Together with the many APIs we released for Linux over the last twelve months, we achieved our goal of creating the building blocks for a real .dwg-based engineering platform for Linux

Bricsys NV, the developer of Bricscad for design professionals, today announced the release of Bricscad V12 for the Linux operating system. All three editions – Classic, Pro, and Platinum – bring to the Linux world powerful 3D modeling and CAD API programming equal to the Bricsys product line running on Windows.

Bricsys simultaneously announced no price increase for Bricscad V12 Linux, and that it plans to release the entire Bricscad V12 suite on Mac OSX in the second half of 2012.

New in Briscad V12 for Linux

All editions of the new Bricscad V12 for Linux software feature a 2D constraint solver as powerful as that found in much more expensive CAD packages. Users are able to attach many kinds of constraints to 2D elements, including perpendicular, parallel, and concentric.

Other improvements common to all editions include the ability to trim hatches, add custom hatch patterns, define page setups, generate live section planes, and model in 2D and 3D with visual styles. An improved raster engine allows GIS applications to smoothly zoom and pan very large bitmaps.

New In Bricscad V12 Pro Edition

The Pro edition of Bricscad V12 for Linux offers powerful 3D direct modeling, the modern way to design products in 3D, together with dynamic dimensions to allow fast and accurate modeling operations. Users are able to toggle smoothly between 2D and 3D design modes – switching between familiar environments and direct modeling operations.

A new intuitive user interface element called the “Quad Cursor” allows users to create and edit 3D models with a minimum of clicks. Hovering the cursor over edges, faces, and solids highlights them instantly, and makes available at-cursor buttons for direct operations, such as push-pull, rotate, and chamfer – all in real-time. In addition, users can perform 3D operations in real-time rendered visual modes.

New in Bricscad V12 Platinum Edition

The Platinum edition of Bricscad V12 for Linux contains everything found in the Pro edition, and adds a revolutionary 3D constraint solver for .dwg-based modeling. Users are able to add 3D constraints to edges, faces, and many kinds of solid primitives. A constraint control panel lists the constraints, and users are able to view constraints in the model simply by selecting them in the panel.

In addition, the Platinum edition importantly protects users against over-constrained models. It also includes a design intent detector, which can analyze repetitive operations on elements, detect the intentions of users, and apply the appropriate operation automatically.

"Through our contacts with Linux users, we have come to understand their strong need for a professional 3D engineering solution,” explained Erik De Keyser, CEO of Bricsys. “The release of Bricscad V12 Pro and Platinum makes it clear that we have made this happen.

“Together with the many APIs we released for Linux over the last twelve months, we achieved our goal of creating the building blocks for a real .dwg-based engineering platform for Linux,” he added. “By bringing the powerful capabilities of Bricscad V12 to Linux users, we reconfirm our commitment to fully supporting this market.”

For a comprehensive list of new features, please see http://www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/bricscad/features.jsp.

Availability and Pricing

All editions of Bricscad V12 for Linux will be available for download in English on February 20, 2012. Other language versions are expected by the end of March. A no-charge, 30-day trial version is available to Linux users through DEB, RPM, and TAR.GZ installers from http://www.bricsys.com.

The Platinum edition is priced from US$675; other editions sport lower prices. New licenses and upgrades are available through local Bricsys resellers or online from the Bricsys e-store at http://www.bricsys.com/estore.

About Bricsys

Through a network of 70 offices on four continents, Bricsys is a global provider of engineering software. Its product portfolio consists of Bricscad design software, Vondle extended SaaS platform, and modeling and constraint solving components technology.

Bricscad is the powerful alternative CAD platform that enables .dwg-based applications to serve the growing markets of AEC, mechanical design, GIS, and civil engineering.

Bricsys products are available in 17 languages, with more languages in development. Every month, the company transparently reports to its customers the status and development of its software products. Wherever they are around the globe and around the clock, customers can communicate support requests directly to the Bricsys support team.

Bricsys is a founding member of the Open Design Alliance and thereby contributes to interoperability in the engineering industry.

For more information about Bricsys, contact us through http://www.bricsys.com.

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