Immediately available in English, French and German language versions - with a Japanese version due out next month - "Acrobat 3D" has just been launched by Adobe. The company's goal is to help extend 3D visualization, communication and collaboration across geographically dispersed organizations. It looks like they may have a new global mega-hit on their hands.

Acrobat 3D joins the Acrobat family that includes Acrobat 7.0 Professional, Acrobat 7.0 Standard and Acrobat 7.0 Elements but 3D is the most comprehensive software in the Acrobat product line, including all of the functionality of Professional, and much more.

Harnessing Acrobat 3D, engineering professionals (for example) will be able to quickly share 3D CAD data with project team members, without the need for recipients to have CAD viewers or applications. This will help reduce the costs of slower and often error-prone methods of communication, including screen shots and paper-based processes.

In addition, technical publishing and creative professionals will be able to use Acrobat 3D to help increase their productivity by inserting 3D models into Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. They can then publish them as more secure and intelligent Adobe PDF documents.

With Acrobat 3D, anyone can convert 3D models from a wide variety of major computer-aided design (CAD) formats and embed them into Adobe PDF files—regardless of whether they have CAD software.

Users can also enhance the interactivity of 3D objects in PDF documents by editing lighting, adding textures and materials, and creating animations such as assembly and disassembly instructions.

Organizations including Renault group, Honda Racing F1 Team, Eaton Corporation, Bradrock Industries, and Atrus Incorporated are among those testing Acrobat 3D for document-based collaboration processes that require visualization of 3D CAD models, Adobe announced. ITT Industries, Inc., a global engineering and manufacturing company with annual sales of more than $6BN, is also testing the software. ITT uses CAD software to create 3D design models then integrates static, 2D images into product documentation, marketing materials, and maintenance and repair guides.

Acrobat 3D has an estimated street price of $995. (Registered users of Acrobat 7.0 Professional and Acrobat 6.0 Professional can upgrade to Acrobat 3D for estimated street prices of US$545 and US$699, respectively.)