1) Click on the Object menu and click again on the object you would
like to create. All objects start at the origin, except the sphere
which asks for the center coordinates.
2) To rotate/translate or scale the object, click on Xform and select
the appropiate transformations. The way this program was developed,
rotations are ALWAYS applied first THEN the translations. Keep that
in mind.
3) If you need to edit/delete an object, click on Session and click on the
object to be modified. On the bottom right part, the current object
is shown, with it's texture. If the object is already there, you can
operate on it without having to click on Session.
NOTE:The LAST object created is ALWAYS the current object. If you wish
to transform it, just go directly to Xform or Texture (if you want
to put a texture to it).
To delete an object, either select it (thru the Session menu) or just
go to Edit if it's the last object drawn and click on Del. You may use
the mouse to select an object too...read the section below titled
"Selecting objects with a mouse..."
TEXTURES AND COLORS
To attach a texture or color, select an object (if you do not select an
object, the current selected object will be used). Click on TEXTURE or
COLOR and select the color or texture. You may edit the text box that
appears. Press the OK icon.
To change the texture, simply reselect the object and click on a new texture
or color.
****************** NEW ********************
Adding more TEXTURE and COLOR definitions
POVCAD uses 2 files per ray tracer to read the color and texture definitions:
For POV : colors.pv and textures.pv (version 1.0)
colors.pv2 and textures.pv2 (version 2.0)
For POLYRAY : colors.def and textures.def
You may edit them and include the names of any new colors or textures you come
up with. All of the files have the same format: 1 name per line, the name
being 1 word, i.e, it must not have any spaces. The name my_texture is
acceptable while my texture is not.
***** To attach textures and colors to CSG objects check the *************
"Creating Constructive Solid Geometry" section
Creating Solids of Revolution (Sweep command)
WITH POINTS:
1) Click on the PointOff button (to enable point creation)
2) Select a View different than Iso (i.e. YX,ZX or YZ)
3) Click on the window and draw a contour (up to 50 points)
4) Select the Sweep command from the Objects menu
5) give a filename.ext (the data will be saved in RAW format)
6) indicate sweep angle and number of segments
* If you wish to erase the points and start all over use the Del Points
command in the Edit menu.
* SnapOn forces the points to fall in the intersections of the grid
lines, while GridOff let's you select any place on the screen.
****************** NEW ********************
WITH DATA FILE:
POVCAD can now SWEEP a data file that have been created with the path command
or with any other program. The data files must consist of a list of X,Y and Z
coordinates that define a curve or contour. Select the SWEEP/DATA FILE
command and select the file to be swept, and follow steps 5) and 6) from
the previous command (WITH POINTS).
NOTE: The format of RAW and SWEEP data files is:
x1 y1 z1 x2 y2 z2 x3 y3 z3
x4 y4 z4 x5 y5 z5 .......
...... ect ..............
where each line represents a triangle. Usually I use Steve Anger's
RAW2POV program to create objects with RAW data files. RAW2POV will
optimize A LOT the image, while POVCAD will just convert the data to
triangles and that's it!
Creating an EXTRUDEd (Extrude Straight-Path) object (saves data in RAW format)
The EXTRUDE command (under the OBJECT menu) works in the same way the
SWEEP command does. SWEEP rotates and copies a curve while EXTRUDE
displaces and copies the curve. As an example, if you create a line and
extrude it, it will look like a plate. The EXTRUDEd object will be diplaced
in an orientation perpendicular to the computer screen and in the
direction going into the monitor. In other words, if you are currently in
the YX view, the cuve will be EXTRUDEd in the +Z direction(into the screen).
To create an EXTRUDEd curve do the following:
1) select a view different from ISOmetric (YX,YZ or ZX)
2) click on the PointsOFF icon to enable point creation
3) create a curve by clicking on the drawing window
4) click on the OBJECT menu, then on EXTRUDE
5) give a name for the file to be created (RAW format)
6) enter the extrusion length
* The file will be saved in a RAW data format.
* Click on ISO to view the final object.
