NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #30

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Text File | 1992-12-16 | 15.1 KB | 326 lines

Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics From: dino@alex.com (Dino Fancellu) Path: sparky!uunet!pipex!demon!alex.com!dino Subject: Re: REAL 3D V2.XX Nntp-Posting-Host: woody Organization: Alex Technologies Ltd References: <lahurst.724366306@unix1.tcd.ie> <1992Dec15.221247.29374@nntp.hut.fi> Apparently-To: mail2news@demon.co.uk Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 10:40:57 +0000 Message-ID: <1992Dec16.104057.4788@alex.com> Sender: usenet@demon.co.uk Lines: 312 Here is some tech specs, although some more will probably be added, *ETA* 2 months:- Please note that the features listed in this document are subject to change.... REAL 3D V 2 - THE HIGH END SOFTWARE FOR THE AMIGA PROFESSIONAL FIRST PREVIEWED AT SIGGRAPH'92 (CHICAGO) MAJOR FEATURES Fully user customizable editor Open architecture for expandability Fully integrated editor and renderer taking full advantage of multitasking Hierarchial object construction CSG solid modelling Fully implemented Boolean operations Polygonal surfaces Quadric surfaces B-Splines Procedural objects Large collection of quadric tools for constructing complex shapes Comprehensive set of free form surface construction tools Linear transformation tools Approx 100 nonlinear freeform deformations Comprehensive set of direct curve and surface manipulation tools Skeletonal modelling Displacements Transparency with physically correct refractions Procedural materials Fully implemented texture mapping -colour -bump -enviroment -shadow -reflection -clip -transparency -brilliancy -mapping through user defined formulas -visible placement of textures etc Unlimited texture/materials descriptions per object Infinite number of light sources -point -line -wall Soft shadows Revolutionary animation system -morphing/keyframing -particle animation -character animation -inversed kinematics -magnetism/gravity -procedural -allows all transformations and free form deformations to be animated R3PL- fully featured programming language used for: -expanding program features and user interface -describing macros -scene description -defining particle behaviour -procedural texture and material handlers -interactive object creation and manipulation etc... Fully customizable object and material data structures using tags Renderman RIB output AutoCad DXF import/export Tree and landscape fractal generators AGFA Compugraphic font import 9 level antialiasing uses adaptive supersampling Multiple background images Field rendering Alpha channel support Motion blur Lense flair effect Ray tracing Dust effects Fogs Burred reflections Undo with user definable unlimited depth Arexx support Program Real 3D is design and animation program for producing Description high quality, realistic pictures of three dimensional objects. The main target group of the software are video producers, creative computer artists, product designers, teachers and everyone interested in computer generated imagery. The new version introduces a large collection of state-of-art features, making Real 3D one of the most powerful 3D packages available. Ray Tracing A ray tracing of Real 3D is strongly based on the physical reality of the real world. Real 3D produces pictures by simulating the laws of physics, and consiquently they represent reality with astonishing accuracy. Speed Innovative methods and new ray tracing algorithms make Real 3D really fast. Ray tracing of Real 3D is so incredibly fast that it can be used as a primary rendering method instead of wire frames during interactive modelling process. Zero Wait The asynchronous software design, implemented using State Design latest techniques of object oriented programming, takes advantage of multi tasking operating systems extensively in order to achieve maximal convenience and productivity in modelling. The user never has to wait until some function is finished; instead, he can continue with new actions while old ones are executed as background tasks. Customizable Real 3D V 2 user interfaces is fully customizable. Environment It is possible to construct different working and environments to meet requirements of different Expandability applications. For example you can use Real 3D as a single view editor, a tri-view editor or perhaps a 9-view editor. It is possible to expand the program by defining new functions and binding them to menus, icons and keys. Integrated The modeless design principle of Real 3D means that Environment the user can directly access all functions of the program. For example, it is possible to modify a material and immediately see how the modification affects the rendered image. Hierarchical With Real 3D you can create hierarchical objects. Object This means that objects you create can be made of Oriented subobjects, and these subobjects may have their own Construction substructure and so on. This kind of a tree structure of Objects is well known in the context of disk operating systems, in which you can create directories inside directories. In Real 3D counterparts of these directories are used to collect objects into logical groups. This kind of approach makes for example object modifications extremely easy, because it is possible to perform operations to logical entities. If you want to copy a DOS directory, you don't have to take care of the files and directories inside it. In the same manner, you can stretch a complex object in Real 3D as easily as one part of it. True Solid Real 3D includes a true solid modeler. Solid model is Model the most sophisticated way to represent three dimensional objects. For example, solid modelling offers general Boolean operations and makes it possible to simulate optical devices correctly. Polygonal Conventional polygonal surfaces with Phong shading Surfaces are included. Quadric In addition to