As part of our ongoing reportage of industry events, PD has dispatched new media editor David Bellm to cover the 2009 EskoArtwork Worldwide user conference in Orlando, FL. News from the event, which began May 17 and ends today, May 19, includes an agreement between Strata and EskoArtwork, under which Strata will market a new product--Strata Enfold 3D CX, which is based on EskoArtwork technology. Under the agreement, EskoArtwork also will include the ability to import Strata Foto 3D CX data files into EskoArtwork's ArtiosCAD.

EskoArtwork recently licensed a portion of its software technology for use within Strata's new Enfold 3D CX. The Strata Enfold 3D CX plug-in allows users to create professional folded 3D designs directly in Adobe Illustrator. Users can link Adobe Photoshop graphics to 2D Illustrator artwork, define die-cut lines and folding scores, and then see it in 3D directly in Illustrator. Enfold 3D adds two new tools to the tool palette, offers distribution technology to deal with graphics crossing folded edges, includes two palettes for 3D and fold control, and several commands that aim to streamline the 3D design process.

"I'm very excited about this new partnership," says Ken Bringhurst, president of Strata. "The addition of this product to the Strata lineup, along with other development and marketing activities, is a big step forward for the design workflow of graphic designers, package designers and commercial space designers—among others."

EskoArtwork's ArtiosCAD is now capable of importing Strata Foto 3D CX data files, delivering a seamless workflow between Strata and ArtiosCAD. Powered by patented technology, Strata Foto 3D CX utilizes images from a standard digital camera to capture real-world objects to make textured 3D models. Organic shapes and objects with holes also can be captured.

Importing product structure for packaging "EskoArtwork understands that the best packaging comes from cooperation with product designers, allowing them to seamlessly import product structure into EskoArtwork ArtiosCAD," explains Arjen Maarleveld, EskoArtwork senior v.p. of packaging solutions. "The popular Strata portfolio of products is used by a large base of designers, and as we continue to expand our impact in structural packaging design, we provide a new open interface to the Strata structural format-making our technology accessible to many more designers who work with Strata tools. This also allows us to bolster our product offering by helping existing customers improve their design efficiencies."

Strata Foto 3D CX technology is used by ArtiosCAD to automatically create box shapes around products. For example, consider a consumer product, like a figurine, that is captured by Strata's imaging technology. The Strata model of the figurine can be imported directly into ArtiosCAD's 3D environment. In ArtiosCAD, users can use a variety of tools to automatically create packaging that uniquely fits the product. The entire assembly can be directly inserted into a folding carton that is automatically sized to fit. The completed design files can be exported into the EskoArtwork workflow to proceed to packaging production.