Try this with EXTRUDE:
You can create letters with the EXTRUDE command that will look like sheets
of metal that were bent to form letters. As an example create a series of
points to form the letter "S". Use the EXTRUDE command and save it to a
file. Since that file is in RAW format, use Steve Anger's RAW2POV and make
smooth surfaces. The final product shows a nice "S" letter that looks like
it was "rolled" instead of "bent" to form the letter "S". You can have both
effects. POVCAD will generate a "bent" effect while RAW2POV can create both
effects.
****************** NEW *********************
Extruding Data Files:
POVCAD can Extrude a data File. After selecting this command, click on the
data file to be Extruded (it can be any data file - PATH or Curves).
****************** NEW *********************
Extruding Along A Curved Path
The command Extrude Along Path found in the Object menu can be used to extrude
a 2D or 3D contour along a "curved" 3D path. The curve can be straight, even though these give
the most trouble<g>. The routine will try it's best to figure out how to extrude the contour.
If the function finds a problem with colinear points, it will beep and display a message and the number of the point. In order to fix this, try displacing slightly the point so it's not colinear anymore...use the 2D Curve Editor (under the MISC menu).
Constant Contour
The routine works by asking for the contour curve first THEN for the path curve. These must be
data files already created by you using POVCAD or any other program that generates path data.
After selecting the files, enter a name for the RAW data file to be created.
Variable Contour
This works the same way as Constant Contour except that you can load a third curve called a
"profile" curve. This profile curve indicates the scaling factor to be applied at each section of the extrusion. A profile data file is like any other path data file. If your path data file for the extrusion has 40 points, create a profile curve with 40 points. The routine uses the distance of each point to the X axis as the scaling factor. In example:
(Path data file - just a straight line) (profile data file)
Y axis
oooooooooooooooooooooooo : o
: o
: o
: o
: o
: o
: o
: o
:------------------------------------------ X axis
1 2 3 4 5 .....
the final extrusion will look like this:
o
o o
o o o
o o
o o
o o o
o o
o
If the path is curved the scaling factor will be applied in a "curved" fashing to follow the path.
It's easier if you experiment with it. Just remember that in the profile data file, the distance from the X axis to each point determines the scaling factor at that corresponding point in the path.
There are 2 choices for the Extrude commands QUICK and RAW. QUICK only draws the outline as it moves along the path, this is the fastest redrawing method. Using RAW will show how the extrusion really looks like but it's slow. Both methods will generate RAW data ouput when exported to a raytracer.
Creating Bezier Patches
This was a new feature added to POVCAD 2.0b. To generate a Bezier patch,
select the objects menu and click on Bezier. When you select one of the
following objects you will be asked for a name. Use any name, but use the
extension *.BEZ. The "Read A File" command only checks for *.BEZ patches.
The selections available are the following:
1) Read A File
Once you create patches with POVCAD you can load them at
anytime using this function. You'll be asked for the name
of the file and the patch(es) will be integrated in you scene
file. When you create a Bezier patch use the extension *.BEZ.
This extension is recognized by POVCAD when reading Bezier patches
later.
NOTE: A Bezier object can have a maximum of 4 patches
(64 nodes or control points)
2) Flat
This is a flat patch with 16 nodes.
3) Cylinder - 2 Patches
This is a collection of 2 patches (16 * 2 = 32 control points)
that form a cylindical surface.
4) Cylinder - 4 Patches
Same as in 3) but with 16 * 4 = 64 control nodes.
5) Cone
6) Ellipsoid
7) Torus (Top)
This is only 1/2 of a torus
After creating a Bezier patch, you may deform it in the following way:
1) Click the icon on the lower right corner named "Bezier Edit OFF".
This will toggle the icon and enable editing.
2) The screen will be erased and only the patch will be drawn.
3) To rotate the patch, click on the icon "Bezier XFORM" and
perform whatever operation you need (it's similar to the
XFORM function used with the other objects).
NOTE: The XFORM operations will be saved to the original file.
