Original author(s) Stable release 3.10 / Feb 23, 2015 Platform PC | Initial release Sept 7, 2001 Operating system | |
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Developer(s) Gary R. Huber, Chris 'Xenon' Hanson | ||
Visual Nature Studio is a 3D visualization program for Microsoft Windows, developed as an enhanced version of 3D Nature's "World Construction Set" software. The program produces photorealistic still images or animations of real or fictional landscapes by using digital elevation model (DEM) and geographic information system (GIS) data as input. Considered state-of-the-art, the software has been used by major universities and press agencies to generate images of 3D terrain.
In late 2015, Visual Nature Studio was acquired along with all of 3D Nature's other assets by AlphaPixel LLC, another company founded by 3D Nature co-founder Chris 'Xenon' Hanson. AlphaPixel continues to sell and support Visual Nature Studio commercially under the 3D Nature brand but has also released the source code under the OSGPL (a variant of the LGPL) to ensure the software cannot be lost in the future and protect the investment of its users.