Windows Vista Certification

Following on from Fusion's successful certification as Microsoft XP compliant, we have moved on to get our software fully compliant with Windows Vista.

One specific benefit from undertaking this work is that Fusion is now able to utilise Microsoft's crash error reporting system which will allow information to be sent automatically from the user's PC to 2020-Fusion. This information contains basic details such as application name, version number, Operating System and the date/time. 

Google SketchUp Implementation (Purchasable Upgrade)

Google SketchUp is a 3D modelling software tool which allows users to create and modify 3D models. It also permits users to post their models to a ‘3D Warehouse' which lets users search and share 3D models with other users. 2 new options have been added to Fusion's toolbar and file menu to allow the importing of a Google Sketchup file directly or from within the Google 3D Warehouse. On importing any Sketchup file, many unit attributes (unit name, order code, description, dimensions, etc.) can be set. Once a Sketchup graphic is added to a Fusion room it then reacts as any other Fusion unit. Once within a design, Sketchup units can be saved and recalled using Fusion's ‘Grouped Unit' feature.

Multiple Views in Separate Windows

This feature allows a designer to be able to present more then one window displaying additional graphical views, either on the same screen or an additional one. A typical scenario may involve the designer creating a wireframe plan on their own PC/Laptop whilst they are connected to a second screen; this can then display a rendered perspective view to the customer for presentation purposes. The designer is not just restricted to two windows; they can open as many as they wish. Even with only one screen available, multiple windows can be displayed, resized and positioned to make the most of the screen space available. The designer can show any of the main graphical views (plan, elevation and perspective) for each individual window, as well as choosing different render settings in each case. If required, named views can also be displayed on the additional windows. Finally, views can be frozen whilst changes are made in the room and then reactivated to display the results to the customer. They can also be set so that always appear ‘on top' (i.e. one of the additional views is always the uppermost window).

Add a Sloped Ceiling in Fusion

Previously, when designing a room in Fusion, only a flat ceiling can be added to a room. This is acceptable for most, but not all, house types. In some countries, it's common to have a house or apartment that possesses a ceiling which is not entirely flat. For example, some may have a section of the ceiling which is sloped because of a stairway to the floor above or because it's above the roof line. This new, user friendly, feature provides the user with the ability to design sloped ceilings with pre-defined sizes and angles with minimal effort.

Fusion Viewing/Rendering Changes

Real Lighting (Global Illumination)

Fusion's high quality level of photo-realistic rendering has just been made even better.

Using the latest advances available in our internal ‘Lightworks' render engine, we have realised the ability for users to be able to produce images of the highest quality ever. The objective of this feature has not only been one of quality, it has also been for us to provide Fusion users with a tool that drastically reduces the amount of time that needs to be spent on refining and enhancing the lighting levels in a design. Now, the default level of lighting is greatly enhanced, as well as there being tools available to balance or adjust lighting using user-friendly palette-based tools.

Superimpose New Render over Old One

Previously Fusion would blank the screen before any new render takes place. In the case of renders that take a long time, the screen can therefore remain blank for a long time. Fusion will now automatically render new views over the top of old views.

New options for perspective navigation mode

This is a new method to navigate through the perspective view. It allows the view point and focus to be changed in the perspective view by using a number of methods to navigate directly in the view. During the process of navigation, the view is rendered in OpenGL using hardware acceleration. As soon as the navigation is completed, the previous render will be restarted.

Print screen direct to a printer

This change allows the current view to be sent to a printer without having to re-render the view at the Printer's aspect ratio and resolution.

Save Screen Facility

This change allows the current view to be saved as an image file without having to re render the view at a new aspect ratio and resolution.

Importing Textures/Materials/User Defined Backgrounds

Designers can now add even greater authenticity to their designs by applying an image to a tile surface, colour material or to a render background.

The user has the ability to import images which can then be assigned and viewed in one of the following three areas:

•  Background materials.
•  Surface covering materials.
•  Colour materials.

Images can be imported for use in a specific room or for repeated use within the application.

Ray Tracing Speed Improvements (Multi Processor Support)

Designers who render rooms using the ‘Ray Tracing' option will now experience faster rendering times if their machines possess either a multi-core processor or multi-processors.

Dimension & Annotation Changes

Define gap between wall outline and dimension rails

Previously when using dimensioning in Fusion there has been no control over the spacing between a wall outline and its guide rails. This spacing distance, and the default spacing distance between each successive dimension guide rail, can now be changed.

Ability to select font colour/size/type manual annotation

Previously Fusion had the ability to apply annotation to a design using a single font attribute. This feature allows font attributes to be set for individual annotations as well. This includes annotations that are created manually or automatically. These attributes are saved on a per annotation basis.

Surface Covering (Tiling) Changes

Surface Covering

Previously, Fusion was restricted in terms of the application of surface covering. The ‘tiling' feature only allowed tiles (or textures) to be applied to walls alone. This feature now affords the designer the opportunity to apply a surface covering to any object in the room. The initial and obvious benefit in this respect is that designers can now apply tiling, or any form of covering, to the floor. This, in itself, satisfies a major requirement for our users both in the Kitchen and Bathroom sectors. However, the ability to tile any object, takes this feature one step further still; giving the designer full creative freedom in the creation of a design.

Tiling Start Point

Fusion now allows the user to select one or more tiling zones within its advanced tiling facility and determine the start point of that tiling zone.This can be achieved by clicking on and dragging a cursor to the appropriate point within the zone, from which all tiles within the zone(s) will be positioned. The start point can also be determine to a pinpoint accuracy, by entering numeric values, or ‘offsets' to achieve the exact position.

Tile Brick & Melange Effect

Fusion's Advanced Wall Covering feature currently has the ability to add tiling zones to walls and room objects and enables the user to shape these zones. A limitation exists whereby only a single tile material can be added to each zone and the tiles are aligned in a ‘Standard' pattern directly above and next to each other. This feature will enable users to create a ‘melange' or mixed arrangement of tiles, by selecting a number of tile materials to randomly mix together and apply them using the existing ‘Standard' tile pattern. It will also allow the user to apply single tile materials and tile melanges to room objects using a brick pattern.

Connect Changes

Connect Automatic Updates

With the old Planit fusion live you would have to manually click Check for update. Now within Fusion it will by default check every 60 minutes for available updates. The user has the option to change the interval or to turn off the auto updates if required.

Room File Attachments

‘Room Attachments' is a new feature that will allow the user to attach (embed) any other files directly within the Fusion room file.

All attachments added will be compressed within the room file.