lou@flipper.Corp.Sun.COM (Lou Ordorica - SunU Field T & D) (04/23/91)
Photo Realistic Rendering? It's a term that keeps popping up in magazines and product brochures, especially those of the M*c variety. Does the Amiga support PRR via 3rd party software or hardware? On the same note, is there support for Pixar's Renderman algorithms that seem to be rapidly becoming a rendering standard? Thanks! Standard Disclaimers Apply.
wright@etsuv2.etsu.edu (BRIAN WRIGHT) (04/23/91)
In article <3921@jethro.Corp.Sun.COM>, lou@flipper.Corp.Sun.COM (Lou Ordorica - SunU Field T & D) writes... >Photo Realistic Rendering? It's a term that keeps popping up in >magazines and product brochures, especially those of the M*c >variety. > >Does the Amiga support PRR via 3rd party software or hardware? Hmmm, let's see. Turbo Silver, Sculpt 3D, Caligari, Imagine, and at least 3 to 4 others all produce highly finished detailed realistic renderings. Most render with 24 bit color files in hi-res (check each package for its res capabilities). These are all software. As for Hardware, there is MAST's Colorburst (yet to be released), but very inexpensive ($495 Sugg List). Also Firecracker and a new company (I have forgotten their name) are producing Hi Res color boards. This other company that I have forgotten their name will be producing a 1280x1024 24 bit board for the Zorro II slot. There is a Zorro III card expected also. This board will sell for $2600 with Double-Buffering ($1995 without). It will need a MegaPixel Color multisync. That company sells them too. Toaster is also in this arena with its LightWave 3D package and it's hardware to render it. 3D packages aren't so foreign to shareware/pd arena either. DKBTrace, DBWrender and QRT are all packages that come to mind. DBWRender is supposedly capable of rendering snow, water ripples and clouds? (<- not sure about the clouds) For power, DBW render is very powerfull, if you take the time to learn its language. (someone correct me if there is an easier way to program DBW). As for the definition of Photo Realistic Imagery. It refers to an image that is so close to a photograph that you can't tell the difference between it *AND* a photograph. Clearly, a HiRes 24 bit color board and any of the above renderers can produce such an Image. Turbo Silver has been out for quite a while and for M*C mags to be throwing the term around as though it something new is clearly misleading. Amiga's have been rendering for quite a while. Considering that I have had an Amiga since 1988 and Sculpt 3D was the hot package at that time, I know it had to have been out for a couple of months before that. So rendering isn't new by any stretch of the imagination to the Amiga or any computer. Remember Tron. :-) >On the same note, is there support for Pixar's Renderman >algorithms that seem to be rapidly becoming a rendering >standard? A rumor is a rumor, *BUT* I have heard that Renderman is going to be ported to the Amiga. If someone can substantiate this rumor, or flat out deny it, I'd be much appreciative. I'd like to know one way or another if it is coming and for how much? >Thanks! > > >Standard Disclaimers Apply. -------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Wright wright%etsuvax2@ricevm1.rice.edu or wright@etsuvax2.bitnet Commercial Artist and AmigaPhile! --------------------------------------------------------------