Tukatech announced the release of TUKA3D 2015, the newest version of Tukatech’s 3D system for digital development from prototyping to eCommerce. “TUKA3D 2015 is the most advanced work that we have ever done in CAD/CAM technology. It should be called the 4D system, the fourth-dimension being the real-time motion simulation and live feedback,” says Ram Sareen, Founder and CEO of Tukatech.
TUKA3D 2015 is a thoroughly tested version with over 14 months of use in 27 different companies with different brands, products, and applications, resulting in a system that has helped eliminate physical sample making.
“Our biggest challenge has been working with vendors who used cloth-covered fit forms nominated by brands and retailers for checking the fit of a garment. The vendor kept trying to compare a physical sample on fit form and 3D garment on the screen, and of course, they never drape the same. We all know that the fit forms are not an exact replica of a human fit model in terms of shape,” explains Sareen. “In order to have zero tolerance between what the vendor/developer sees on the screen versus what the brand/approver sees on the human, we have to create an exact replica of the human fit model’s body. We do this either from a body scan or through 3D sculpting. We then add the appropriate animation which enables the user to verify the fit and look of the garment while the model is in motion – live feedback. For example, we developed a squat test animation for one of the largest suppliers to Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy which allows the developer to test the balance of rise just as they would in a fit session with a human fit model. Another example is the jump test animation we developed for Jones New York lingerie. This jump test animation allows the users to analyze whether or not the elastic band is tight enough. This real-time simulation provides the user with digital feedback, which can also be viewed with different features such as x-ray and tension mapping.”
“When Tukatech created an exact replica of our fit model’s body, we found that the shape and details were so different from the same brands fit form purchased by us. Once we stopped comparing the physical sample on the fit form to the 3D sample we saw on the screen, the approval of our first submitted sample jumped to 95%,” commented Anusha Rodrigo, Senior Vice President at Star Garments, Sri Lanka.
TUKA3D 2015 version includes many features which allow the user to easily apply the “look” of the garment. With seamless integration to TUKAcad 2D, TUKAstudio for Print Designs, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, the final product can be visualized without the need of making a physical sample.
“We make dresses with many different fabrics, prints, and colorways. With TUKA3D 2015 we are able to take many prints and colorways and with just the click of a button we can see the same garment in dozens of different strike-offs,” explains Ashesh Amin, Chief Operating Officer at Adrianna Papell USA.
TUKA3D’s Planar Map feature allows users to utilize Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create hundreds of virtual samples without having to make a single physical garment. Many denim companies utilize this feature to virtually develop different types of washes and embellishments, saving time and cost of development. Once the digital look is approved then the garment is replicated as a physical sample. An absolute reverse thinking of present process.
“This software turns a design into something 3D that someone can make sense of,” comments Aaron Barker, eCommerce Director at Voler, USA, “allowing us to share the design online without having to stitch up a sample. Previously we didn’t have a way to do this. We would create some kind of 2D sketch of a jersey. Now we can actually have graphic representation of every garment we are going to sell to that person before they place their order. It’s huge that they can be part of it this way.”
“We were the first dress manufacturer to implement TUKA3D in 2007. Since then it has helped us reduce the amount of physical samples required, as we can verify the fit, the look, and the drape of dresses with border prints, embellishments, and embroideries.” says Mr. Arshad Sattar, the Managing Director of TIMEX and Aviraté, Sri Lanka. “It is very important for us to see the actual drape of fabric in motion, so we have a sample video developed which shows the drape, front, sides and back of the final garment. Without real time motion simulator from Tukatech, we could never go to approval of the final garment digitally.”
TUKA3D truly helped our ‘demand manufacturing’ model where we have 100% digital process. The patterns are done digitally, the samples are done digitally, the fit sessions are done digitally, and the prints and colorways are developed digitally and they are then uploaded on our websites to sell. With no inventory, no warehousing, no photoshoots, and digital printing, we make what we have sold, and thanks to analytics feedback, if the style or the print or the color is not selling well, we simply add new styles with zero cost associated with product development,” Sattar added.
