dbuck@ccs.carleton.ca (Dave Buck) (06/10/91)
Due to a fairly serious problem in the way that DKBTrace version 2.11 handled files, I've now released version 2.12. It also contains some bug fixes and one or two small features. The program is available for anonymous ftp from alfred.ccs.carleton.ca (134.117.1.1) in the directory pub/dkbtrace/dkb2.12. Also available now, is a set of useful utilities to create data files for DKBTrace, convert input and output file formats, and to perform some interesting post-processing operations on the rendered images. These are available from the same system in the directory pub/dkbtrace/dkbutils. The remainder of this message is a synopsis of DKBTrace for people who aren't familiar with it: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DKBTrace is a ray tracer written completely in C. It is a photo-realistic 3-D object rendering shader, suitable for realizing the output of CAD programs or generally wasting LOTS of CPU time drawing pretty pictures. It features a command-line interface and reads plain text input files in an easy to use and understand "structured" scene description language. It writes output files in several popular 24-bit image formats, including DKB/QRT "Raw" and Truevision Targa-24 formats. DKBTrace supports spheres, planes, triangles, smooth (Phong) triangles, arbitrary quadric surfaces (spheres, ellipsoids, cones, cylinders, planes, paraboloids, hyperboloids, etc.) and quartic surfaces (which include tori, lemniscates, foliums, etc.) It also supports constructive solid geometry and composite objects, so a nearly infinite variety of object shapes can be produced from the several simpler geometric primitives. Lighting and shading models used are: diffuse, ambient, reflection, refraction and alpha (transmittance), and Phong specular highlighting. These combine with a rich set of procedural textures and atmospheric effects (fog) to make realistic and interesting looking scenes. The object coloration textures available are: checkers, marble, wood, Bozo, granite, agate, spotted, gradients, and image-mapping. Image-mapping allows the use of IFF (32 color and HAM), GIF (2-256 color), or 24-bit DKB/QRT "Raw" images. Several surface perturbing (or bump-mapping) textures such as waves, ripples, bumps, dents, and wrinkles are available for use in combination with the coloration textures to help make more natural-looking object textures. The program has been made freely distributable, however the author retains the copyright to the program. He specifically authorizes free distribution on BBS'es, networks or by magnetic media. Source code, documentation, and sample scene description data files are available in separate archives, and make and link files are provided for Amiga, IBM PC, Macintosh, VAX/VMS and many Unix Systems. DKB 2.10 is available from a wide variety of sources including Internet and Compuserve's COMART section. There is a Ray-Trace specific bulletin board in the Chicago area called the "You Can Call Me RAY" BBS, which has become the "unofficial" DKB support BBS, where both David and Aaron can be reached. The number there is (708) 358-5611, at 2400 baud, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop.