An up-to-date look at free software and its makers
PROJECTS ON THE MOVE
Shaping 3D objects with two-dimensional input devices is not easy. In this issue, we investigate how the K-3D project tackles designing a new user interface. Also, Towns triumphs, trouble at Debian, and good news.
The learning curve for Blender, the trend setter for high-performance, free 3D programs, can be steep due to its quirky interface. Buttons take users to most of the innumerable program functions. Controls are grouped by workflow phases, and users first have to click the tiny buttons shown in Figure 2 to choose which groups of controls to display. K-3D uses easily accessible tabs to select tool categories giving the user more intuitive controls. The arrangement and grouping of tools in K-3D is based on the results of user surveys.