If you need the original data, use a copy.
4) To move an individual node, click on the node to be displaced.
It is suggested that you use the ISO view to select nodes.
5) On the selected node will appear a red circle.
6) Now, switch to a different view such as YX, YZ or ZX. You may
now click on the new position, where the node should be. POVCAD
does not use a "click and drag" method but a "click to select"
and a "click to move".
7) If you choose to stay in the ISO view, the node will move in
X and Y only and it's not a reliable view if you need precision.
8) Once the node has moved, in order to move that node or another
one, you must click on the node to be modified. POVCAD doesn't
"remember" the last moved node.
In the [MISC]ellaneous menu, there is a command named "Bezier Setup". This
option lets you select if you wish to see the control grid, the Bezier surface
patch or both (or none!). There is also the option of selecting the number
of lines in the Bezier patch. The number goes from 3 to 13 lines per side.
The higher the number, the better it will look on the screen (but the slower
it gets).
To exit the editing area, click on the icon "Bezier Edit ON" to toggle it to
OFF.
BEZIER PATCH FILE FORMAT (*.BEZ)
If you have a program that creates the control points for Bezier patches,
POVCAD can read it. The data file can have data for up to 4 patches in this
format, (i.e., where cp31.x is patch #3, control point #1, X value):
cp11.x cp11.y cp11.z
cp12.x cp12.y cp12.z
cp13.x cp13.y cp13.z
....ect.....
cp21.x cp21.y cp21.z
cp22.x cp22.y cp22.z
....ect ....
<up to 4 patches!>
The file is straight ASCII with 1 control point per line.
CREATING CONSTRUCTIVE SOLID GEOMETRY
Let's use an example to explain this topic:
We'll assume we want to create a cylinder with a hole in the middle.
Since the operation is a difference:
1) click on CSG and then select "difference".
2) create the cylinder and position it.
3) create a sphere (the hole) and position it.
4) Click on CSG and then "Close".
Close is the command to tell the program that the current CSG operation
has ended. The Session list would look like this:
DIFFR
CYL ........
SPH ........
ENDF
Where:
DIFFR = difference operation
CYL ... = cylinder definition and transformations
SPH ... = sphere definition and transformations
ENDF = tells the program that this is where the difference operation
ends
Now let's assume that you want to create a union of 2 cylinders each
one with a hole in it: This is how the Session list would look like:
comments:
UNION 1) union operation starts here
DIFFR 2) difference operation starts here
CYL .... 3) cylinder #1
SPH .... 4) sphere #1
END 5) clicked on CSG then on Close
DIFFR 6) Start another difference
CYL .... 7) cylinder #2
SPH .... 8) sphere #2
END 9) clicked on CSG then Close
ENDF 10)clicked on CSG then Close
(click on TEXTURE now to add one to the object)
As you can see, the software uses END and ENDF to distinguish between
intermediate CSG operations and the final CSG operation...in this case
the UNION was the final and the DIFFR were the intermediate.
The same idea applies to all CSG operations. Composite is not a CSG but
it was the best place to put it. <grin>
(Polyray users)
The example given would be the same as:
(POVCAD) (Polyray output will look _something_ like this)
UNION object {
DIFFR object{
CYL .... CYL ...
SPH .... - SPH ...
END }
DIFFR + object{
CYL .... CYL ...
SPH .... - SPH ...
END }
ENDF }
Polyray users must follow PoV's CSG format (...sorry!)
* TEXTURES ON CSG OBJECTS *
To put a texture on a CSG object click on ENDF(using the Session command)
to make it the current object (you'll see ENDF at the bottom right part
of the screen) then click on TEXTURE to add the one that you want.
* TEXTURES ON CSG OBJECT - POV 2.0 *
Since POV 2.0 does not support composite objects you can attach textures to
individual objects inside a CSG definition or as explained in the previous
paragraph.
Transforming CSG /Composite objects
At this point it is NOT possible to transform (XFORM) the whole set of
objects. You may XFORM any of the individual objects that compose a CSG
object.
