Upgrading from Argon v6

Non-photo-realistic “sketch ” rendering for stills and animations (SP1)

Real-time zebra, normal, curvature and draft check in edit window

Real-time display in 3D of imported scanned hand sketches or other images

Direct support for imprinting profile sketches onto surfaces and solids to create surface subdivisions

Advanced control of anti-aliasing for object, edges, shadows and reflections

Independent control of reflections and refractions

Accelerated Phong and Gouraud shading options for fly-by and walk-through animations

Accelerated Phong and Gouraud shading options for render to file

Enhanced Shade Now shortcut

Photo-realistic material changes displayed in real time in the edit window

Optionally include wireframe geometry in photo-realistically rendered stills and animations

Photo-realistic environment maps for stills and animations

Photo-realistic florescent lights and area lights for stills and animations

Photo-realistic sunlight (from location and date/time) for stills and animations

Enhanced select and transform tools that directly move faces and edges in solids without using the specialized local face tools

Photo-realistic material changes displayed in real time in the edit window

Import and export of bitmap images

Imported bitmaps support alpha channel

Spherical, Cylindrical and enhanced Polar Duplicate tools

Enhanced Spacemouse-device support (Mac and Windows) (SP1)

Optional automatic view scale indicator

Updated ACIS, STEP, IGES and Catia translators

Batch convert tool

AutoCAD 2007 DXF/DWG support

Updated interface with tear-off and dockable tools and palettes

Layers optionally override pen properties

User-definable interface skins

User-definable texture library locations

Multiprocessor photo-realistic rendering and animation on Mac OS X

Direct, multi-sheet PDF creation with optionally embedded source and exported files

Updated interface with dockable tools and palettes

New installer

Universal Binary Support for Intel & Power PC Macs (SP1)

Compatible with ACIS 16 and Parasolids 12 for import and export

Model to Sheet View automatically draws scale as text element

Simplified menus for Text and Dimensions font and size selection

Enhanced import/export dialog box featuring target and source software by product name

Increased program stability

Better visual selection tools

Faster modeling operations

Improved blending

Improved shelling

Enhanced Design Explorer Feature Tree for streamlined model management and conveying design intent

Enhanced undo feature for improved reliability and speed

Revised options for displaying dimensional tolerances

Support for 3dconnexion's motion control devices (Windows only)  for greater productivity and comfort

Improved translations for STEP, IGES, Catia and Rhino

Automatic Crash Catcher to save files and operating state before gracefully shutting down

Enhanced Drafting Assistant eliminating drop-outs

All of the features of Xenon v8

Nested equations

Variables allowed in status line and edit object fields

Real-time section profiles and cutaway views in edit window (SP1)

Enhanced rib tool

Conditional equation parametrics

Relationship- and equation-driven parametrics for more efficient design iteration and greater productivity

Assembly tools to easily maintain relationships among parts

Mechanical parts library for greater time savings

Geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T)

Rib and lip design tools