junked in 1998, Intel and Macromedia's joint efforts to market Shockwave 3D and Adobe's own Atmosphere title, shelved in November last year.
The new 3D software will be priced just under $1,000.