3D Nature’s Visual Nature Studio

Hi, my name is Chris from 3D Nature. I’m a software developer, not an LA. One of my LA customers suggested I visit this forum and put in a word about our software (Visual Nature Studio, now on version 3, aka VNS 3), since people seem to be discussing different aspects of 3D work in SketchUp and Viz and AutoCAD and such.

We’re not a CAD program, or a GIS program, or an architectural modeling program. We are a realistic 3d Landscape visualization tool. We specialize in large landscape and landscapes with lots of vegetation detail — precisely the kinds of landscapes that are hard to represent well in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Viz, etc. We have data import abilities for CAD/DXF data as well as GIS data, and can take structure models from other 3D modeling tools like 3DS/Max/Viz, SketchUp and AutoCAD and put them into the landscape. VNS handles the entire process of visualizing the landscape, from contour lines and landcover polygons and polylines up through attaching vegetation, water and structures, choosing and animating viewpoints, adding skies, atmosphere, lighting and shadow and finally creating still images, Quicktime/AVI output or even (with our Scene Express add-on) real-time models. Complexity-wise, we’re more akin to a Viz or AutoCAd than a SketchUp, but that’s because we aim to be able to create top-notch landscape visualization when nothing else will suffice. Complete golf course development fly-overs, national parks, highway projects and the like.

Here’s some links:
http://3dnature.com/vnsinfo.html
http://3dnature.com/landarch.html

and our users’ Gallery for Landscape Architecture:
http://www.3dnworld.com/galapp.php#LANDARC

We’ve been around a long time (over 15 years) but we’re not all that well-known. I am one of the co-founders of the company (we’re pretty small), and I’d be happy to answer questions either here or privately.

Thanks for the opportunity to bring this up.