Ray Dream Studio(TM) 5 - Macintosh(TM) Version Read Me File
Copyright (c) 1992-1997 Fractal Design Corporation. All rights reserved.
WELCOME
Thank you for purchasing Ray Dream Studio(TM) 5 for Macintosh. This document contains important information that is not included in the printed Ray Dream Studio documentation.
CONTENTS
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Registration
Installation
System Requrements
What's on your Ray Dream Studio CD
More FREE Natural-Media LiveStyles from ThinkFish
More FREE Ray Dream Models from Viewpoint DataLabs
Converting Shader files from previous versions
User Guide/QRC errata
Known bugs/issues/limitations
Compatible 3D Hardware
REGISTRATION
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We strongly encourage you to register your copy of Ray Dream Studio. The benefits of registration include:
• Free technical support via phone, email, and the World Wide Web.
• Advance information on future releases.
• Special offers available to Fractal Design customers only
• Notification of updates and patches.
You can register by filling out and returning the postage-paid registration card included in your Ray Dream Studio package, or by filling out an online registration form at Fractal's web site (http://www.fractal.com).
If you choose to register by sending in the registration card, be sure to include a copy of your serial number, which can be found on the serial number sheet which came in your Ray Dream Studio package. You'll also need your serial number handy to register online.
INSTALLATION - Macintosh
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If you experience installation problems and have virus protection installed,
please disable your virus protection and try re-installing Ray Dream
Studio. Don't forget to re-activate virus protection after installation. If you continue to have problems after that, please call Fractal Technical Support at (408) 430-4200.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS NOTES - Macintosh
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Ray Dream Studio 5 will run on any Power Macintosh or compatible model with at least 20 MB of available RAM. Like other graphics applications, Ray Dream Studio will perform better with a higher memory allocation. If you have more RAM available, we recommend increasing the Preferred Size setting in the Memory Requirements section of the Ray Dream Studio Info dialog box:
1. In the Macintosh Finder, locate and select the Ray Dream Studio 5 application icon.
2. Choose File > Get Info..., or press Command-I. The Ray Dream Studio Info dialog opens.
3. Enter a higher value in the Preferred Size field.
To determine how much unused RAM you have, choose Apple Menu > About This Macintosh... The Largest Unused Block item tells you how much free memory is available. For the best results, allocate most (but not all) of your free memory to Ray Dream Studio, leaving at least two MB unused. Ray Dream Studio can still use this memory if needed - simply check the "Use System Memory" check box in the Preferences dialog:General settings.
Examples:
Total Memory - 32 MB
System Software - 8 MB
Largest Unused Block - 24 MB
Allocate to Ray Dream Studio: 22 MB
Total Memory - 64 MB
System Software - 8 MB
Largest Unused Block - 56 MB
Allocate to Ray Dream Studio: 54 MB
You can also enhance performance (and decrease the amount of memory needed by the System) by running Ray Dream with a minimal set of extensions and fonts. Most Macintosh systems include the ability to set up multiple different extensions configurations using the Extensions Manager.
Note: The default memory allocation is 3 MB higher if you have Virtual Memory disabled. This adjustment is automatically made by the Mac OS.
Use of QuickDraw 3D may require additional memory. Follow Apple's guidelines for usage.
CD CONTENTS
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In addition to the Ray Dream Studio 5 installer, you'll find the following folders on your Ray Dream Studio CD:
Acrobat -- An installer for Adobe Acrobat 3.0. You'll need Acrobat to view the electronic documentation in PDF format provided with Ray Dream Studio 5.
Documentation -- Electronic documentation for Ray Dream Studio 5, including the entire User Guide.
Dream Models -- 850 Dream Models in native Ray Dream format. These models are fully editable, and a great way to learn the capabilities of the Free Form and Mesh Form modelers. Note: The 100 models in the Mesh Models folder were imported, not created in Ray Dream Studio. To edit them in the Mesh Form modeler, you need to choose Edit menu>Jump in Another Modeler. These models also default to spherical mapping, so you may not get the shading/3D Paint results you expect. To improve results, change the mapping mode to better suit the shape of each object.
DreamSDK -- The DreamSDK developer's kit for Ray Dream Studio. Included are a complete set of documentation and several example extensions (both source code and compiled).
RealSpace -- Installers for the standalone and web browser versions of the RealSpace Viewer from Live Picture, Inc. Ray Dream Studio's IVRM Spherical camera can be used to render RealSpace-compatible virtual reality panoramas.
Samples -- Sample files of all sorts, including images, animations, and assorted models and scenes.
Shaders -- Additional shaders for use with Ray Dream Studio 5. Shaders are organized in folders according to theme. You can add these folders to the Browser palette to access them directly from the CD, or you can selectively copy shaders from the CD onto your system. For information on adding shaders to the Browser, see Managing the Browser Palette on page 32 of the User Guide.
Textures -- Images suitable for use in shaders, gels, backgrounds, and backdrops. Images are saved in TIFF format.
