[comp.sys.transputer] Pixar & transputers? RenderMan on Transputers?

stein@pixelpump.osc.edu (Rick 'Transputer' Stein) (05/24/89)

In article <8905241244.AA24229@devvax.TN.CORNELL.EDU> K312240@AEARN.BITNET (Klaus Kusche) writes:
>
>Has anyone listening to this list any idea how active Pixar (the
>company producing these wonderful computer graphics) is in the
>transputer area???
>
Sure, if you're up for unsubstantiated rumors.  At one time, Pixar
had a project brewing in their laboratory.  It was a 64 Txxx ray-tracing
engine which happened to implement the RenderMan standard.  As I understand
it, the frames for "Tin Toy," an animated short which was given an
Academy Award (Oscar), was entirely computed on this engine.

As far as I know, its still a laboratory system, and isn't planned
on being commericalized.

>Moreover, has anybody heard of (or even better: is anybody working
>on) an implementation of Pixar's RenderMan rendering software on
>transputers (in parallel of course!)?
At one time, I considered implementing RenderMan on transputers for
a project.  However, since I was concerned with scientific visualization
and not glossy photographs (e.g., photorealism), I opted instead for
HOOPS from Ithaca Software.
>Greetings
Que pasa?
>* Klaus Kusche
-=-
Richard M. Stein (aka Rick 'Transputer' Stein)
Concurrent Software Specialist @ The Ohio Supercomputer Center
Ghettoblaster vacuum cleaner architect and Trollius semi-guru
Internet: stein@pixelpump.osc.edu

K312240@AEARN.BITNET (Klaus Kusche) (05/25/89)

Dear Mailing List:

Has anyone listening to this list any idea how active Pixar (the
company producing these wonderful computer graphics) is in the
transputer area???

Once there has been a single, small note on this list (must have been
years ago) that Pixar will use transputers for their special graphics
hardware, but I've never heard anything about it again. Is this project
that dead, that small or that secret???

Moreover, has anybody heard of (or even better: is anybody working
on) an implementation of Pixar's RenderMan rendering software on
transputers (in parallel of course!)?

The reason for all these questions: A local company (no name) has asked
us a few days ago if we are willing to cooperate with them on just that
problem...

Greetings

************************************************************************
* Klaus Kusche                                                         *
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paul@taniwha.UUCP (Paul Campbell) (05/26/89)

In article <8905241244.AA24229@devvax.TN.CORNELL.EDU> K312240@AEARN.BITNET (Klaus Kusche) writes:
>Moreover, has anybody heard of (or even better: is anybody working
>on) an implementation of Pixar's RenderMan rendering software on
>transputers (in parallel of course!)?

Duane at Levco has it running, (Levco is in San Diego, they make
Mac Transputer cards)

	Paul


-- 
Paul Campbell
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Achtung! Ve are from ze Interface Police! Ve vant to look und feel!