Easy to Capture, Create, and View. Portable, integrated 3D image capture & editing system* MINOLTA 3D 1500 The 3D 1500 from Minolta enables the common usage of 3D image data, the standard of image data files for the coming age. Due to the convenience with which users can move and view images as they please through simple mouse manipulation, 3D imagery has recently become widely used in many areas, including product presentations, video games, museum collection and other illustration databases, and, of course, in images used by businesses to promote their products on the Internet. Thanks to its great potential, 3D image data is regarded as the future mainstream of image data and expression. Until now, users had only two options when it came to producing photo-realistic 3D images: capture image data with laser scanners requiring extensive systems, or draw photo-realistic images manually. At the same time, there had been many obstacles which prevented 3D imagery from becoming popular. For example, equipment that's hard to carry and hard to set-up; time-consuming image production and memory-intensive data; too many limitations in setting up the environment to view the created 3D images. Minolta has solved problems in both hardware and software by integrating the innovative technology of MetaCreations, USA, and Intel, USA. Now there's no longer any "complicated hardware setup," "complicated software," or "complicated setup of downloading/viewing environments." The Minolta 3D 1500 is an integrated 3D image capture/viewing system that incorporates all key software and hardware components. With the Minolta 3D 1500, anyone can view 3D images without special software or equipment. Its standard output file format – the MetaStream format developed by MetaCreations and Intel – allows users to view images with Web browsers equipped with 3D plug-in software. Note: Output file formats other than MetaStream will also be made available. 3D plug-in software is to be included as standard in Windows 2000. * Offering the total process of 3D image input, editing, production, and output. NEW MINOLTA 3D IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE TAKES IMAGING TO THE NEXT DIMENSION RAMSEY, NJ - Minolta Corporation announces the Minolta 3D 1500, a new 3D image capture device which incorporates the high-performance Minolta Dimâge EX digital camera with MetaCreations’ innovative MetaFlash™ technology to create photo-realistic 3D images quickly and easily. With easy-to-use operation, high-quality images and an affordable price, the Minolta 3D 1500 is the ideal tool for web site development, online merchandise catalogs, artifact indexing for museums, computer graphics design and much more. "For years, professionals within the 3D industry have searched for an easy and affordable solution for capturing and creating photo-realistic 3D images," said Jon Sienkiewicz, Vice President of Marketing for Minolta Corporation’s Consumer Products Group. "With the introduction of the new 3D 1500 camera, Minolta has developed a portable image capture device that dramatically reduces the time and cost of creating 3D images. " Compact and Affordable Unlike conventional 3D laser scanners, the 3D 1500 is extremely portable and affordable. In addition, other methods such like 3D modeling and drawing are extremely time consuming and require an advanced level of expertise and manual labor, while the 3D 1500 captures images quickly and easily. Simple Setup, Easy to Capture Minolta’s 3D 1500 requires no complicated systems or extensive setups as today’s 3D input devices. By incorporating superior digital imaging technology and MetaCreations’ 3D imaging hardware and software, the Minolta 3D 1500 provides the quality necessary for high-tech presentations, while ensuring the flexibility necessary for transmission over the Internet. Utilizing the detachable lens design of the Minolta Dimâge EX camera series, the 3D 1500 integrates MetaCreations’ MetaFlash™ between the camera body and the lens unit to create an easy 3D image capture device. With the 3D 1500, objects are easily transformed into photo-realistic 3D models. To capture images, users simply aim at the object and push the shutter release button, and with the help of FlashPoint Technology’s DigitaScript™ software, the camera automatically does the rest. Through MetaCreations MetaFlash™ technology, the 3D 1500 relies on a structured-light based triangulation to take a series of 2D images at a succession of sizes and turn objects into 3D images. Once captured, images can be easily viewed on the built in 2-inch LCD monitor. The images are then saved onto a removable CompactFlash card and can be downloaded to a computer into the MetaFlash™ software. Unlike other 3D devices, the 3D 1500 doesn’t require any complicated extensions or expensive card readers. Finally, with the click of an icon in the software program, the images are transformed into a photo-realistic 3D image. Versatile MetaStream‘ File Format The MetaStream™ 3D-file format addresses the need for 3D files that stream efficiently over the Internet and scale to the user's processing power. This, in turn, permits Web developers to generate sites of the highest possible quality for enjoyment by power users, while still assuring satisfactory experiences by users with limited bandwidth and/or computing power. In addition to being shipped with Microsoft Windows 98® and Windows 2000 ®, the client-side engine is available as a free browser plug-in for Internet Explorer ® or Netscape Communicator ® for Windows. Easy-to-use Software MetaCreations’ MetaFlash™ software is a full-scale natural 3D-shape polygon-based editing system. Users can view, reconstruct, distort, inflate and combine the shapes of the captured images. The 3D 1500 offers high- resolution 3D wire frames, seamless 3D-image geometry and texture gluing to make continuous, detailed model manipulation possible. A variety of polygon selection tools are included for 3D model editing, smoothing and sharpening such as 3D Brush and Lasso. A multiple undo feature allows users to easily trace or erase imaging edits, while a texture editor enables users to enhance visual quality of the 3D models and adjust output file size. Three rendering engine choices are available in the MetaFlash™ software, including OpenGL, DirectX and MetaCreations pure software rendering SreeD. The native file-format for all images saved is MetaStream (MTS). These images can be imported or exported in OBL, 3DS and MTS file-formats to a number of popular compatible software programs including 3D Studio Max™, Softimage™, Alias PowerAnimator™, Maya™, Ray Dream Studio™, Bryce™ and Poser™. High-Quality Images The 3D 1500 features the award winning image quality of the Dimâge EX digital camera series. A 1.5 million pixel CCD unit with a color filter provides high-quality images and ensures the color and texture of the images are accurately mapped on the polygons that compose the 3D image. The high image quality also enables the 3D 1500 to capture accurate models of naturally shaped surfaces such as human faces, sculptures, clothing and more. Compatibility and Easy Downloading The 3D 1500 package includes Lexar JumpShot™ USB Connectivity kit with everything needed for high-speed, easy downloading of images files via Universal Serial Bus port. The kit includes Lexar‘s USB enabled 32MB CompactFlash card, PC Card adapter, USB cable and software drivers for the Microsoft Windows 98®. the whole view top rear front bottom ** Product photos are as of May, 1999. Product design may change without previous notice. Minolta Corporation, headquartered in Ramsey, New Jersey, is the The corporation's Business Products Group (BPG) markets digital largest subsidiary of Minolta Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, a leading and analog office equipment. Products include black-and-white manufacturer of cameras, business equipment, radiometric copiers, plain-paper laser facsimile machines, digital color instruments and planetariums. For more information, consumers copier/printers, micrographic systems, electronic image and can visit Minolta’s Web site located at http://www.minoltausa.com information management systems, and related office equipment. or access Minolta’s PHOTOFAX at 800-528-4767. The Peripheral Products Division (PPD) is part of Minolta Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group (CPG) markets Corporation’s Business Products Group. PPD leverages the film cameras, digital cameras, binoculars, accessory lenses, company’s imaging and document management expertise by photographic meters, 35mm and Advanced Photo System film offering a line of Minolta-branded computer peripheral products. scanners and other consumer products. Minolta is the exclusive distributor of Cokin filters. All brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies..