Welcome to Ulead COOL 3D Production Studio
Welcome to Ulead® COOL 3DTM Production Studio, a professional 3D text and graphics
software for use with video and multimedia. COOL 3D Production Studio is a radical change
from earlier COOL 3D versions because it offers a host of new tools and control-set additions
specifically designed for video production, yet retains innovative pre-set options for quick 3D
project generation. The result is a new breed of professional 3D animation software that is
specifically suited to the video production and multimedia creation.

Cutting edge 3D art
With COOL 3D, you can conveniently convert text and shapes into
dazzling 3D figures as well as import/export *.X and *.3DS files, work
with lathe objects, do freeform deformation, and achieve any 3D titling
goal in minutes. Create and edit your work like a pro without the hassle.
All you have to do is click away.

Video support like nothing else
You don't have to edit your video clips outside COOL 3D. User-friendly
and powerful, COOL 3D allows you to use video files as scene
background or object texture and edit the clips right there. It's video
support like you've never seen before. COOL 3D gives you the power of
many programs, saving you both time and money.

Increased usability
Edit your work per key frame and have better timeline control with COOL
3D's Timeline Window. You will also find it easy to work around the
interface by using the attribute panel, selection indicator, light guide, axis
indicator, visual open and many other usability enhancing features.
These make creating and editing your projects easier and much more
enjoyable.

Getting help
The best way to familiarize yourself with COOL 3D is to experiment with all of the options
provided. To help you get started, this manual offers basic tutorials as well as a glimpse into
advanced techniques. If you should get stuck at any time, you can use one of the following
methods for more assistance:
• Click Help, then move the cursor to the object in question, and click again to find
out more on that feature.
• Go to the Help: Help Topics menu command to get more detailed information on
specific subjects.
• If you are a registered user, you are entitled to Ulead technical support. This can be
accessed through Help: Ulead on the Web - Technical Support, or go to our Web
site by clicking Ulead Homepage on the Standard Toolbar.

Workspace
COOL 3D intuitive design makes it easy for you to find and use the tools that you need.
Toolbars, graphic editing tools, and Attribute Panel have been placed in a manner for you to
really take advantage of all the program’s features and plug-ins. The following section should
help you become familiar with the different areas of the COOL 3D environment.

• Standard Toolbar Contains all of the
most commonly used functions and
commands. In addition to the typical file
commands, it also has the Object List,
as well as Wireframe Rendering, Show/
Hide objects, and ambience control
buttons.
• Animation Toolbar Displays all the
controls you need to manipulate an
animated project, including extensive
key frame and timeline controls,
animation looping modes, frame
numbers, and frame rate. See page 43.
• Location Toolbar Shows the position,
size, rotation, light, and texture
coordinates of the selected 3D object.
Allows you to enter values yourself, or
displays the changing values of the
object as you drag it in the Edit
Window.
• Object Toolbar Allows you to place
and edit text, graphics, lathe objects,
basic 3D geometric shapes, and particle
effects objects in your project. This is
where you really begin your project.
• Face Property Toolbar Allows you to
choose which side of the object to edit.
A handy tool to have around for
accurate modeling of intricate shapes.
• Navigation Toolbar Allows user to
view and manipulate the object's
animation through Play, Rewind,
Previous, Next, Last, Loop Mode and
Ping Mode.
• Text Toolbar Allows you to adjust the
alignment of the text within a text
object, as well as the spacing between
lines and characters.
11
User Guide
• Edit Window Lets you preview the 3D
project as you work. You can also drag
objects directly within the window to
customize basic aspects, such as
position, rotation, and size, among
others.
• EasyPalette Contains a file directory of
all the aspects that you can apply to
your 3D object, including plug-in
effects. Click on any item within each
category to access dozens of preset
effects in the thumbnail pane. These
can be quickly and easily applied to
your project. See page 12.
• Timeline Window Enables you to
specify key frames and have full control
over the timing of multiple object
attributes. A superb tool in
choreographing your entire project!
• Attribute Panel Lets you customize
many aspects of your projects,
including plug-in effects. Once you
understand the available options, you
have the potential to create projects like
a pro!
• Object Manager A floating panel that
lets you group two or more objects in a
subgroup, allowing you to position or
edit them as a single object. The Object
Manager contains features such as
Group/Ungroup, Lock/Unlock, Enable/
Disable, Rename, and Delete. See page
22.
Using the EasyPalette
The EasyPalette provides you with the fastest way to create astounding titles and graphics.
With its vast number of presets, this is where you can add color and life to your project with
just a few clicks.

The EasyPalette file directory lists all of the objects and effects that you can apply to your
project. When you click on a category or a specific plug-in name, the thumbnail presets for that
particular item appear in the thumbnail pane. To apply a preset, use one of these methods:
• Drag and drop the preset into the Edit Window.
• Double-click the preset.
• Click Apply on the EasyPalette Toolbar.
Using Composition presets
Composition is the first category of presets in the EasyPalette file directory. It offers a
collection of ready-to-use Movies, 3D Models, and Video Frames that you can custom edit to
fit your project.
To create animation using Composition
presets:
1 Select Movie under Composition in the
EasyPalette file directory, then drag a
thumbnail containing a text object to your
current Edit Window (or double-click it to
open in a new Edit Window.)

2 Click the text object or select it on the
Object List on the Standard Toolbar; you
can also use the Object Manager. (See
Using the Object Manager on page 22.)
3 Then click Edit Object on the Object
Toolbar. The Insert Text dialog box appears,
displaying the text object that you selected.
4 Change the text as desired, then click OK.
The new text appears in the project,
replacing the original text.
5 You can also select other objects in the
document and modify their attributes and
behavior.
6 Click Play on the Navigation Toolbar to
preview the animated project.
Using Objects presets
The Objects category in the EasyPalette file directory provides still and animated objects that
you can arrange and modify on the Edit Window to fit your needs in creating your original 3D
compositions. You can work with a single object to create a simple animated clip, or use multiple
animated objects which you can easily choreograph to create a more complex composition.
To create animation using Objects and Object
Effects presets:
1 Open a new document and select Grouped
Objects under Objects in the EasyPalette
file directory.
2 Drag a preset object to the Edit Window.
3 Select Object Motion under the Object
Effects in the EasyPalette file directory.
4 Drag a preset motion to the Edit Window to
apply it to your object.
5 Click Play on the Navigation Toolbar, to
preview the animated project.
Try placing other objects on the Edit
Window and animate them in the same way
using the above steps.

Dimensions
When you set up a 3D project, the dimension settings of the project will differ depending on
how you plan to use the end product. You might want to use it as part of a video, include it as a
GIF animation on a Web site, or save it as a still 3D image. Regardless of your plans, when you
are experimenting with different effects and settings, try using smaller dimensions to allow your
computer to render the project at a faster rate. When you have exactly what you want, increase
the dimensions of the project.
Click Project: Dimensions to open the
Dimensions dialog box. The User-defined
option lets you customize the dimensions. If
you have inserted your own image or video as
the background, click Use Background
Image Size to have the dimensions of the
project match the background. See Image
Background and Video Background on
pages 36 and 37.
If you plan to output your project for the
video or the Web, the Standard list has a
range of commonly used dimensions.

Creating and editing objects
If you can imagine it, you can create it in Ulead COOL 3D. Generate and modify text and
graphic objects with ease using high-precision modeling and image editing tools at your
fingertips.
Adding and editing text
Choose from a wide range of preset Text Objects under Objects in the EasyPalette file
directory. You can also use text objects found in Composition presets and modify them as
individual text objects as discussed in the previous chapter.
It’s a breeze to create and edit original text objects using the Insert Text tool. You can set font
face, script for character sets, style, and size as easily as you would in a word processor. For
information on adding and editing graphic objects, see page 16.
To insert a text object:
1 Click Insert Text on the Object Toolbar. The
Insert Text dialog box appears.
2 Select a font from the list. When searching
for a font, a ToolTip appears to give you a
preview of the font currently highlighted.
After selecting your font, set the script,
size, and style of your text, and then enter
the actual text in the text box.
3 Click OK. The text appears in the Edit
Window.
4 If you want to insert another text object,
click Insert Text again. To edit the existing
text, see the following tutorial.
Note: Create a text string of multiple lines by creating a
line break in a string of text. In the Insert Text dialog
box, simply press [Enter] where you want a line break
to occur.
To edit a text object:
1 Click Edit Object on the Object Toolbar. The
Insert Text dialog box appears with the
selected text object.
2 Edit the text in the text box, then click OK
once you’ve made your changes. The
edited text appears in the Edit Window.
You can also adjust the character spacing
as well as the line spacing and alignment
with functions on the Text Toolbar.
Note: If you have added more than one text object, be
sure to first select the one you want to edit from the
Object List on the Standard Toolbar, or select it
from the Object Manager. See page 22.
Adding and editing 3D graphics and shapes
Create outstanding 3D logos and images by customizing graphic objects. In COOL 3D,
importing, creating, and modifying highly complex models are tasks that are rendered elementary
because of its powerful set of modeling tools.
Using the Path Editor
A vector graphic is different from the bitmap
graphics that are most widely known (for
example, those in BMP, JPEG, and GIF
formats). Vector graphics are composed of
paths and often stored in Adobe Illustrator
(*.AI), Window Metafiles (*.WMF) or
Enhanced Metafiles (*.EMF) formats. The
easiest way to create these graphics is to use
Path Editor, accessed by clicking the Insert
Graphics on the Object Toolbar.

The simplest way to add a vector graphic object is to draw the paths yourself using the Path
Editor tools. COOL 3D, however offers other options to work on vector graphics to your
project by importing vector graphic files.
To import a vector graphic object:
1 Click Import Graphics in the Path EditorCreating basic 3D objects
COOL 3D lets you insert basic 3D geometric objects into your project with just a click of the
mouse. Use them with text and graphics to create unique 3D animations and stills. You can use
several 3D shapes together to create an eccentric object, or just a few as props for an animated
title. In this tutorial, learn how to edit a cylinder.
To insert and edit a geometric shape:
1 Click the Insert Geometric Object dropdown
arrow on the Object Toolbar and
select a 3D shape. The object appears in the
Edit Window.
2 In the Attribute Panel, select 3D Shape in
Property List and enter values to adjust the
attributes of the object.
3 Then select presets under Object Styles,
Object Effects, Text Effects, Global Effects,
and other plug-ins in the EasyPalette file
directory and apply them to your geometric
shape.
4 You can also use the basic animation
buttons on the Animation Toolbar to create
an animated sequence.
Note: Bevel attributes and plug-ins cannot be applied
to geometric shapes.
dialog box. In the Open dialog box select
your file in Adobe Illustrator (*.AI),
Window Metafiles (*.WMF) or Enhanced
Metafiles (*.EMF) formats that you would
want to work on.
2 Click Open and the object is placed in the
Path Editor dialog box.
You can also acquire paths from your JPEG or
BMP image files and convert them to vector.
To convert a bitmap graphic object to vector:
1 Click Insert Graphics to open the Path
Editor dialog box.
2 Click Convert to Vector and the Open dialog
box will come into view. Select the image file
you want to convert and click Open.
3 The Convert to Vector dialog box is
displayed. Modify the Tolerance; Jump
point and Threshold values of the

Whether you have selected pre-existent vector graphics, rendered paths on bitmap images or
utilized the freehand tool, you can modify your paths just as easily.
To edit a graphic object:
1 Now, you can select or deselect multiple
nodes at one time. To do this, let us make an
example using the Freehand Tool. Select
this tool and render a shape on the
workspace of the Path Editor.
2 Close the path by clicking Close Path.
Notice the path has closed smoothly by
default.
3 Click Adjust and the nodes will appear. Left
click while simultaneously pressing [Ctrl].
4 Click on the nodes you want to select or
deselect. While holding down [Ctrl], drag
the entire group of nodes the same time.
5 When using the mouse, drag the pointer
and draw a selection box across the nodes.
Release the button and the nodes will be
selected or deselected. Dragging multiple
nodes will also apply.
6 When removing or adding nodes, click Add
Node or Remove Node. Apply the selection
process above to automatically delete the
multiple nodes or quickly press [Del].

