Acropora, a voxel modeling software developed by Voxelogic, is now in its alpha phase and is ready for download. The demo software is fully functional. 250 MB of tutorials and projects are also available for download. We are looking for input in this relatively new field of voxel modeling, so please download and test your imagination with voxels! http://www.voxelogic.com A procedural modeler, Acropora combines volumetric modifiers with multi-octave 3D noise sampling to generate detailed surfaces in far less time than conventional surface modeling software. Acropora adopts a less deterministic approach to generating complex, organic shapes by applying sequences of modifiers on large voxelized meshes. The effect is to create an endless, seamless expanse of surface that undulates and changes in a natural way. The resulting meshes can contain caves, ridges, overhangs and other natural features that are not possible with height maps. Just some of the features available: •A variety of base shapes including sphere, plane, cylinder, torus and others. •Compound shapes (heightmaps, pillars, caves, weaves) •Terrain generation •Caves and overhang controls •Voxelisation of user imported models (.3DS, .FBX, COLLADA, .OBJ) •Mesh export to .3DS, .FBX, COLLADA, .OBJ •User-specified volume block and voxel dimensions. •Over 50+ volume modifiers •Automatic generation of up to 15 octaves of noise (volumetric, Perlin, fractal) •Extensive voxel and noise editing tools •Batch processing •Multiple LOD support •Seamless joining of adjacent meshes •Mesh decimation, smoothing and tesselation. •Mesh filtering and vertex blending tools •Ambient occlusion •Multithreaded CPU support and GPU acceleration (on supported cards) [Edited by - tncomp on November 8, 2009 1:52:00 PM]

Can Acropora export scenes as volumetric textures in .dds/raw formats?

Currently you can export the following:
- Meshes (.3DS, .FBX, .COLL, .OBJ)
- Volumetric voxel data (the actual voxel data, .RAW format)

With the current release you can create the 3D texture yourself by exporting the voxel space and creating a 3D texture in DirectX.

I will definitely consider this in future releases.

Thank you for the fast reply!

Tomorrow I'll have to write a function for loading .raw files into 3d textures, I'll give a try to Acropora for exporting raw data!

After a month of bug fixes and the addition of more features, Acropora is ready for distribution. Visit our download page for more information on how to purchase the product.

http://www.voxelogic.com

Corrections and bug fixes:
- Fixed scaling errors
- Fixed lighting errors
- Fixed general programming errors
- Improved 3D manipulators (scale, translate, rotate)
- Fixed voxel data export for noise modifiers.
- Fixed supported images in displace modifier
- Fixed exporting bugs
- Fixed importing of .obj model files

Additions and improvements:
- Added pan capability to display (finally!) -> use middle mouse button
- Added Region extraction
- Added Cave entrance modifier
- Added Crater modifier
- Added 3D texture (.DDS) export (of voxel volume).
- Added masking option to regions (restricts modifiers via mask file)
- Added coordinate transforms to regions (positions are transformed prior to processing of modifiers.

New Update available (0.9.3045)

Corrections and bug fixes:
- Rendering under XP corrected
- Toolbar cleaned up
- Memory clean-up

Additions and improvements:
- New GUI tools for cylindrical base shapes
- New GUI tools for spherical base shapes
- New GUI tools for geometrical modifiers
- Live update of surface (auto update)
- New controls for properties (spinners)
- Improved thread priorities for faster processing