Electric Rain’s Swift 3D version 4 is the latest version of this 3D animation program specially developed to create Flash-based 3D animations. Swift 3D Express is the first version of a trimmed down version of Swift 3D. It is basically a plug-in to Flash MX 2004, and it offers 3D capabilities right from within Flash itself.

Why would you use Swift 3D Express when you already have the full-blown stand-alone program? The answer is: when you’re in a hurry, or when you only need to convert already created Flash components in a 3D format. “Only” ? I’m afraid that even the plug-in isn’t just about “only” providing anything. It’s more than you would expect from a trimmed down version of another application.

First of all, it is a menu option in Flash. so, there you are, going about your business as usual in Flash. You’ve added elements on layers, squares, circles, grouped elements, and now you quickly want to turn one of those elements in a 3D object.

Well, in that case, select the object, select Swift 3D from the Flash Commands menu and see the object appear in a slim version of the Swift 3D editor window. In this environment, you can now apply the 3D effects you want complete with material choice, bevels, lighting, etc. Even the animation capability is present, something quite surprising as you can have all your animation done in Flash itself. 

But animation in Swift 3D Express is not the complete version’s animation. It offers a few options, which make sense for a plug-in. When you’re satisfied with the job, go into the Render room and choose from all the options available in the full-scale application. Then, just click the “Create Flash Movie Clip” or “Export to SWF file” button and you’re done.

Interface Rendering Room [new window]

The result is that your original Flash object has been replaced by the freshly created 3D object in all its splendour. I tried it with a circle, giving it a glass-like appearance to see if transparency would be taken with the object back into Flash. You can see for yourself. Another test I ran was a spinning animation made from my initials and export that into Flash. Sure enough, I ended up with a static object in the Flash environment, but when I selected “Test Movie”, the animation was there.

Swift 3D Express is in my view a great addition to Swift 3D v4. It’s more limited but I find that no objection at all, if you also own a copy of Swift 3D. Express is there for quick 3D creation without having to leave the Flash environment, and it does a great job. And that’s really all one needs, I guess.