polygonal surfaces, Real 3D includes Surfaces several curved surfaces, such as a sphere, a cylinder, a cone and a hyperboloid. This means that no matter how much you enlarge a sphere created by Real 3D, you don't find any edges or corners on its surface. Furthermore, this makes the program much faster. And what is most important, the produced pictures look really good. Parametric Uniform cubic B-Spline surfaces provide user with the Surfaces most powerful way of representing curved freeform surfaces and organic shapes. The quality of shaded B-Spline surfaces is far superior to polygonal surfaces. Boolean Solid model allows Boolean operations between objects. Operations It is possible, for example, to split an object into two pieces and move the pieces apart so that the inner structure of the object is revealed. Operations can also be done so that the properties of the material of the target object are changed. By using a brilliant cylinder one can drill a brilliant hole into a matt object. Operations are a powerful way to create and modify objects. Especially in modeling technical objects these Boolean operations are indispensable. Properties of Due to solid model, it is possible to create objects Materials from different materials having suitable physical properties. All material properties can be adjusted without any restrictions. Even the light refraction index is freely adjustable so that it is possible to create optical devices from glass lenses. These devices act as their real counterparts: a magnifying glass in Real 3D world really magnifies! Texture The texture mapping properties of Real 3D are not Mapping restricted to a typical chequered pattern: Any picture can be used to paint objects. You can create Color Mapping pictures with your favorite painting program as well as with a video digitizer or a scanner. For example, Bump Mapping by digitizing a wood filament pattern, it is easy to create wooden objects looking very realistic. Clip Mapping In Real 3D V 2, textures are a part of the object hierarchy, so that textures can be modified and Special Mapping animated just as easily as any object in hierarchy. Light Its possible to use unlimited number of light sources Sources with desired color and brightness. Also non pointwise light sources are included producing smooth edged shadows. Animation The new version introduces a revolutionary animation Support system, including such features as morphing, particle animations, continuous time or frame based animation description, procedural animations, texture and Procedural material morphing, exellent memory management, Animations texture and backdrop image animations, skeletonal control, etc. Particle In the new animation system, the motion description Animations is a natural part of the object structure. Real 3D includes also software for showing rendered animations interactively. Rendering Real 3D includes seven different rendering techniques: Techniques a real time wireframe model, a hidden line wireframe model, a high speed one light source ray tracing model, a lampless ray tracing model, a non-shadow- casting ray tracing model, scan line model and a complete ray tracing model. Image Output Interface to output devices is well designed and flexible allowing, for example, graphics hardware manufactures to write the software needed for using the hardware with Real 3D. Anti-aliasing Real 3D includes adjustable anti-aliasing. There are 9 different degrees of anti-aliasing, from which the user can select a suitable level. The most accurate level uses 256*256 adaptive supersampling, which is certainly enough for any application !. Fast rendering It is possible to render with low resolutions to produce images faster. A very useful function is so called box function, which allows the user to define rectancular areas on the rendering screen. These areas can then be rendered with a desired resolution, anti-aliasing level etc. Macro Function It is possible to combine several Real 3D functions to form macros. With macros the user can easily create complex, symmetric forms or produce animation effects. Macros can be saved, loaded and bind to keys, menus and icons. Mathematical There is unlimited number of mathematical textures Textures available. In addition to built in textures, the user can write arbitrary formulas defining the color, bumps and other material properties. R3PL Real 3D contains fully featured programming language, R3PL. The language offers the most powerful interface to the software and can even be used for accessing operating system functions. For example, R3PL is used for: Database Two formats are available: a binary and an ascii Formats format. The binary format offers efficient and fast way of storing a scene description, whereas the ascii format, based on R3PL programming language, is machine independent. Renderman Object data structure can be saved using Renderman Interface RIB format. AutoCAD Real 3D supports also AutoCAD DXF format. Interface Multiple It is possible to use multiple textures/materials per Textures object. Furthermore, the materials can be blended and faded. Tags Object and material data structures can be expanded using tags. Tags are also utilized in particle animations where the tag data attached to an object can determine the behaviour of the object. Quadric Quadric tools can be used for constructing complex Tools shapes by combining quadric primitives. Free Form Large collection of free form surface construction Tools methods are provided, including coplanar and orthogonal sweeps, swingging, rotation, cross-sectional building etc. Fractal Two fractal generatos are included: the tree and the Generators landscape generator. Linear All necessary transformations are included and some Transformations more. Nonlinear Nearly one hundred nonlinear transformations are Modifications available. Can someone wake me up and give me my Cornflakes(TM)? I think I've been dreaming.