Design Dynamics' Interactive 3D was first reviewed in Beebug in Vol. 4 No. 10 (April 1986), and was well recommended. For a detailed description of the package, readers are referred back to that original review. Now, a new version has been released, with a number of additional features and other improvements, but still selling at the same price as the original.

The package remains essentially as before, with a display showing perspective and First Angle Projection views. Drawing takes place on the perspective view, using six function keys to control movement in the X, Y and Z directions. There is also a separate cursor which can be moved two-dimensionally over the drawing to locate particular points as required. As drawing proceeds, the results are shown in all views simultaneously, and values of the current X, Y and 2 co-ordinates are displayed at the top of the screen. While this does take some getting used to, it does all work very well. It is also very easy to return to points on the drawing and re-align these, and any lines connected to that point are automatically repositioned at the same time.

One of the principal new features is an automatic circle (and cylinder) drawing function. Circles are drawn about the 'previous' point and in a plane perpendicular to the axis joining the 'current' and 'previous' points. Cylinders are similarly drawn about an axis joining those two points. In both cases, the radius is specified by the user. Both features work well and speedily, and form a useful addition to the package.

Design Dynamics also claims that accuracy has been improved, particularly where the zoom facility is concerned. Complete accuracy is now maintained within the eight-times range of this feature, unlike the previous version which would not always return precisely to the original co-ordinates after using zoom.

The other aspect which has been substantially improved is the production of hard copy. Previously a screen dump to Epson-compatible printers was provided, but this has proved too limiting. Now screens can be saved to disc at any time, and subsequently reloaded and dumped to a printer. This allows any suitable printer dump software to be used. It also means that screens produced by Interactive 3D can be enhanced using other software such as the Beebugsoft Design package.

For its price, and within the memory limitations of the model B, Interactive 3D represents excellent value for money for all those interested in three-dimensional drawings. The package has already proved popular with schools, and this new version can only enhance Design Dynamics' reputation in this field.