gest_ss@troi.cc.rochester.edu (Gavin Stark) (02/20/91)
Question: Does anyone know if a front end for the RayLib package for the AT&T Pixel machine exists? Or any other utilities that might be used with it? (i.e. using some other software and a conversion package to get images traced on the Pixel.) Thanks, Gavin Stark University of Rochester Graphics Laboratory gest@escher.cc.rochester.edu or gest_ss@cc.rochester.edu
parnoux@dorsai.com (patrick arnoux) (03/10/91)
gest_ss@troi.cc.rochester.edu (Gavin Stark) writes: > > Question: > Does anyone know if a front end for the RayLib package for the AT&T > Pixel machine exists? Or any other utilities that might be used with it? > (i.e. using some other software and a conversion package to get images > traced on the Pixel.) > CAVSoftware in New York City has a renderer running on the Pixel Machine which reads RIB files (RenderMan Interface Bytestream). The implementation is fairly complete (Just read Steve Upstill's book, all the information is there). But while it is possible to generate images from Dimension, Macromind, Strata, Swivel, and most other modelers that output RIB, the program cannot deal with "shader files". Pixar does not release the format of the .slo files, therefore only a limited number of preset shader types are built into the program. It's too bad, because the Pixel Machine is a real screamer and images that render in hours on other machines render in seconds or minutes, any image that takes close to an hour is both HUGE! and COMPLEX!. The machine is just the thing for animations. Patrick Arnoux
bcorrie@csr (Brian Corrie) (03/12/91)
parnoux@dorsai.com (patrick arnoux) writes: >gest_ss@troi.cc.rochester.edu (Gavin Stark) writes: >> >> Question: >> Does anyone know if a front end for the RayLib package for the AT&T >> Pixel machine exists? Or any other utilities that might be used with it? >> (i.e. using some other software and a conversion package to get images >> traced on the Pixel.) >> >CAVSoftware in New York City has a renderer running on the Pixel Machine >which reads RIB files (RenderMan Interface Bytestream). The implementation >is fairly complete (Just read Steve Upstill's book, all the information >is there). But while it is possible to generate images from Dimension, >Macromind, Strata, Swivel, and most other modelers that output RIB, the >program cannot deal with "shader files". Pixar does not release the >format of the .slo files, therefore only a limited number of preset Can anyone fill me in on just what a .slo file is? I am playing/thinking about RenderMan and the shading language, but do not have access to any RenderMan renderers, so don't know how they work. Is the shading language interpreted at run/render time, or do they do dynamic loading of the shader descriptions some how, with the .slo files the executables for the shader???? I realize this will vary with the implementation, but some general ideas would be great, if you happen to use a RenderMan renderer that supports the shading language. >shader types are built into the program. It's too bad, because the >Pixel Machine is a real screamer and images that render in hours >on other machines render in seconds or minutes, any image that >takes close to an hour is both HUGE! and COMPLEX!. >The machine is just the thing for animations. > Patrick Arnoux Thanks for any help you can throw my way.... Brian -- Brian Corrie, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. bcorrie@csr.uvic.ca Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, volume, humidity and other variables, the organism will do as it damn well pleases. Sounds like some of the code I have written......