Blend4Web 17.06 adds augmented reality support
Triumph has released Blend4Web 17.06, the latest update to its framework for converting Blender scenes into interactive web apps, adding the capacity to author augmented reality experiences.
Since the last time we wrote about Blend4Web, Triumph has also added support for interaction with a scene using VR controllers, on top of the existing option to display it on a VR headset.
So what is Blend4Web?
Blend4Web enables Blender users to export scenes in HTML format, for viewing in any WebGL-capable browser. As well as animated geometry, the export process supports Blender’s physics and positional audio.
The content can be made interactive either through scripting interactions directly using JavaScript, or by using the Logic Editor: Blend4Web’s built-in node-based visual programming environment.
Current commercial users range from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to Greenpeace.
New in Blend4Web 17.06: Author AR content
The main addition in Blend4Web 17.06 is the option to author augmented reality content: you can see a simple demo of an animated AR solar system in the video at the top of the story.
The system is based on open-source tracking library ARToolKit and uses the WebRTC protocols, which means that it currently isn’t supported in Safari or IE, although other browsers should work fine.
Other changes in the update include four new Transform Constraints, and improvements to the Logic Editor, support for Blender’s Cycles renderer, and antialiasing.
The update is also Triumph’s latest LTS release of Blend4Web, meaning that it will continued to be updated for a year to support any changes in browsers, GPU drivers, operating systems and mobile devices.
Also new this year: Support for VR controllers
Other features that have been added since we last wrote about Blend4Web include support for interacting with a scene using HTC Vive controllers.
It’s also possible to view VR content generated in Blend4Web on GearVR and Cardboard displays. You can see a full list of new features in Triumph’s online changelog.
Pricing and availability
Blend4Web 17.06 is available now. It’s compatible with Blender 2.78 on Windows, Linux or Mac OS X.
The software is available for free under an open-source GPL licence, or as a commercial Pro licence, which costs $990 per developer. Triumph also offers commercial tech support for Pro licence holders.
Read a full list of new features in Blend4Web 17.06 on Triumph’s blog