NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #1/NN_1993_1.iso/spool/comp/sys/mac/programm/21025

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-08 | 5.2 KB

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From: [e-mail] (Christian Steffen Ove Franz)
Subject: GrafSys 1.2 at sumex
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Organization: Dept. Informatik, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, CH
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 19:32:58 GMT
Lines: 116

Hello netters,

  I just emailed the 3D graphics package for programmers to sumex. Maybe now
one of you will finally write 'Elite for Mac'?.
Eventually I will post it to umich, but since I can't login anonymous for
uploading it, it will have to wait acoupla days.

********

GrafSys Vers 1.2 now available. Changes are a few new routines and
finally THINK C comapatability. GrafSys 1.2 also includes my fast trig
package called 'FastPerfTrigs' that makes the GrafSys not only a bit faster
but gives you access to lightning fast trig functions without using a
math coprocessor.
Another change is in licensing. If you want to use this package for any
non-commercial purpose (freeware software or your own entertainment),
send me a postcard. Shareware and other software authors read the section
on Copyright in the documentation.

Those of you who don't know what all this is about, read on.

********

3D GrafSys -- What it is:
-------------------------

Didn't you always have this great game in mind where you needed some way of
drawing three-dimensional scenes?

Didn't you always want to write this program that visualized the structure
of three-dimensional molecules?

And didn't the task of writing your 3D conversions routines keep you from
actually doing it?

Well if the answer to any of the above questions is 'Yes, but what has it to
do with this package???' , read on.

GrafSys is a THINK Pascal/C library that provides you with simple routines
for building, saving, loading (as resources), and manipulating
(independent rotating around arbitrary achses, translating and scaling)
three dimensional objects. Objects, not just simple single-line drawings.

GrafSys supports full 3D clipping, animation and some (primitive) hidden-
line/hidden-surface drawing with simple commands from within YOUR PROGRAM.

GrafSys also supports full eye control with both perspective and parallel
projections (If you can't understand a word, don't worry, this is just showing
off for those who know about it. The docs that come with it will try to explain
what it all means later on).

GrafSys provides a powerful interface to supply your own drawing routines with
data so you can use GrafSys to do the 3D transformations and your own routines
to do the actual drawing. (Note that GrafSys also provides drawing routines so
you don't have to worry about that if you don't want to)

GrafSys 1.11 comes in two versions. One for the 881 and 020 or above processors.
The other version uses fixed-point arithmetic and runs on any Mac. Both
versions are *100% source compatibel*.

GrafSys comes with an extensive manual that teaches you the fundamentals of 3D
graphics and how to use the package.

If demand is big enough I will convert the GrafSys to an object-class library.
However, I feelt that the way it is implemented now makes it easier to use for a
lot more people than the select 'OOP-Guild'.

GrafSys is free for any non-commercial usage. Read the documentation enclosed.


Enjoy,
Christian Franz

NOTE: If you are looking for this package on sumex-aim, look for the file
      '3D-library'. For some reason the moderators chose to change the name
      I gave the package to one more of their liking.

********

Version Histoy

Vers. 1.2 -- Now THINK C compatible
 After a few people told me about their problems using the GrafSys with
 THINK C, I removed all calls to Pascal's New procedure and any trig
 function. The trig calls are replaced by calls to my own super-fast trig
 package (included in GrafSys) that use look-up tables.

 Other than that, I added procedures to deallocate 3D objects and screen
 objects, something that many people demanded.

Vers. 1.11 -- Now contains C headers
 Finally, some kind soul send me the headerfiles for using the GrafSys with
 THINK C.

 Another change is that I removed over 192 typoos from the documentation.
 Quite a score, eh? Thanks to all who reminded me that there are such fantastic
 little programs as spelling checkers (I'm not using one for this posting...
 obviously!).


Vers 1.1 -- Fixed point arithmetic
 Literally hundrets of people asked me to change the requirements for GrafSys
 from 030/881 CPU/FPU to normal 68000 processor no FPU. They pointed out that
 I could use the fast Fixed-Point arithmetic. I did this and the result is the
 GrafSys Vers 1.1

Vers 1.0 -- Initial Release

What I'm working on:
 . faster Polygons for fast hidden-surface animation (almost done)
 . a 3D circle/oval type
 . better support for offscreen drawing in the Screen3D module
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christian S. O. Franz                 |                   [e-mail]
ETH Zuerich, Swizerland               |