3D Web Design for Less

If you're looking to add a little more depth to your Web site, Adobe's $399 Atmosphere may be the tool for you. Designed to make it easier and less expensive to create three-dimensional interactive online environments--useful for everything from marketing to education--the new program is competing with established, more comprehensive 3D packages that cost thousands of dollars. Unlike in those programs, however, Atmosphere files require a player, similar to Flash animations.

Designers familiar with Adobe's Photoshop and Illustrator programs will feel right at home in Atmosphere: Tools are grouped in palettes that you can dock, merge, and resize. Its wireframe view lets you add and combine solid objects that become your new 3D environment. Then you can add color, texture, and lighting effects. Environments can also include interactive elements via JavaScript.

I tested a shipping version and found that creating the basics of a 3D environment was as easy as dragging and dropping--although stitching the pieces together to create, say, doors and alcoves took some practice.

Operation was sometimes a little herky-jerky on my 2-GHz Pentium 4 test system, and previewing required launching the player, but I attribute these shortcomings to the product's youth. The application's biggest drawback, however, is the 2.6MB download for the required player.

Still, with an easy-to-use interface and a price that's a fraction of what you'd pay for professionally geared competitors (Alias's Maya Complete 5 lists for $1999, and Discreet's 3ds max 6 retails at $3495), Adobe's latest is certainly worth a serious look. After all, if you want to get people's attention, there's no better way than to give them some virtual room to move.

Atmosphere

Adobe Systems

Limited but easy-to-use 3D Web app for designers on a budget.
Price when reviewed: $399
Current prices (if available)