michelle@osc.edu (Michelle Messenger) (02/22/90)
The animation production Environment, version 2.0, is nearing release. Testing is underway. The apE 2.0 contains a much richer set of capabilities in both the 2d and 3d graphics areas than version 1.1. The pipeline construction tool, "builder", has been significantly enhanced and now permits much more complex pipelines and supports "cyclic" configurations. New tools include "opac", for volumetric rendering, "pur", for polygon-based and ray-traced rendering, "dataEdit", for 3d data generation, "post", for image post processing, and many other tools for mapping data into graphical forms. The Flux data format has been enhanced with new data types, much improved binary handling, and a significant increase in efficiency. A new interface style supports additional machines and allows user-configured interfaces for pipelines generated in the "builder." A new animation controller allows time control of arbitrary Flux parameters, making 3d animation easier and highly flexible. Perhaps the most difficult part of the apE 2.0 lies in the choice of window systems. While the X Window system is finally maturing, toolkits for portable applications across multi-vendor platforms are only beginning to become available. We expect to enhance the X platform over time, but will release a version of the apE that runs under most versions of X. Machine support for 2.0 will increase as well. In addition to all types of Sun systems, we will support the Cray, the SGI (written under GL), HP (under X), the Stellar (under X), and (perhaps) the DecStation (under X). The NeXT version is still under development but will be released in some form with 2.0. If you are not currently on our apE electronic mailing list and would like to be included, please e-mail michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu. We keep those on the list informed about the progress of apE 2.0. We will probably make some form of announcement about once a month until apE 2.0 is released to the public. After that time, we anticipate organizing an apE Users Group Conference and providing some type of training for those interested in using the system. For more information, please contact: Michelle Messenger michelle@rhett.osgp.osc.edu Project Coordinator The Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project 1224 Kinnear Road Columbus, Ohio 43212 (614) 292-3274 (614) 292-7168 (FAX) -- Michelle Messenger | email: michelle@hobbes.osgp.osc.edu The Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project | Phone: (614) 292-3274 1224 Kinnear Road | Columbus, Ohio 43212 |