Creating lathe objects
Lathe objects are easier to generate or render with COOL 3D. Simple and irregular shapes or
paths can be instantly transformed into amazing symmetrical objects using the Lathe Object
Editor and Object Preview Panel for real-time editing.
To create a Lathe object:
1 Click Insert Lathe Object on the Object
Toolbar and the Lathe Object Editor dialog
box is displayed.
Note: To recall the dialog box, double-click the object
you created or select Edit Object on the Object
Toolbar.
2 Click on the Shape Tool, Path Tool and
Freehand Tool and render a variety of paths
and shapes.
3 To start modifying your paths, click the
Object Tool and Adjust Tool. You have the
option of rendering your paths or shapes
across or beside the Lathe axis, according
to your desired output of the object. Click
on X-axis or Y-axis to change the
orientation of the default axis.
4 Increase the modification of your paths by
choosing from the Open Path or Close
Path.
5 Click Launch object preview panel in the
Lathe Object Editor to preview your
objects. You can rotate your object by
selecting Auto rotate object.
6 Experiment further using the Attribute
Panel. Manipulate Angle and Sides spin
slider controls to produce the desired
degree of angle or number of sides for your
object. It is possible to render 2 sides by
selecting Two-sides rendering.
Importing 3D models
Import DirectX (*.X) and 3D Studio (*.3DS) models for immediate use in your project or for
further editing in COOL 3D.
To import 3D models:
1 Select File: Import 3D Model.
2 Then select the 3D model type DirectX
Model or 3D Studio Model.
3 The Open dialog box is displayed for you to
select your file.
4 Select C3D data type to import the model
without color or texture attributes, if you
prefer to customize these later. Or select
D3D data type to import the model with its
inherent color and texture attributes intact.
5 Select Scale to proper size so that the
height and width of the 3D model will be
adjusted properly to fit your window.
Otherwise, it will be imported in its original
size.
6 Click Preview to view your selected file. The
model preview should be shown in the
Information Area.
7 Click Open.
You can also export COOL 3D models as Direct X (*.X) and 3D Studio (*.3DS) files and work
on them in other modeling environments. To export a 3D model, select File: Export 3D Model
and select DirectX Model or 3D Studio Model.
The Open dialog box is displayed for you to
select your file. Under Export object at,
choose whether to export at the current frame
or other frames ranging from 1 to 10. Click
Apply mesh plug-ins to include the mesh
plug-ins. In the case of DirectX, you need to
choose between Text mode and Binary mode
as the DirectX output method. Select
Compress to decrease the size of your output
file.
Selecting and grouping objects
COOL 3D allows you to insert more than one object into your project, whether it be text or
graphics. After you have created the individual objects, you can edit and animate each one
individually just by first clicking on it in the Edit Window to select it. You can also use the
Object List on the Standard Toolbar to select the object that you want to edit. An even more
convenient way to keep track of objects is to use the Object Manager (see the following
section).
Using the Object Manager
The more objects you create, the more of a challenge it can be to keep track of them. The
Object Manager makes it easier for you to organize and edit your objects. To open it, click
View: Toolbars Manager - Object Manager. Here are some of the basic functions:
• Select objects When you create a text
or graphic object, it appears as an
individual item in the directory. Click on
that item in the Object Manager to
select it. This allows you to edit only
that object.
You can also select multiple objects by
clicking them with the mouse while
pressing either [Shift] for a row of
items or [Ctrl] for individual items.
This allows you to group, align and
apply plug-ins to all the selected items
simultaneously.
• Group multiple objects Objects
belonging to the same parent can be
grouped and arranged into multiple
levels of subgroups.
To group objects, select them and click
Group objects. The selected items
form a subgroup. To see which objects
are in the subgroup, click the + symbol.
The Pivot Setting dialog box is also
displayed to set the rotation behavior of
the new subgroup. Choose to place the
pivot at the center of the subgroup
objects' mesh bounding box, at the
center of their original pivot points, or
use the current parent group’s pivot.
• Ungroup objects To have a group of
objects form separate objects again,
select that subgroup from the list, then
click Ungroup objects. All motions
applied to these objects while grouped
are retained even after they are
ungrouped.
• Delete selected objects or groups
simply select the desired object or
group of objects, and click Delete
object(s).
• Rename objects Do this by selecting
the object in Object Manager, and then
clicking it again to edit the name. This is
convenient when you want to do the
following:
- Change the name of an object to keep
track of all objects; objects receive a
generic name by default.
- Differentiate between two or more of
the same text or graphic objects in a
project. Multiple objects receive the
same name by default.
• Lock/Unlock objects Individual objects
or entire subgroups can be locked to
prevent further modifications of their
attributes. To lock/unlock objects or
subgroups, simple select them and click
Lock/Unlock objects.
• Enable/Disable objects Individual
objects or entire subgroups can be
disabled. Disabled objects are not visible
on the Edit Window and their attributes
cannot be modified. To disable/enable
objects, click Enable/Disable objects.
Editing object style
There are many ways to customize the physical appearance of your object in COOL 3D. The
controls are accessed in the EasyPalette file directory, under the Object Style category. The
easiest way to style an object is to use one of the presets in Object Style: Material Attributes
or Material Gallery, all of which combine many attributes. Or you can control each attribute
individually with extensive options on the Attribute Panel. This section shows you how to
customize color, texture, bevel, and transparency attributes.
Color
It’s easy to apply color to your object. You can use one of the presets that include both light and
color settings, or customize the color yourself.
To apply color to an object:
1 In the EasyPalette file directory,
select Object Style: Material
Attributes - Color.
Drag the color thumbnail from the
EasyPalette to the object.

and specular colors of your
object by clicking the Color square
under Surface or Specular. This opens
a standard Windows Color dialog box
where you can select a color.
3 To the right of the Color square, adjust
the Brightness, Saturation, and Hue
of the color until you have the effect
that you want. Under Specular, you can
also use the Property Controls to
adjust Luster.
Texture
By applying a texture map to your 3D object, you can give it the appearance of being made from
a specific material, such as wood or metal, or you can apply a pattern or design to it. A texture
map is a *.JPG or *.BMP image that is wrapped around the surface of a 3D object.
You can also create more dynamic compositions by wrapping your object in full motion video.
COOL 3D allows you to use an *.AVI or *.MOV file as texture that will play within the
boundaries of the 3D object where it is applied. A project with a video background can also
contain multiple objects with video textures. Imagine the effect of all video clips in such a
project playing simultaneously.
To apply an image texture to an object:
1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select
Object Style: Material Attributes - Image
Texture.
Drag the preset image texture thumbnail
from the EasyPalette to the object.
2 To use your own image file, select Image
and click Load texture image file in the
Attribute Panel. Select the image file that
you want to use for your texture (*.BMP or
*.JPG) in the Open dialog box and click
Open. The image will be applied to the
object.
3 Click Show texture color only to remove
any color that was previously applied to the
3D object, leaving you with just the color in
the texture map itself.
4 Select a Wrap mode for your texture. This
determines how the image is applied to the
object. For instance, if you have an object
with a cylindrical shape, you might want to
choose Cylindrical. For shiny or metallic
textures, using Reflection often produces
best results.
Textures are fitted around the object
depending on the Normal vector that you
select.
Textures are initially applied around the Zdirection.
If you have a cube, this results in
the texture wrapping from the front to the
back of the cube towards the back.
Choose X- or X+ if you want the texture to
wrap around from the sides going left or
right. Choose Y- or Y+ if you want the
texture to wrap around from top to bottom.
5 If you selected Flat mode, you can click Fit
to width or Fit to height to resample the
texture to fit the object's horizontal or
vertical dimension. You can also use the Fit
to height feature for Cylindrical mode.
Select Keep aspect ratio to maintain the
image’s proportion when fitted to the
object's dimensions. Keep this option clear
if you want to separately modify the width
or height values of the object.
6 Use the Mapping tools to place the image
exactly where you want on the 3D object.
Position, Rotate, and Resize the image by
clicking the desired button, then drag the
mouse in the Edit Window until the image is
the way you want it, or enter values on the
Attribute Panel under Texture property.
7 Select the Filter option to create a softer,
more blurred effect.
8 Textures in Object Style also feature the
Emboss function which gives the image a
more tactile and raised texture. Select
Emboss then adjust the following settings:
- Width The horizontal offset of the texture.
The greater the value, the more stretched
out it will appear.
- Depth The appearance of the thickness of
the texture. A higher value will result in the
texture having a greater raised appearance.
To apply a video texture to an object:
1 In the EasyPalette file directory, select
Object Style: Material Attributes - Video
Texture.
Drag the preset video texture thumbnail
from the EasyPalette to the object.
2 To use your own video file, select Video and
click Load texture video file in the Attribute
Panel. Select the video file that you want to
use for your texture (*.MOV or *.AVI) in the
Open Video File dialog box.
3 Click Duration to set the Mark In/Out
points on your video/audio file.
4 Click Info to view properties of your video/
audio file. You can also preview your
selection by clicking Preview.
5 Click Open and the video will be applied to
the object.
To run your video continuously, simply click
Loop video playing in the Attribute Panel.
Select the wrap mode and method, map your
video texture, and apply Emboss the way you
would with an image file.

