Suzy B Software 2/Suzy B Software CD-ROM 2 (1994).iso/anidone/contour/contour.doc

Text File | 1995-05-02 | 4KB | 63 lines

  This is the first release of CONTOUR, a topographic pre-processor for
CAD3D 2.02 and Cyber Control from Antic Publishing.  YOU NEED BOTH TO USE
THIS! (Along with DEGAS or DEGAS ELITE)
  The basic use of CONTOUR is to create 3D landscapes, but there are many
applications that it can be put to.

                                INSTRUCTIONS:

1)  Use DEGAS or DEGAS ELITE to create the 2D topographic representation
    of your object (see EXAMPLE.PI1).  I would suggest using the pallete
    from the example, as it makes the different levels easy to follow.
    Try to keep any relevant contours within about a 1/2" border on the
    screen... you'll see why later.  The finished picture must be LOW
    resolution (to give you 16 levels), and saved UNCOMPRESSED to disk.
    The elevations correspond in ascending order from left to right in
    the color pallette, but have NO RELATION to the finished product.

2)  Exit DEGAS and crank up CONTOUR.PRG.  After the title screen, you
    will be asked to input the size and resolution of the grid.  The size
    can range from 5x5 to 37x37.  Obviously, the bigger the grid, the
    better the finished object is going to look.  Resolution is how many
    of the generated points are going to be plotted... set it to 1 for
    best results.  Next you will get a fileselect box and be asked for
    your input file.  Enter the filename of the pic that you created in
    step 1.  The screen will clear, and you will see your 2D represen-
    tation on the screen with an grid superimposed over it.  The dots
    indicate the coordinates that will be saved to disk.  If the dots
    miss anything that you want to make sure shows up in your final
    object, you can move the grid around the screen with the arrow keys.
    Hit 'Clr Home' when you are done, and you will be prompted for a
    file name.  At this point, you MUST use TOPO.DAT for your output
    file (until Cyber Control lets you input strings....).  The coordin-
    ate file will be saved to disk, and the program will terminate.

3)  Re-boot your computer with your CAD3D disk, making sure that Cyber
    control is installed.  Crank up CAD3D, and then invoke Cyber Control
    from the desk menu.  Load CONTOUR.CTL, and run it.  You will be asked
    for a color value that corresponds to the default pallete, and then
    the disk will be searched for TOPO.DAT.  The grid size and resolution
    are read from the file, and then you are asked for the scaling factor
    that you want to use.  If you pick 100, the object will be generated
    with the values generated by contour.  Your object will take up about
    2/3 or the available vertical height in the CAD3D universe; your
    peaks will be high, and your valleys low.  Any other number that you
    enter will be used to scale the object, ie 80=80% of the original
    height.  This give you nice rolling hills, and gently dipping
    valleys.  Time needed to generate the object range from 30 seconds
    for a 5x5 grid to a couple of minutes for a 37x37 grid.  When con-
    struction is done, the computer will beep and you close Cyber
    Control to view your topographic masterpiece.

NOTE:  If you are going to do repeated runs using different scaling
       factors, add the command 'new' to the top of CONTOUR.CTL.  A
       37x37 grid uses almost ALL of the available vertices and faces!

  CONTOUR is still in the early stages of development.  Any questions or
comments would be greatly appreciated.  I can be reached on GENIE as
REIFMAN, and on Compu$erve at 74716,2250.  Enjoy CONTOUR!

                                    Dan Reifsnyder