jn190068@longs.LANCE.ColoState.EDU (Jay Lewis Nestle) (10/09/90)
In concerns to the SGI 3D modeller it is called Quick Model. That is exactly what it is, a quick modeller, very plain and pretty weak. The program is limited in both the amount of objects that one can produce and the accuracy in which they can be placed. The program is fine for making cool pictures but if any detailed work is required, any engineering, something else needs to be used. Other software that is included is: The Personal Visualizer from Wavefront which is a very impressive program in its full version, which is not what you get with the SGI. The PV will allow you to bring in pictures from QM and do a ray trace on them with ease. With the limited package however these are both limited in lighting and surface mapping. The final software package included is Quick Paint, I think. This program will then allow you to take a raytraced PV picture of your model from QM and add text and change colors, etc... NOTE! When you bring a picture into QP it is reduced from 24bit to 8bit! The QP is a very limited paint program which is why I haven't used it that much. Wavefront Tech, PV, does offer upgrades to their PV of course. There is an IGES translator and several others, which I am trying to get my hands on now. I use hp's me30 CAD program to do real 3D modelling and then I will port it to the SGI and PV via the IGES translator. I am checking into a program called NASA GAS which is Graphic Animation Software for the SGI developed by: Sterling Software in Palo Alto, CA. When I get some more information I will post a review here. My project includes doing a full animated and structural analysis of a Mars re-entry vehicle. I am however still in the planning stages. If anyone know of an animation program that would fit my purpose please let me know, we have a SONY laser disc recorder and a couple SVHSs. Thanks, Jay Nestle. jn190068@longs.lance.colostate.edu "Save the earth, develop space." - Bumper Sticker
brown@hpfcdq.HP.COM (John Brown) (10/12/90)
Jay Nestle writes . . . > Wavefront Tech, PV, does offer upgrades to their PV of > course. There is an IGES translator and several others, which I > am trying to get my hands on now. I use hp's me30 CAD program to > do real 3D modelling and then I will port it to the SGI and PV via > the IGES translator. I'm not sure if this would help you in your specific application, but HP is now bundling an enhanced version of the Wavefront Personal Visualizer on the new HP 3D workstations. This enhanced version of the PV includes HP radiosity rendering technology, which would enable you to create a view-independent, radiositized image of a scene with soft shadows, color bleeding, and other realistic effects. Also, the translators you mentioned are provided in this version in a demo form, which would allow you to try out the translators before actually purchasing the translator options. John Brown HP Graphics Technology Division Mail Stop 73 Fort Collins, CO 80525 =========================================================================== This response does not represent the official position of, or statement by, the Hewlett-Packard Company. The above data is provided for informational purposes only. It is supplied without warranty of any kind. ===========================================================================