Transparency
Creative manipulation of transparency levels among objects can create dramatic effects
especially when integrated with a play of light and motion. You can control the opacity of
individual, multiple items, or entire subgroups by modifying Transparency property.
Select the object you want to render
transparent and open the Attribute Panel.
Select Transparency in Property List. Drag
the slider to control the opacity or
transparency of your selection - you can also
enter a specific value for percentage of
transparency.
The actual transparency level of an object
within a subgroup is the combined value of its
own transparency and that of its parent group.
Bevel
A bevel refers to the edge of a 3D object. You can add depth and character to your text and
graphics objects by applying bevel styles. You can select from EasyPalette presets or
customize your own by selecting Bevel in the Attribute Panel Property List and adjusting its
characteristics. Once you become familiar with bevel attributes, you can even animate them.
This section gives you a glimpse into the anatomy of a bevel as well as basic bevel styles.
To apply a bevel style to text and graphic
objects:
1 Insert a text or graphic object into the
workspace.
2 Select Object Style: Material Gallery -
Extruded Objects. Drag a bevel style to
your object in the Edit Window to apply it.
3 To customize your bevel style, select Bevel
in the Property List in the Attribute Panel.
4 Change the settings for Extrusion, Weight,
Border, Depth or Precision until you get
the effect that you want.
Modifying individual faces of an object
The great thing about applying texture and color in COOL 3D is that you can apply them to
individual faces of your object. Click a Bevel Face option on the Face Property Toolbar to
select the side of the object to edit. Then, drag a color or texture from the presets to the Edit
Window. Try applying different colors and textures to the different bevel faces of an object. The
illustration below shows you this effect when applied to an object with a Flat bevel style (see the
following section for more on bevel styles).
Object precision and quality
Adjust the smoothness of your 3D objects by selecting Precision & Quality in the Property
List in the Attribute Panel. A higher Precision value increases the mesh density of the object.
This way you can deform objects to create smoother surfaces. Click Wireframe to observe
this.
Keep in mind, however, that higher precision
means slower rendering time, therefore it is a
good idea to wait until you’re finalizing your
project before setting this.

Wireframe display
COOL 3D allows you to display objects as
wireframes.
Wireframe mode renders your objects as
geometric models, displaying them as
structures made up of straight and curved
lines, and giving them an architectural quality.
Objects can also be exported in all the available
formats as wireframes.
The display mode can be toggled from the
Standard Toolbar.
FreeForm
The FreeForm feature allows you to modify the shape of any object by changing the form of its
mesh and create morphing animation. You can choose the transformation type to move selected
control points as well as transform the preview window to operate the tool from any angle.
To use FreeForm:
1 Select an object.
2 Click Object: FreeForm to invoke the
FreeForm Editor dialog box.
3 Set the grid number for each plane (X, Y, or
Z). The values range from 2 to 11.
4 Under Selection, pick control points then
drag them to deform the shape of the object
or pick the type of deformation to apply to
the object (e.g. move, rotate, and scale)
under Transform.
Note: Should the Rotate option be chosen, the user
should choose an axis (X, Y, or Z) to move the object
toward to.
5 View by opting to click Rotate or Distance.

Select Axis-indicator to view the X, Y, and Z
planes.
Click Reset View to return to the original
view settings.
7 Click Wireframe to view the object's mesh
structure.
8 Click Reset Mesh to revert to the original
structure of the object.
9 Click OK when done.
Grid There are 3 editing boxes with spin
buttons to set the grid number of bounding
control points found on the right side of the
FreeForm Editor dialog box. The values
range from 2 to 11.
Selection Allows you to use the selection
mode to choose control points (Point, Line-
X, Line-Y, Line-Z, Face-XZ, Face XY, and
Face YZ). To do multiple selection, press
[Ctrl].
Transform Select the type of transformation
(move, rotate, and scale) by clicking the
option on the right side of the FreeForm
Editor dialog box, under Transform, right
below Grid.
Note: When using the Rotate or Scale mode, you
should select at least 2 control points to define the
rotation center or scaling relative center.
Select Fixed to drag nodes only on the
selected axis. Clear Fixed to be able to drag
nodes on all axes.

3D scene basics
A three-dimensional scene shows objects the way the human eye would perceive them. Unlike a
flat two-dimensional image, a 3D composition gives you an enhanced sense of depth and space,
and makes it easier for you to comprehend scales and distances between objects.
Experimenting with various elements that
create depth in the 3D environment can help
you deliver powerful 3D compositions.
Geometric perspective evokes depth in a 3D
scene. By scaling objects using mathematical
algorithms, they are made to appear as if they
are receding into vanishing points.
Light and color also create depth. If an object
is farther, its colors are less intense because
the atmosphere absorbs and scatters light
from them. This changing of color and
contrast is called attenuation. This is often
achieved by adding a soft sheen to distant
objects.
There are various creative and enhancing
features that let you experience the excitement
or working with 3D objects and space.
Camera
If you want to view different sides of an object without manually rotating it, use the Camera
View Panel to select different perspectives of the object. In COOL 3D, the virtual camera
roams around your 3D space to show you all sides the object in relation to the position that the
object is in.
This feature provides options for viewing your work from six different vantage points: front,
back, top, bottom, left, and right. This comes in handy when trying to figure out how a
complex composition was put together.
Select View: Toolbars Manager - Camera
View Panel to open the Camera View Panel
and choose the camera position that offers the
best perspective. It displays the six vantage
points depending on the origin (0, 0, 0) of the
object as seen in the Edit Window.

