Adobe Acrobat enters third dimension

Adobe Systems has created a high-end version of Acrobat--aimed at boosting sales in the manufacturing industry--that displays three-dimensional images within PDF documents.

The company is expected to release Acrobat 3D, which allows a person to create a PDF (Portable Document Format) with embedded images from computer-aided design (CAD) applications. Recipients of Acrobat 3D files need a point upgrade to the current Acrobat reader version 7 to view the documents.

Adobe developed the 3D product specifically for manufacturing customers who regularly exchange CAD files in the design process, said Rak Bhalla, senior marketing manager. Car manufacturers, for example, share their product descriptions and designs with their suppliers to get bids for component parts.

Typically, design engineers today create a two-dimensional image and send them via e-mail. Having an embedded 3D image, which people can rotate to view and append with notes, will speed up the design collaboration process and reduce errors.

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