Even its more complex operations are relatively quick. The library is also constantly updated, which will have users running to the Intel Web site for bug fixes and upgrades. Users running trueSpace for the first time will no doubt find its initial display of nearly 40 icons confusing. The program disregards a number of Microsoft interface conventions, but we began to appreciate its design after a run through the superb tutorial manual. The controls are efficient but require the user to be fairly familiar with the program before doing almost anything.
Users control animation either by assigning objects to easily editable paths or by keyframing.
Though you can keyframe almost every operation, trueSpace's limited keyframe monitor makes editing complex animations rather laborious. Caligari Corp. includes a CD with more than 200 textures and 600 model files in its own .OOB format. Users, though, can feel secure using almost any geometry library or file downloaded from the Internet. The program imports enough geometry formats to double easily as a file-conversion utility. Caligari produces a low-cost VRML authoring tool called Pioneer, however, which when used with trueSpace makes for a formidable VRML modeling and publishing package.