Lens type and distance
Choose from presets that simulate the specific lens type of a real-world camera and its motion
of zooming in and out of the workspace. Select Camera, under the Scene category of the
EasyPalette file directory to display the preset thumbnails. To modify the camera angle and
distance, show the Attribute Panel and select Camera in the Property List.
Drag the Camera lens slider to the left to
increase the focal length of the camera and
simulate a zoom lens. This shows a tighter
view of a scene but renders clearer details of
distant objects.
Drag the slider to the right to decrease the
focal length of the camera and simulate a
wide-angle lens. This shows a wider view of
the scene and makes objects look as if they
are moving towards you.
The Distance slider increases and decreases
the distance between the camera and the
objects in the scene.
By changing lens and distance values, you can
emphasize distortion, width, height and other
characteristics of objects in your scene and
direct the viewer to focus on them.

Background
Choosing a background is one of the most important design decisions you will make in your
project. Background and the way it is used give a unique identity to your title. Readability should
be your foremost consideration. Try to test the clarity of your foreground objects to make sure
that they are identifiable against whatever color, image video, or effect you choose. Since older
computers may be able to display only 256 colors, testing your combinations in monitors with
lower color depths is also good idea.
COOL 3D allows you to use Color, Image, or Video as background for your title or apply
effects such as Gradient and Magic Texture. You can select presets in the EasyPalette or use
your own file.
Color Background
Colors greatly affect the "look" of your title. Certain colors are generally considered to be warm
or cool. Greens and yellows, for example, suggest nature, while pastels give a light, airy feel.
COOL 3D makes it easy for you to create color schemes and pick their actual shades and hues.
Keep in mind that a colorful background can obscure foreground objects. In such a case, a plain
background color might serve your needs better.
To apply a solid color background:
1 Select the Scene: Color Background
category in the EasyPalette file directory
and drag the color thumbnail to the Edit
Window.
2 Adjust the predefined color or customize
your own by using the Attribute Panel.
3 Select Background in the Property List of
the Attribute Panel.
4 Under Background Mode, select Color.
5 Click the Color square to open the
Windows standard Color dialog box.
Customize your color then click OK.
6 To fine tune your selection, adjust the
controls for Brightness, Saturation, and
Hue.

Image Background
An image background provides a setting for your project. You can use it to simulate a real world
environment or to create a scenery that is based in fantasy. Select from the EasyPalette or use
your own JPG and BMP file.
To apply an image background:
1 Select the Scene: Image Background
category in the EasyPalette file directory
and drag the image thumbnail to the Edit
Window. Modify the predefined image or
apply your own image file by using the
Attribute Panel.
2 Select Background in the Property List of
the Attribute Panel.
3 Under Background mode, select Image.
4 Click Load background image file and
select an image file (*.JPG or *.BMP) in the
Open dialog box, then click Open.
5 You can adjust the dimensions of your
project to match the size of the image that
you are using by clicking Resize dimension
to background image size.
6 Click Tile background image to render your
background image into seamless individual
tiles.
7 If there is an image stored in the clipboard
which you want to use, simply click Paste
background from clipboard.

Video Background
COOL 3D allows you to use videos in MOV and AVI formats as background for your project.
By using EasyPalette presets or importing your own movies through the Attribute Panel, you
can easily create powerful compositions of object or particle effects set against a moving
background.
You do not need a video editing program to do this. You can modify the dimension, duration and
other properties of your video file right within the COOL 3D interface.
To apply a video background:
1 Select the Scene: Video Background
category in the EasyPalette file directory
and drag the video thumbnail to the Edit
Window. Modify the preset video or apply
your own video file by using the Attribute
Panel.
2 Select Background in the Property List of
the Attribute Panel.
3 Under Background Mode, select Video.
4 Click Load Background Image File and
select a video file (*.MOV or *.AVI) in the
Open Video File dialog box, then click
Open.
If you need to view the properties of your
selected file, click Info in the Attribute Panel
or in the Open Video File dialog box.
Imported video files should have the same
duration, dimension, and frame rate as your
COOL 3D project.
Adjust dimension by clicking Resize
Dimension to Background Image Size. To
modify duration, click Duration to open the
Duration dialog box and set Mark In/Out
points on your video file.

