gpeterso@cmdfs2.intel.com (G. Peterson) (08/17/89)
My two favorite hobbies are pc's and landscaping. I am going to start work on a project that involves both of them. What I plan to do is "simulate" (animate) a landscape over time. This will involve both the growth of the plants/trees as well as the shadows cast by them during different parts of the day as well as different seasons. I am posting this to rec.gardens and comp.graphics so not all of this applies to each group but I didn't want to post 2 different articles. I would appreciate any tips/pointers/etc. that anyone cares to offer. Need to know the best way to accurately calculate the shadows cast by the plants/trees based on a given time of day and season of year for one (to start with) geographic area (Phoenix). You can see the interest in shadows because shade is valuable here in the Phoenix area (last week it set a record for 64 days in a row above 100 degrees). If there are any good books, etc. on this topic I'd love to know about them. I don't even know the longitude/latitude here. Also if anyone has hints about the creating shade/sunshine for different parts of the yard/deck/house I'd be interest in it. I also would like any suggestions for the software to use for this project. (I won't be writing it from scratch!) I will be using a fast AT with VGA/Super VGA and multisync type monitor. I have been interested by the ads for the Animator software package due out in Sept by Autodesk. Any pros/cons on that choice? Oh, yes we are talking low budget for the software, approx $200 or so for this beginning venture although I might try and make a business of it if I can get it going like I want to and then I'd be willing to invest a great deal more. So if you have a favorite program for this but it costs an arm and a leg let me know anyway please. I have read a little about a package called Landcadd (I believe). Does anyone know who does this and where I can get more info on it? Thanks in advance. Glenn -- Glenn Peterson Intel Corporation gpeterso@sedona.intel.com -------------------------