jet@karazm.math.uh.edu (J. Eric Townsend) (12/22/90)
I've been using NFF, and it's suited me just fine so far. But I think I need to start looking at new (and more complicated :-) formats that will allow me to use better tools for generating scenes and motion. Currently I have Badouel's (sic) Sculpt-to-NFF converter, but my biggest complaint with Sculpt 3D (haven't tried 4D) is that there are no sphere primitives. What I want in an object language: -- LALR parseable (yacc, d00dz :-), or a free parser that's maintained by the "owners" of the object format. -- support for parametric and other non-vertex list primitives: bezier patches and splines, for example -- texture mapping and (relatively) fine grained control of diffuse and specular reflection curves, transparency/translucency, refraction and any other optical property I forgot. -- support for movement. If key-frame only, the ability to specifiy "arc of radius x to get from A to B" or other non-line movements. (Some sort of information that could be easily picked up for spatial aliasing would be nice, but I haven't looked to closely at s-a yet, so I don't know if it's really needed or not.) -- the kitchen sink, ie, anything I've left out (probably obvious things). I'm considering using the Aegis VideoScape 3D format. It's a really horrid piece of software if you want to do anything real, but there's a new package (Pro-Motion) that appears to make scene layout very painless. (Just draw on the screen the movement you want things to do, including cameras, lights and rotation about various axis.) What I've looked at so far: S3D, NFF, VS-3D. Ok, so I haven't done a careful survey, but there's just too much out there to dig through. :-) Maybe I should take a "favorite format" vote? -- J. Eric Townsend Internet: jet@uh.edu Bitnet: jet@UHOU Systems Mangler - UH Dept. of Mathematics - (713) 749-2120 "If you are the system administrator and this is the first time you are logging into your system, use the login name root." -- IBM RS/6000 docs