The duration, dimension, and frame rate of the
imported video files will be adjusted
automatically to fit your COOL 3D project.
Note: When importing video, make sure that the file
size is not too large for loading especially on the Web.
Background Audio
Your title can be outfitted with sound effects, music, and voice. COOL 3D allows you to
separately load *.WAV, *.MP3, *.AIFF, *.AVI, and *.MOV audio files into your 3D title.
To apply an audio background:
1 Open the Attribute Panel and select
Background Audio in Property List.
2 Click Load Audio File to display the Open
Audio File dialog box. Select the audio file
you want to use and click Open.
Note: Click Use audio if you want to use a previously
selected audio file in your project.
If your sound file is too long for your title,
you can trim it by clicking Duration in the
Attribute Panel or Open Audio File dialog
box. The Duration dialog box is displayed for
you to set Mark In/Out points.
If the file is too short, you have the option of
selecting Loop audio playing in the Attribute
Panel to allow the sound to repeat
continuously until the title is finished. You can
also view properties of your audio file by
clicking Info either in the Attribute Panel or
Open Audio File dialog box.

Understanding the 3D coordinate system
The coordinate system can help you keep track of objects in 3D space. The X- and Y-axes
define a coordinate plane or a two-dimensional world. To work in a three-dimensional space, the
Z-axis, which represents depth, is added.
The three axes are perpendicular to each other and intersect in the point of origin. Each one is
like a number line with the point of origin designated as 0,0,0, because it is located on the 0
point on all three axes. Thus, a point in 3D space is described by giving three numbers. The first
one is the distance of the point from the origin in the X-axis. The second one is the offset of the
point from the origin along the Y-axis, and the third on distance away from 0 along the Z-axis.

3D coordinate systems are imaginary and can represent anything you want. When creating a 3D
scene, keep in mind the proportion of objects with respect to each other. You can do this by
establishing well your viewpoint or position and orientation.
COOL 3D then automatically calculates the
movement of the origin, your point of view, or
the object's center of gravity.
When transforming objects or applying
effects, you work with both the object’s own
coordinates and the world coordinates.
For example, when doing freeform
deformation, you adjust the shape of the
object by dragging nodes in its own X-, Y-,
and Z-axes.
But when you are lighting an object in a scene,
the values are based on world coordinates.

Light
Various materials or textures respond to light differently. Add realism to your titles by simulating
the way light sources illuminate objects in the real world. COOL 3D not only allows you to
direct various light sources but also adjust surface and ambient lighting.
To apply light to a scene, select Scene: Light category in the EasyPalette file directory and
drag a preset thumbnail from the EasyPalette to the Edit Window. You can customize or adjust
your lighting by using the Attribute Panel.
To adjust lighting in a scene:
1 Select Lights in the Property List of the
Attribute Panel.
2 Click a Light Source to activate it. Then
click the radio button above it to edit its
properties.
3 Click the Color square to open the Color
dialog box and change the color of the
currently selected light.
Adjust Brightness, Saturation, and Hue by
dragging their sliders.
4 Select a Mode for the light:
Directional Shines a direct beam of parallel
light rays with a constant strength. The
light source orientation is based on the
angle of rotation around the X- and Y-axes.
Point Shines diffused light with variable
strength on the object. The further the light
is from objects, the weaker the light
appears. The light source position is based
on its location along the X-, Y-, and Z-axes.
Spot Shines a focused, cone-shaped beam
like a theater spotlight. The light source
position is based on its location along the
X-, Y-, and Z-axes and its orientation is
based on the angle of rotation around the
X- and Y-axes. Because the beam is cone
shaped, moving the source closer to the
object reduces the area of illumination.

you can select the object to
which the new light settings will be applied.
This function is available when you are
working in Spot mode.
7 In Attenuation mode, set the degree of light
reflected from the object with relation to the
specified light source distance. 0 value
means that the distance will not affect the
light attenuation. Select 1 to set the
attenuation according to the distance
specified, and 2 to set the attenuation in
proportion to the square of the specified
distance.
8 Adjust the distance between the light
source and the object in Light range. For
Spot mode, you can adjust the angle of light
by specifying a value in Spotlight angle.
The general light that surrounds the object or
ambient light can also be adjusted in COOL
3D. Ambient light is a result of illumination
coming from direct sources and those
reflected on the surface of other objects. Click
the Color square to modify the color of the
ambient light. Adjust Brightness, Saturation,
and Hue by dragging their sliders.