What is the difference between Acrobat 3D and Acrobat 7 Pro?

Learn the difference between Acrobat 3D and Acrobat 7 Pro.

By Tony DeYoung – February 24, 2006

 

Tony DeYoung

What is the difference between Acrobat 3D and Acrobat 7 Pro? What can I do in Acrobat 3D that I can't do in Acrobat 7?

Here are three key distinctions:

File translation: Acrobat 3D has 3D file translations capabilities (all major CAD formats) built right into it. So you can take a CAD file or 3D model and import it directly into Acrobat 3D. Acrobat Professional 7 can only import existing U3D files.

Capture any 3D file: Acrobat 3D includes Acrobat 3D Capture, so you can convert a 3D model or CAD file from any OpenGL-based application (UNIX or Windows) for use in Acrobat 3D. This means virtually any model from any professional application (or game) can be used in Acrobat 3D.

Optimize, enhance and animate: The Acrobat 3D Toolkit allows you to optimize models for faster display; add or modify materials, textures and lighting to enhance realism; and create animations for exploded views, assembly sequences and training. With Acrobat 7 Pro you have no control over the actual models and cannot create animations.

A few more points unique to Acrobat 3D:

• You can insert 3D designs in to Microsoft Office documents.
• Acrobat 3D enables parts instancing to keep final PDF sizes smaller.
• Acrobat 3D allows creation of simple 3D objects.
• You can render photorealistic images or create 2D raster or vector images.