Home Design Software

Website: http://www.plan3d.com/

Tucson, AZ - Aug. 16, 2004 – Using real-time 3D technology normally seen only in 3D games, plan3D.com now gives homeowners the ability to design homes, landscape yards and remodel kitchens in 3D and in real time. For the first time ever, users can see their designs come alive in real-time 3D as they're creating and editing.

"Three years ago, when we started this project, no one believed we could create an online 3D design tool for homeowners. Least of all that they'd be able see real furniture, appliances and home improvement products from manufacturers in their plans. " laughs Michael Gariepy, co-founder of plan3D and also founder of ArtToday.com. "We've not only proven it's possible – it's clearly something consumers have been dying for. Sales for plan3D have grown 500% since the pay site opened in July."

Plan3D gives subscribers the ability to see 3D models of real products from real manufacturers in their plans. Currently, plan3D offers 150 skylights from Velux and has plans to add thousands more 3D models of furniture, appliances and home improvement products from other manufacturers in the coming months.

"Studies have shown that online visualization is key to consumers making a purchasing decision" explains Kate Hayes, VP of Marketing for plan3D. "There are quite a few sites on the Internet experimenting with 3D visualization but none have the realism or the horsepower of plan3D."

Plan3D's web-based open architecture allows brick and mortar retailers and manufacturers to put 3D models of their products on their own websites so consumers can drag and drop them into their 3D plans. This "3D ecosystem" makes it easier for vendors and homeowners to buy and sell furniture and home improvement products online. "At the very least homeowners will get an idea of what is available before they make a trip across town. They'll also see if the products fit in their rooms," says Gariepy

Plan3D improves upon the paradigm of older-style home design software products like Punch and 3D Home Architect by allowing users to edit naturally in realistic 3D – not just in blueprint mode. And by doing so online, it relieves users of having to upgrade their CDs or download patches. "The Internet is the future of software distribution. " continues Gariepy, "Not only is CD distribution cumbersome and wasteful of resources, downloading and installing software is unnecessarily tedious. Our users simply click a button to run plan3D."

Plan3D is a 400K browser plug-in that works with Windows XP or 2000 and Internet Explorer 6. Minimum system requirements are a 1,000 MHz PC, 32MB 3D video card and 128MB of RAM.

"Plan3D was designed from the start to take advantage of the latest 3D technology and the Internet. " adds Gariepy. "The real-time 3D experience - along with the ability to drag and drop real products from vendor websites - makes plan3D very useful to new home buyers, interior designers, contractors and other people who don't have time to learn complex software."

Plan3D.com opened in May, 2004. Annual subscriptions sell for $69.95. A special version of plan3D is available for manufacturers and retailers for use on their websites. Plan3D is a trademark of plan3D, Inc.

For additional information (or sample, copy or demo), contact Kate Hayes or Michael Gariepy.

Plan3D is a startup company founded in October, 2001. Plan3D is available now. Plan3D is a trademark of Plan3D, Inc. Portions are patent pending.

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