http://e-onsoftware.com/

E-On Software has released their the next version of Vue Infinite - their flagship application designed specifically for environment creation, and geared towards the professional artist/animator. This version is packed with all of the elements that made Vue 5 Infinite so successful - such as Python scripting, EcoSystems, world-effecting wind, plant and leaf editors, animatable materials, skies, clouds, and terrains. Node-based terrain creation, and their renowned method of instancing and rendering. However, with the release of version 6 E-On has included a mass of impressive updates - some small, some large, but in all they make for an application that strives more and more to be an all-encompassing/industry standard environment creation solution.

The Interface
The first thing that is readily apparent in Vue 6 Infinite are the gizmos. Normally, I wouldn't even bother bringing this up, but in the latest incarnation of Infinite the gizmos now offer a bit more functionality, and make the UI more user friendly. As a result working in Vue feels a little easier and more fluid. The gizmos now offer the features to scale move and rotate based on Global, Parent, and Object based specifications. All of these options are now available through icons that now appear next tot he active gizmo. This control now allows the user to modify objects in relation to each other, or in relation to the scene's world, or as an object isolated form its surroundings. ...This sounds more confusing than it is, and does not translate well into text, but once you've started working with these options it all starts to make sense, and actually aids in the overall workflow of the app.

Aside from the Gizmos V6I's interface is clean and straightforward. Even the bulkier dialog boxes - like those for setting up materials are well laid out and intuitive.

E-On also gives us the opportunity to match the interface to the 3D app of our choice... however, I have yet to understand how my current interface looks like Lightwave's UI... But it's an interesting touch. The idea is to make the user feel at home in Vue based on their familiarity with their primary 3D app. For the most part this seems to be largely tied to Vue's UI color scheme, as opposed to menu or dialog set-up.