Tutorial -- All of the files necessary to complete the tutorial projects in the Ray Dream Studio User Guide. The tutorial files are NOT installed on your system by default. You can access them directly from your CD, or copy them to your hard drive.
RD Extensions -- Electronic documentation and information on available and upcoming Ray Dream Extensions.
More Content -- Content for use in Ray Dream Studio's Browser palette. Should you delete any of the default content installed with Ray Dream Studio, you can restore it by copying it from the CD.
Ray Dream Studio 5's Natural-Media renderer is based on LiveStyles technology from ThinkFish Productions, Inc. In addition to the 7 LiveStyles included with Ray Dream Studio, you are entitled to four more LiveStyles FREE, directly from ThinkFish Productions, Inc. For more information, visit the ThinkFish website at http://www.thinkfish.com.
As a Ray Dream user, you are entitled to an additional150 FREE models from Viewpoint DataLabs, the worldwide leader in 3D model creation and publishing. These models were created with the Free Form modeler, and are saved in native Ray Dream format.
To access your free models, click the Viewpoint button on Ray Dream Studio 5's Internet toolbar. This will launch your web browser and take you to an exclusive Ray Dream users' page on Viewpoint's web site, where you'll find 150 models available for free download, and hundreds more for sale to meet your specific needs.
CONVERTING SHADER FILES FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS
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Unlike previous versions, Ray Dream Studio 5 saves shaders in individual files (1 file per shader). Shaders created with previous versions and saved in "families" need to be converted to work with Ray Dream Studio 5:
1. In the Browser palette, select the Shaders tab and choose File > Import Shader Family... A dialog appears.
2. In the dialog, locate and select the shader family you want to import, then click the Open button. A second dialog appears.
3. In the dialog, choose the folder where you want to save the converted shaders. Ray Dream Studio will convert the shader family, saving the new shader files in the directory you have chosen.
All of the shaders included with previous versions of Ray Dream Studio have already been converted, and are on the Ray Dream Studio 5 CD. You need only convert shaders you have created yourself.
USER GUIDE/QRC ERRATA
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QUICK REFERENCE CARD:
On the Quick Reference Card, the Infinite Plane tool appears in its own tool group. This tool is now located on a flyout tool group, along with the other geometric primitives (sphere, cone, cube, etc.).
USER GUIDE:
Several errors were caught after the User Guide went to print. These errors have been corrected in the online help files and in the electronic documentation which appears on your CD in PDF format.
Page xi/Col 1: To turn off tool tips (Macintosh), choose Balloon Help Menu > Hide Balloons. To turn on tool tips, choose Balloon Help Menu > Show Balloons.
Page 29/Col 3: You cannot add a scene to the Objects tab of the Browser by dragging the Universe icon. Instead, select all of the objects in the scene and drag the entire selection to the appropriate directory within the Browser Palette : Objects tab.
Page 29/Col 3: To save a scene to the Object Browser tab, Step 1, choose File menu > Save As (not Edit menu > Save As).
Page 31/Col 3: To create a new Browser Palette document, Step 3, choose File menu > Save (not Edit menu > Save).
Page 32/Col 1: To create a new directory in the Browser palette. These directions work on the Macintosh, but not on Windows. The Windows dialog does not provide a button for creating a new folder, so you must create a folder outside Ray Dream Studio, using the Windows file management tools.
Page 97/Col 3: To create a Fountain object, choose Insert menu > Fountain (not Edit menu > Insert > Fountain).
Page 99/Col 1: To create a Cloud object, choose Insert menu > Cloud (not Edit menu > Insert > Cloud).
Page 100/Col 1: To create a Fog object, choose Insert menu > Fog (not Edit menu > Insert > Fog).
Page 101/Col 2: To create a Fire object, choose Insert menu > Fire (not Edit menu > Insert > Fire).
Page 105/Col 1: You can load a formula by clicking the disk icon (not the Load button).
Page 141/Col 1 & 2: You cannot move the drawing plane with the Sphere of Attraction tool.
Page 142/Col 1: To switch preview modes. Only Wireframe and Preview (Fast) are available in the Mesh Form modeler.
Page 145/Col 1: To dolly the viewpoint left and right, the keys are 4 and 6 (not 4 and 2).
Page 158/Col 3 : Step 4, should be vertex count or fidelity, not decimate.
Page 160/Col 1 : To Flatten...You can only flatten a single polygon--not a group of vertices,
edges, or polygons.
Page 160/Col 2 : The Command/Ctrl key does not constrain scaling around the
object center, it moves the drawing plane.
Page 168/Col 2: To view the uv coordinates that are set for a particular vertex. Step 1 should be, "Choose Properties palette: Mapping mode tab."
Page 341-342: The controls for the Natural-Media (ThinkFish) renderer are as follows:
Line Color & Surface Color swatches: Allow you to set the line color and surface (fill) color of objects in the rendered image. These swatches are disabled if the chosen style uses objects' actual colors or preset line and surface colors.
Default Lighting checkbox: When this option is enabled, the actual scene lighting is ignored and default lighting is used.