Quick Comment
If you want to clip an object with 2 planes do the following:
1) Click on "intersection"
2) create the object to be clipped
3) create plane #1
4) create plane #2
5) rotate plane #2 so that the normal is facing oposite
to plane #1's normal. (When a plane is created, the normal
is ALWAYS in the + direction of the axis.) Also you must translate
plane #2 so they're not in the same place.
Example:
plane#1: PLANE_Y,Translate_Y = .5
plane#2: PLANE_Y,Translate_Y = -.5,Rotate_Z = 180
Plane #1's normal is pointing in the +Y direction, while
plane #2's normal is in the -Y direction (due to rotation
about Z of 180 degrees)
Any object placed in the origin will be clipped at Y=0.5 and
Y=-0.5 . Try it and see!
Selecting objects with the mouse/ rotations and translations
There are different methods for selecting objects so that you may modify them.
1) Clicking on SESSION
You may click on the SESSION command in the main menu. This will show
a list of all objects that are currently in the database. To select
any of them, simply click on the line where it appears, then click on
OK. Observe that on the lower right corner, the object selected will be
displayed(with it's texture). Now you may use XFORM or click on EDIT
or use any of the next methods.
The current object always will appear on the lower right corner of the
screen. If you wish to reselect a new one, you may either, click on
the SESSION command, or click on the scroll bar on the lower right
corner to move thru the objects. The one being shown is the current
one. Any editing command will apply to the current selected object.
2) Use of the left button(mouse)
To select an object, check that the PointsOn/OFF icon is OFF. Now,
move the mouse cursor to a point near the center of the object that
you want to select. Press, the left button. The object selected will
be redrawn in a light color. If the computer selected the wrong one,
simply move the mouse to another position near the center point of the
object and click. If still the computer selects the wrong one, you may
change the current view (Iso,YX,YZ,ZX) to find a better viewpoint.
This command may select the incorrect object when various objects share
a common center point, or the object you want to select is behind
another one. In those cases, change the VIEW and retry. In the worst
case, use the SESSION command to select the object.
* SWEEP and RAW objects can't be selected with the mouse! use the
methods explained on step 1) *
* CONEs are selected by clicking on the apex or near it *
Once you click on an object and select it, the object will be drawn in
a light color. If you click on REDRAW, all the objects will be drawn in
black, but the current object will stay current.
3) Use of the right button(mouse)
Once an object has been selected, you may wish to Move,Copy,Copy and
Rotate or Copy and Translate. To do this, select and object. The next
step depends on the command:
a) Move
To move the current selected object, move the mouse to the
position where you want the object. Press the right button and
select MOVE.
b) Copy
To copy the current selected object, move the mouse to the
position where you want the new object. Press the right button
and select COPY. The texture of the new object will be the same
as the old object's.
c) Copy/Rotate
This command is used to make multiple copies of an object, all of
them rotated by a certain amount of degrees. To use this command,
select an object, then move the mouse to the a point that will
become the center of rotation. Click the right button. Select
Copy/Rotate. Enter the angle between objects (in degrees). Enter
the number of copies to make, NOT including the original one.
d) Copy/Translate
This command is used to make multiple copies of an object, each
one at a certain X,Y,Z distance from the other. Select an object.
Press the right button. Enter the number of copies and the
displacements of the new objects. The displacement is a
cumulative effect, for example:
if a sphere is at (0,0,0) and you enter x=.2,y=.1,z=.5 and enter
3 copies then, object #1 will be at (.2,.1,.5) the next one at
(.4,.2,1.0) and the last at (.6,.3,1.5).
You may enter a value of zero for any of the coordinates. If you
put all zeroes, you'll get multiple copies in the same place!!!
****************** NEW *********************
Creating Polygons
POVCAD now supports polygon decomposition. This commands takes a curve
generated on the screen with the POINTS menu ("as is" or B-Splined or
Catmull-Rom Splined), or with the PATH command and assumes it is a polygon.
The polygon will be subdivided into smaller triangles.
