In the heart of Munich is the development centre of Schott Systeme GmbH. They have for more than 30 years, been successfully developing and marketing a wide range of software product families for graphic and design, CAD and construction, product presentation and documentation, as well as computer aided machining and numerous specialist applications. Their core product, Pictures by PC was, and still is based upon two essential principles laid down by the software's two founders, Hans-Joachim Schott and Rolf Silvan Greverus, namely an open systemand programmability. It is with these principles that the same program in its first incarnation as a vector based graphics software (1983) has evolved into the high end platform for full 3D design, engineering and manufacturing as well as rendering and animation that is available today.