Show Background checkbox: When this option is enabled, the Style's background is used. When it is disabled, the scene's background (as set in the Scene Settings:Effects tab) is used. This option is disabled if the chosen style does not include a custom background.
Line Thickness: Allows you to set the thickness of the lines in the rendering.
Sketchiness: Controls the length of the lines in the rendering. A high sketchiness setting results in longer lines, giving a looser, more hand-drawn feel. A low setting results in shorter lines, which produces smoother curves. Styles which are by their nature "sketchy" (e.g., Sketch 1, Sketch 2) tend to look better with higher settings. Styles which have continuous lines (e.g. Basic Draw, Silk Screen) tend to look better with lower settings.
Auto Preview checkbox: When this option is enabled, Ray Dream Studio automatically redraws the preview when you change settings.
Preview Scene checkbox: When this option is enabled, the actual contents of your scene are used in the preview. When it is disabled, a cube is used.
Refresh Preview button: Click this button to update the preview after changing the contents of your scene, or the Sketchiness setting.
Page 348/Col 1: Enabling/Disabling render filters on a light-by-light basis. When you apply a render filter to your scene, it will be applied by default to all lights in your scene. In order to disable it for a given light, you must use the VL Light Control or the LP Light Control.
Page 348/Col 2: PLP Light Control should be LP Light Control.
KNOWN BUGS/ISSUES/LIMITATIONS
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Bugs:
Mac - Tool bars may not dock correctly in multiple-monitor configurations.
The open dialog does not automaticaly appear when you choose Movie from the popup in the Properties palette:Gel tab. To choose a movie, you need to click and hold the disk icon and choose Open from the menu that appears.
Scaling a linked parent object or moving its hot point can cause its children to move unpredicatbly. To avoid this problem, scale your objects and set their hot points before linking them.
Compatibility issues:
In general, 3D hardware does not support acceleration in 8-bit color display mode. If you attempt to choose RAVE hardware (Mac) or Direct3D hardware (Windows) acceleration while your display is in 8-bit mode, the Ray Dream Z-Buffer will be used instead and you will be notified with an alert.
To improve compatibility with 3D hardware, an additional setting has been added to the Shaded Preview preferences: the "Line Compatibility mode" checkbox. With some 3D hardware products, lines (like the planes of the Working Box) may not be drawn when you enable hardware acceleration. To correct this problem, open the Preferences dialog, choose Shaded Preview from the popup menu, and enable the Line Compatibility mode checkbox.
Mac - On some systems, RAVE hardware mode seems to be unstable under System 7.5.3 and 7.5.5. For better results, upgrade to System 7.6.
The ThinkFish LiveStyles file format (.LIV) has evolved since it was first introduced. The styles included with Ray Dream Studio and the free styles available from ThinkFish for Ray Dream users all work with the Natural-Media renderer. However, other styles you acquire may be incompatible. If you have styles that don't work with the Natural-Media renderer, contact ThinkFish.
Although Ray Dream Studio allows you to use Photoshop-compatible plug-ins, some newer plug-ins (particularly those which ship with Photoshop 4) do not work within Ray Dream Studio.
Ray Dream Studio does not open progressive JPEG files.
Limitations:
Physically based animations may play and render differently on the Macintosh and Windows platforms. This is due to differences in the way the Macintosh and Windows compilers perform floating-point calculations.
The Mapping Mode for Master objects cannot be set within the Free Form modeler. To set a Master object's Mapping Mode, exit to the Perspective window, then select the Master object in the Masters tab of the Time Line/Hierarchy window and choose the Mapping Mode tab in the Properties palette.
If you cannot seem to select a paint shape on the surface of an object in the Perspective window, it may be on the Master shading layer. To select and edit it, you must work with the Master object in the Free Form or Minimum modeling window. For more information on the Master shading layer, consult your User Guide (page 192).
When editing Natural-Media render settings in the Batch Queue, no preview will appear if you have enabled the "Preview Scene" option. This is because the Batch Queue does not load the entire scene into memory, so no geometry is available. As a result, you should disable the "Preview Scene" option and work with the default (cube) preview in the Batch Queue.
Windows NT - The Icon Handler only works in 32-bit display mode. If your display is set in a different mode, standard Ray Dream Studio icons will be substituted for the custom icons saved with some Browser files.
The faux-SMPTE shader installed by default in the Iguana 1 shader directory is very complex. When creating a paint shape using this shader, you may need to click and hold the mouse momentarily before you can drag the paint shape tool.
Although the G-buffer options in the Scene Settings window:Output tab are not disabled when the Draft Z-buffer is selected, the G-Buffer is not compatible with this renderer. If you enable any G-Buffer channels, they will be created but they will be empty.
COMPATIBLE 3D HARDWARE
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The following 3D hardware products are known to be compatible with Ray Dream Studio 5:
Windows:
ATI 3D XPression+ PC2TV
ATI 3D Pro Turbo PC2TV
Creative Labs 3D Blaster PCI
Matrox Millenium
Matrox Millenium II
Matrox Mystique
Diamond Fire GL 1000 (Textures appear excessively bright)