IMPORTANT !!!!!!
NOTE: You should try to create path data and curves in the XY plane (view).
This increases the chance of the decomposition algorithm working.
It might work in other views but I can't guarantee it.
The choices are:
1) Freehand
Use the POINTS command to create a curve or contour of the polygon.
The polygon must not be closed, i.e. the first and last points should
be different. The final polygon will match exactly with the curve.
The data is saved as a RAW data file.
2) B-Spline
Use the POINTS command to create a curve or contour of the polygon.
The data will be processed with a B-Spline curve fitter and smoothed.
Then the polygon created will be subdivided into triangles. The data
is saved as RAW. The polygon will not match exactly the contour since
B-Spline approximates it but it will be smooth compared to the original.
3) Path Data
Select a data file to decompose. Use this command if you already
created a data file with the PATH menu or with other programs.
4) Perforated
This command creates a polygon with a hole in it. It requires 2 names:
1) the file that has the outer curve data and 2) the name of the file with the
inner curve (hole). Finally it asks for the name of the RAW data file to be
created. A surface will be generated between the outer contour and the inner
contour (hole).
If you need to create more holes, use the MERGE OUTER/INNER command in the PATH
menu. An example:
Let's assume that you have a 3 curves to create the letter "B"..the outer
curve of the letter, the top hole and the bottom hole. Let's also assume that
the name of the files are B.DAT, TOPHOLE.DAT and BOTMHOLE.DAT. First use the
MERGE command in the PATH menu and MERGE B.DAT and TOPHOLE.DAT into 1 PATH file
called BTEMP.DAT. Now you have 2 choices: You can either MERGE BTEMP.DAT and
BOTMHOLE.DAT and then use the PATH DATA command in the POLY menu OR you can use the
PERFORATED command in the POLY menu with BTEMP.DAT and BOTMHOLE.DAT.
IMPORTANT BACKGROUND:
1) When creating a curve to be used as a polygon, the first and last point
may be different. (not necessary to be closed).
2) If you draw an imaginary line from the last point to the first on a curve,
it must NOT intersect any other line in the same curve.
3) You may use any orientation when defining the curve,i.e it can be clockwise
or counterclockwise. The algorithm will re-orient the data efficiently.
The object can be convex or concave.
4) If the routine doesn't work properly, delete the RAW object created and try
again. The curve will still be there.
5) Even though you must create the curves originally in the XY plane, the
Z values of each curve can be different. As an example, let's say that
you want to create a surface which will not be flat, but roughly looking
like a cone (truncated cone). Create the outer contour first, then the
inner contour. Now, use the XFORM command to translate the inner curve
in the +Z direction. If you now look at the curves in the YZ plane, you
will see 2 lines...the leftmost line is the outer curve and the rightmost
curve is the inner contour. Click on the PATH command to SAVE the inner
curve new data. The save will be SAVEd as a *.pth data file. Now,
using the PERFORATED command in the POLY menu, select the outer curve
and the *.pth file that you just created (the inner curve that has been
displaced in the +Z axis). The surface will end up looking like a
cone aligned with the Z axis. This is pretty handy when creating
beveled fonts.
Creating PATH data files for your animations
This feature allows you to create data files of paths that may be
used in animations programs. Simply select the Path menu and select
which curve to create. These data files can be XFORMed in the same
fashion as any of the objects supported by POVCAD.
To create a curve, select the corresponding curve and you'll be asked
for a filename to save the data. This is done to reduce memory
requirements on your system. The following is a brief description:
0) Load and SAVE
Load read any 3D point ASCII file and converts it into a path,
i.e. lines will be drawn to connect the points sequentially. Your
data file SHOULD NOT have an extension *.PTH since this is used by
POVCAD to save the final path files.
SAVE converts your data file, i.e. filename.ext into filename.PTH.
Initially, filename.ext was a set of 3D points that you created
yourself or thru POVCAD. Since you may want to rotate, scale or
translate the data, POVCAD takes those operations and changes your
data. In order to keep the original data intact, POVCAD saves the
new data with the PTH extension.
