01-14-2000: Raindrop Geomagic announced the release of Geomagic Studio 2.0

Geomagic is one of the first and still one of the best software for creating and editing 3D models

On January 14, 2000, Raindrop Geomagic introduced version 2.0 of its flagship software, Geomagic Studio. This program enabled the fast and precise creation of three-dimensional computer models based on point cloud data and polygonal surfaces. The technology significantly reduced the time required to produce models while enhancing their quality. Geomagic Studio was widely used in CAD design, manufacturing, reverse engineering, prototyping, and fields such as medicine, dentistry, and consumer product customization.

Geomagic Studio 2.0 introduced a range of innovations, including automated point cloud data processing, NURBS surface generation, and advanced polygon editing tools. The software consisted of three modules: Geomagic Wrap, Geomagic Shape, and Geomagic Decimate. The Wrap module allowed for the automatic creation of polygonal surfaces from point cloud data, Shape converted these surfaces into NURBS models, and Decimate reduced the number of triangles in the model, optimizing it for further use. The software was priced at $19,995 for a single-user license and $24,995 for a network license.

Geomagic Studio significantly simplified the process of creating 3D models. Users could import data from various scanning devices, such as MicroScribe or Cyberware, and process it in an integrated environment. The Wrap module transformed point data into polygonal surfaces, enabling editing and optimization. Shape facilitated the creation of NURBS surfaces, which could then be exported to popular CAD formats such as IGES or STL. The Decimate module allowed users to reduce model complexity, speeding up rendering and decreasing file size.

Raindrop Geomagic was founded in 1996 by Ping Fu and Herbert Edelsbrunner. Ping Fu, a computer scientist, had previously worked on the development of the Mosaic browser and focused on automating 3D design processes at Geomagic. Herbert Edelsbrunner, a mathematician specializing in computational geometry, provided the theoretical foundations for the technologies used in the company’s products. During the 1990s, the company gained recognition for its innovative approach to digital reality replication, with its products widely adopted in industry and medicine.

By 2015, Geomagic had become a market leader in reverse engineering and 3D modeling software. In January 2013, the company was acquired by 3D Systems. On December 12 of last year, it changed hands again, this time becoming part of Hexagon.

Source: web.archive.org