Subject: Re: Imagine 4 everybody! The Campaign - join in!!
Date: Wed, 18 May 94 13:03:21 EDT
From: jgoldman@acs.bu.edu (Jeffrey Goldman)

> 
> 	Why is there no shadow maps in scanline mode ? Why isn't a better
> anti aliasing available in scanline ? I wish I had not to render everything
> in trace mode if I want to get a nice result...

	It was promised, but shortly before the actual release of 3.0
Impulse stated it would not make the initial release. I suspect speed
was the problem, but who knows?

> 	I really think Imagine rendering is VERY POOR, compared to 3D Studio.
> Not only is it slower, but it is also worse (in terms of quality) Yes, it
> requires less memory, but writing a new z-buffer based algorithm would be
> fast, would allow shadows (and even soft shadows !)with a multiple z-buffer,
> and provide anti-aliasing with an a-buffer algorithm... There are many
> solutions to improve rendering ! and why not radiosity ?

	Agreed. Imagine's Scanline capabilities could be greatly
enhanced. Now that it has some terrific non-rendering capabilities I
think it should be time to upgrade the renderers. Imagine3.0 has some
incredible animation capabilites (Bones, Kinematics, States,
Particles, etc...). It's really a shame that a power user can't take
advantage of the capabilites because of a quality or speed limitation.
Scanlining, or rather speed, is essential to my animation
productivity. Since I'm not in the business of only creating pretty
stills I need the improved scanlining...
	And, while Radiosity is nice for stills it is definitely
prohibitively slow. You can sort of simulate it now anyway... Maybe it
should be implemented (if it's easy) for the sake of completion, but
I'm not missing anything without it... The scanliner should really be
first priority...

> 	Is it possible to draw complex curves (more complex than a 2-axis
> path) in the stage editor to make animations easier, or in the
> detail editor?

	I don't quite understand this problem. Do you mean having a
curve be made up of more than two control points? Imagine's spline
paths are not limited by the two default points/axis. If you select
the path and edit it you can use split or fracture (depending on
editor) to get another control point. You can do this as much as you
want. Complex paths are easy to create just by splitting the
original...

> 	What about MACROS ? I read in the ad for 3.0 upgrade (in Amiga Format)
> that it would be possible to "record" a series of actions in a script...
> Wonderful idea ! I would be able to record, say mode pick edges->edge filter
> ->make sharp, and then make a button for this boring action...

	Again, it was promised but didn't make it in the initial 3.0
release...

							J.---->

E-Mail: jgoldman@acs.bu.edu


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