The EXPORT to POV function in the FILE menu also creates the *.PTH
files. If you haven't created any 3D objects and you don't need to
create a POV file, simply use the SAVE function in the PATH menu, to
save your animation files.
To merge 2 or more data files, drop to DOS or load a texteditor
and simply append one file to the other to create more complicated
path data files. It's that simple! (gasp!...I hope it works)
1) Freehand
Converts a set of points created on the screen to a path. Maximum
number of points is 50.
2) Linear
Click 2 points (more than that will be discarded) on the screen.
The routine will subdivide the line segment into a set of points.
3) Circular
Creates a circular path. No points have to be created with the
mouse.
4) Parabolic
Follows the curve Y = aX^2 where a is the parabola coefficient
and the value of Y is the height. The value of Z is zero but
you may create this curve from any view. The routines will swap
the axis to reflect the view you're in.
5) Helix
Creates a "spring". The curve follows :
x = a cos(2*pi*t)
y = a sin(2*pi*t)
z = t
Therefore Z is the "height" of the function. This depends on the
current view setting.
6) B-Spline
Smooths a set of points created on the screen with the POINTS command.
You will be asked for the amount of subdivisions of the final curve. You
may accept the default or modify the number. The final amount of
subdivision is dependent on the amount of data and may be slightly
to what you specify. The original curve is not erased from memory.
Use the "DEL PNTS" command inside the "EDIT" menu.
****************** NEW *********************
7) Catmull-Rom { Same instructions as 6) B-Spline }
Catmull-Rom splines pass thru the control points as opposed to B-Splines that simply approach the control points. Also, you will be asked for a tension value when using Catmull-Rom Splines. You may wish to use the default value 0.5 or a different one. Values approaching 0 seem to create linear interpolation while numbers larger than 0.5 may not follow the data contour correctly. Experimentation is a must on this one.
8) Merge Outer/Inner
Use this command to join an outer contour and an inner contour in
one data file. This becomes handy when creating polygons with more
than one hole. If you have one outer contour with various holes, you
may want to consider MERGEing the outer curve and the first inner into
a temporary file. Then take the temporary file and MERGE it with the
next hole and create a new temporary. Do this for all the holes.
9) Flip Data File
This commands flips a data file, i.e., the last point becomes the first
point and viceversa. This command can be used before calling the
Join 2 Curves command. You may need to invert the data so that lines
don't cross. Example:
a
------------o <- curve #1 starting point
|
| ---------o <- curve #2 starting point
| | b
| |
| |
| | c
| ----------o
----------o
d
if you use the JOIN command the point "d" will connect to point "b".
POVCAD takes the last point from curve #1 and connects it to the starting
point of #2. Clearly, the line connecting d to c will cross over curve
#2. To eliminate this you may wish to FLIP curve #2 first then JOIN it to
curve #1:
a
------------o <- curve #1 starting point
|
| ----------o
| | c
| |
| |
| | b
| --------o <- curve #2 starting point
----------o
d
This will make a smooth transition from curve #1 to curve #2, which is
required if you need to create a polygon with the POLY menu later.
10) B-Spline Data File
Works the same as the B-Spline {command 6) mentioned above} but it reads
a data or path file.
11) Catmull-Rom Data File {similar to 10) }
After creating the curves you may use them to animate your raytraced
images. POVCAD simply creates the curves and shows them with the
geometry so you have a better understanding of how things might look.
Remember, you can scale, rotate and translate the data like any other
object! You may also use them in combination with the POLY menu to create
flat surfaces.
****************** NEW *********************
2D Curve Editor (inside the MISC menu)
This feature lets you load or create a 2D contour or path and modify the location of the control points. To create a point click on the Create button. By clicking on the drawing area you create a contour. If you wish to preview a BSpline smoothing on the curve, click on the BSpline button. The scroll bar determines the smoothing factor on the curve..the higher the number the smoother the curve and correspondinly the number of points will increase. The number is a multiplication factor for the current amount of points, i.e., if you created 5 points and select a factor of 5, the final curve will have approx. 5 X 5 points (25).
