[comp.sys.amiga] 3-D Modeller Wanted

kws1x@dale.acc.Virginia.EDU (Kenneth W. Smith Jr) (11/20/90)

	Okay, people, here's a chance to help the Amiga get a foothold
in Charlottesville!  I need any info about 3-D modelling programs that 
will run on the A3000, preferably prices, abilities, features, etc.
	My boss is currently involved in a project that primarily uses
Scanning-Tunneling Microscopy (ie. the new NanoScope II!  What a machine!)
Unfortunately, this microscope has its image processor attached to a '386
machine, although the scanned images do look nice on the NEC3D monitor...
Anyway, my job is to take the data from the scans and plug them into some
form of modelling program.  Rather than using the machines and the
stand-offish University personnel for this task, I would rather use my
A3000 at home.  If I can find the right program, and get results that my
boss deems worthy, I may be able to convince him to get an Amiga (at LEAST
one!) for the lab!
	So, please help me out, Netters!  As an aside, there is NO place
in Charlottesville, VA to get software/hardware for the Amiga.  All of the
local businesses have been brainwashed into the I*M-M*C mode of thinking!
I had to go to D.C. to get my A3000.  Well, worth the trip, mind you, but
it would be a little more convenient to have a dealer in town.  A 2 hour
trip to D.C. and 2 hours back just to get Kickstart 2.02 (which the store
claimed not to have!) is a little ridiculous.  (How 'bout a comp show,
Commodore?  NeXT people will be here next week [pun intended] to show off
their "station".  Why not come show these I*M-M*C zombies a real computer?
Heck, send me the stuff and I'LL do it...:)


K W Smith, Jr.
The Charlottesville Sector

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*  "Forgive me, but where would a 6000-year-old Mayan god                     *
*   learn to downshift a Toyota?"  -Kate T. from _ALF_                        *
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Radagast@cup.portal.com (sullivan - segall) (11/22/90)

>
>	Okay, people, here's a chance to help the Amiga get a foothold
>in Charlottesville!  I need any info about 3-D modelling programs that 
>will run on the A3000, preferably prices, abilities, features, etc.
>	My boss is currently involved in a project that primarily uses
>Scanning-Tunneling Microscopy (ie. the new NanoScope II!  What a machine!)
>Unfortunately, this microscope has its image processor attached to a '386
>machine, although the scanned images do look nice on the NEC3D monitor...
>Anyway, my job is to take the data from the scans and plug them into some
>form of modelling program.  Rather than using the machines and the

For entering straight data, with minimal translation your best option is
probably VideoScape 3D.  Videoscape uses text or binary input files of
point locations.  You will need to reformat your data so that it matches
VideoScape's needs, but that should be a relatively trivial task compared
with reentering all of the data by hand.  

Using interchange you could enter your data in Videoscape format and 
translate it to either Sculpt-Animate, or Turbo Silver formats.  

The various modeller programs are more suited for creating shapes from
scratch than doing so based on given data.  Of all of the modellers, 
Modeler 3-D has my top billing for accuracy, Sculpt - Animate is the
easiest to use, but has distinct limitations, while Impulse's new
Imagine editor is the most powerful in terms of the manipulations you
can make of a given item, and has the quickest method of developing
arbitrary partial or fully symmetrical bodies.  

Modeler 3-D is my favorite of the ones listed above.  Lightwave probably
includes a better version of both Modeler 3-D and Videoscape, but has
the misfortune only to work with the Video Toaster. -kls

>stand-offish University personnel for this task, I would rather use my
>A3000 at home.  If I can find the right program, and get results that my
>boss deems worthy, I may be able to convince him to get an Amiga (at LEAST
>one!) for the lab!
>	So, please help me out, Netters!  As an aside, there is NO place
>in Charlottesville, VA to get software/hardware for the Amiga.  All of the
>local businesses have been brainwashed into the I*M-M*C mode of thinking!
>I had to go to D.C. to get my A3000.  Well, worth the trip, mind you, but
>it would be a little more convenient to have a dealer in town.  A 2 hour
>trip to D.C. and 2 hours back just to get Kickstart 2.02 (which the store
>claimed not to have!) is a little ridiculous.  (How 'bout a comp show,
>Commodore?  NeXT people will be here next week [pun intended] to show off
>their "station".  Why not come show these I*M-M*C zombies a real computer?
>Heck, send me the stuff and I'LL do it...:)
>
>
>K W Smith, Jr.
>The Charlottesville Sector
>
>******************************************************************************
*
>*  "Forgive me, but where would a 6000-year-old Mayan god                     
*
>*   learn to downshift a Toyota?"  -Kate T. from _ALF_                        
*
>******************************************************************************
*