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Short: Real-time 3D object creation and manipulation software. Type: gfx/3d Uploader: wright@merlin.etsu.edu Welcome to Vertex 2.0. ====================== This text file should help you get a better feel for this new version of Vertex. There a LOT of changes, all of which are covered in the new manual, but this file should give you some idea of what the major changes entail, on how best to make use of them. Fast Key and Menu System ======================== The old fast key and menu system has been completely replaced. This may take some getting used to, but the new setup adds much more functionality, and allows you to customize which key presses activate which functions. The heart of this new system is the menu option "Project-Config-Key Config". (i.e. the Project menu has a submenu labelled Config, and that menu has an option called Key Config.) This system is very easy to use. To bind any key to a menu function, simply press and release the key. You should see the key's code appear in the requester, and any current defintion will appear as well. If the key has no current definition "--" will appear instead. Then, all you do is select the menu option you wish to bind to that key. The same applies for buttons on the Main Screen. Just click the key you wish to bind to a button, then click the button. You may also use qualifiers. Alt, Ctrl and Shift can be used in conjunction with any key, making possible many different options for each key. Once you set up the keys how you like, you can save the definitions by clicking on the 'Save' button in this requester. Also, if you'd like to print these key definitions to a file, use the Project-Config menu option titled "Key Reference". This will bring up the file requester asking for name of a file. Just enter the name of a file, and you can print the file at a later time. Interface ========= The new Vertex also sports a new interface. You will probably see the background grid immediately, and you should see the new buttons available on the left of the Main Screen. The old shape-creator has been removed and integrated directly into the main program. (For an interesting demonstration of this new setup, click the Add button on the Main screen. Then, press and hold the Alt key, then draw like you would in a paint program. Viola! - freehand drawing in a 3D environment!) You will also see that Vertex supports Left/Right, Top/Bottom and Front/Back views. Also, Perspective mode is a toggle now, available in any view mode. The main screen also holds some new tools such as Rot, which allows you to rotate objects freely, and edit, which is an improved version of the old edit tool. The 'Edge', 'Face' and 'Add' tools allow you to undo one step at a time while still in the respective function, or you can undo the whole process by exiting the function and clicking undo. Also, there are some hidden features as well. The Shift key can be used to contrain movement on the horizontal axis, and the Alt key can be used to constrain on the vertical axis. Pick and Upck also support qualifier keys: Ctrl will enable selecting with a circle, Shift will force the standard box selector and Alt will enable lasso selection. Much more has changed as well. Vertex fully multitasks, and now uses the math co-processor (if it's available). The background grid can be used used in a snap fasion when editing or adding points. And, by using the new key system, most any function can be used from most any other function. File Output =========== Imagine ------- File support in this new version has been greatly enhanced. The Imagine file format has been concentrated on to improve handling of surface attributes. Currently, settings for color, reflection, transparency, filter, shine, dither, roughness, smoothness and hardness are supported. There is still no support for image maps or textures. This may be a drawback for some uses, but the complexity of handling these attributes quickly confuses the issue of converting object geometry. However, this version does support hierarchies and groups for the Imagine format. Also, axis positions are handled as well. Finally, although it won't show in this demo version, the save feature for Imagine has been greatly enhanced. There are no longer any delays which grow exponentially with the size of Imagine objects. Also, Vertex saves separate groups in separate files, in the normal Imagine fashion. If you wish to save separate objects in the same file then you should use the Turbo file format, which is still readable by Imagine. Lightwave --------- Lightwave support has been greatly enhanced by using a new polygon fill function. Nearly any surface will be correctly triangulated, even ones with holes. Lightwave also benefits from the extended surface attributes offered for the Imagine format. Caligari -------- Limiited support for Caligari has been added to this new version. Only the .sobj format is suported, and it is suggested that hierarchies not be used with Vertex. The documentation on the Caligari file format is extremely vague on some aspects of this odd format, and The Art Machine is limited by what vendors offer. Other formats ------------- The POV format is now supported for triangle primitive objects in this new format. The manual comes with information on how to set up the camera and look_at points for POV, and these files will also output colors, transparency and reflection. Importing Files =============== Vertex 2.0 offers some exciting new possibilies for importing files from different software. EPS files, generated by ProDraw 2.0, can be imported directly into Vertex's 3D environment. Also, IFF files may be transferred in 2 different ways. An "altitude map" can be generated, where each pixels color represents the height of a point. IFF files may also be traced by hand, opening up new possibilites for precise conversion of bitmap images. The sample files included with this demo will give you a good idea of how these features work. Bezier Curves ============= Vertex 2.0 now has complete bezier curve support. Curves may be edited in 3D as a "template", which can later be converted to a set of 3D points. These points can be quickly filled with the new polygon fill tool. When editing curves, they can be treated as both single curves, and as continuous splines. The default mode is spline, where editing one "handle" will result in the opposite handle being moved in the opposite direction. To edit a handle alone, simply press and hold the control key - this forces the curve to be treated as a lone curve. If you're new to working with bezier curves, try starting with the cirlce primitive, and editing it until you feel more comfortable. You may also subdivide a selected curve with the Modify-Curve-Subdivide function. Fractal Trees ============= This new feature can create some interesting results. You can even create custom leaves for these trees, or use no leaves at all to create some interesting lightning bolts. To get started, you may want to try the demonstration trees which accompany the demo. A Final Note ============ There is much more that has changed with this new release of the software - but I'll leave you to explore this stuff on your own. All functions will be covered completely in the manual, along with tutorials, appendices and an index. This demo version is the final beta release. I have, with the help of the beta-test crew, attemtped to hunt down every inaccuracy. However, with any program this complex, it's still possible for problems to appear from time to time. If you do run across any problem, please bring it to my attention as soon as possible. I'd also like to take this time to thank each of you for helping me produce this software. I've strived at every corner to produce a quality product, and with your support, I've managed to create a program I'm proud to attach my name to. Thank you. Sincerely, Alex D. DeBurie President, The Art Machine ===================================================================== Vertex 2.0 Demo (C) Copyright 1992, 1993 The Art Machine All Rights Reserved Installer and Installer project icon (c) Copyright 1991-93 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduced and distributed under license from Commodore. INSTALLER SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE; NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE. ALL USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED. ===================================================================== Amiga is a trademark of Commodore Amiga, Inc. Wavefront is a trademark of Wavefront Technologies, Inc. Sculpt 3D/4D are trademarks of Byte by Byte, Inc. Imagine is a registered trademark of Impulse, Inc. Turbo Silver is a registered trademark of Impulse, Inc. Lightwave 3D is a registered trademark of Newtek, Inc.