In order to move a point, click on Select and click on the point to be moved, you may select any point. To move the point simply drag it to the correct position.
If you want to close an open contour, click on the Close Curve icon.
Creating LightSources
To create a light_source object, click on the MISC command in the main
menu, then LIGHT. Enter the origin coordinates of the light_source (x,y,z).
To add a color to the light_source, select it (Session) then click on the
Color command in the main menu. You may select any color or edit the
string "red # green # blue #" by replacing the "#" with appropiate numbers.
If you wish to move the light_source, click on XFORM and modify the
translate parameters.
The rotation angles do not apply to light_sources. The scale factors will
only affect the size of the light_source symbol (resembles a 3D axis) in
POVCAD, POV does not require a scaling factor.
When the scene file is EXPORTed to POV, the definition of the light_source
will also include the spotlight keywords commented out. If you need to use
your light as a SPOTLIGHT, simply erase the "//" characters and replace the
question marks "?" after each keyword with a proper value. Look at this
example:
***** part of a scene created with POVCAD ******
// LIGHT_SOURCE
object {
light_source{< .1 .2 .3 > color Blue
// If you need a spotlight, use the statements below
// replace ? with proper values
//spotlight
//point_at < ? ? ? >
//radius ?
//falloff ?
//tightness ?
}
}
Grid Spacing command
The Grid helps you determine relative distances between points or objects.
To show the Grid, click on the GridOff icon to enable the Grid. Initially,
the World area will be divided into 20 columns and 20 rows (always equal in
number). If you wish to modify this number, click on the VIEW menu and
select the GRID SPACING command. Enter an integer number. This number will
indicate the amount of rows AND columns, i.e. 10 indicates 10 rows and
10 columns. The higher the number the more precision you'll get.
Use the SnapOFF/ON to select only points which are in the grid. Turning
SnapOFF let's you select any place in the screen. Experiment with it.
How does POVCAD save the objects?
POVCAD saves 3 files for every session: {(4) is optional }
1) *.CAD This is the object definitions file
2) *.TEX file with the textures of each object
3) *.WRL world definition of the session
4) *.PTH data files to be used in your animation programs
*.CAD file structure:
This is the format that POVCAD uses for those of you that want to create
external programs to deal with them. The file is an ASCII file with
double quotes at the begining and end of each statement:
rx,ry,rz = rotations about each axis (absolute)
tx,ty,tz = translations on each axis
sx,sy,sz = scale factors for x,y and z
**** IMPORTANT: Each parameter is separated by 1 space. This is important
if you're writing utilities for POVCAD. This space is REQUIRED.
1) Plane: "PLN axis rx ry rz tx ty tz sx sy sz"
Example:
"PLN X 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1 1"
2) Cylinder "CYL radius height rx ry rz tx ty tz sx sy sz"
Example:
"CYL .2 1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1 1"
3) Cone: "CON radius height rx ry rz tx ty tz sx sy sz"
Example:
"CON .2 1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1 1"
4) Sphere: "SPH radius rx ry rz tx ty tz sx sy sz"
(tx ty and tz are the center of the sphere)
(sx sy sz must have the same value)
Example:
"SPH .5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1 1"
5) Ellipsoid: "ELI xradius yradius zradius rx ry rz tx ty tz sx sy sz"
Example:
"ELI .5 .2 .3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1 1"
6) Torus: "TOR radius_major radius_minor rx ry rz tx ty tz sx sy sz"
Example:
"TOR .7 .2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1 1"
7) Box: "BOX rx ry rz tx ty tz sizex sizey sizez"
(the Box is a unit cube that has been scaled to size)
Example:
"BOX 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 2 .1"
8) HeightField "HFL filename.ext rx ry rz tx ty tz sx sy sz"
(POVCAD draws a pyramid to represent it, with dimensions x=1 y=1 z=1,
so it must be scaled properly. Check POV's docs on height_field.)
