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From: baer@qiclab.uucp (Ken Baer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Journeyman V1.1 (was Re: Imagine)
Message-ID: <1990Dec16.072550.3811@qiclab.uucp>
Date: 16 Dec 90 07:25:50 GMT
References: <1990Dec13.201243.4265@wam.umd.edu> <61542@masscomp.ccur.com> <1990Dec14.180817.5224@wam.umd.edu>
Organization: Animators Anonymous, Portland, Or.
Lines: 40

In article <1990Dec14.180817.5224@wam.umd.edu> walrus@wam.umd.edu (Udo K Schuermann) writes:
>>Definately check out JourneyMan, it is the only 3D
>>package to use spline surface objects for fantastic organic animation
>>control.
>
>Could you elaborate on this?  I won't have a chance to check out
>JourneyMan until perhaps early next year.  What are "spline surface
>objects" and what is "organic animation control"?

We call this 'Patch based modeling.'  This means 3D objects are created
with curved surfaces, and not polygons, though a patch can be flat and
have sharp edges, so mechanical objects can also be modeled.  The Journeyman
interfaces use a special kind of spline curve that has control points
on the curve (unlike B-splines), with tension and bias control.  What
does this mean, it means that complex objects (with organic curves) like
faces and muscle-bound chests etc. are much easier to make.  And since
they are made out of true curves, closeup shots don't reveal unsightly
polygon edges. :-)  It also means that objects take up much less disk
space, and memory.

For motion control, there are two level, relative and absolute motion.
Relative motion is for character motions like walks, jumps and is handled
by the Action module.  It does 3 kinds of motion, skeletal actions, 
muscle morphs, and spine morphs (which can be combined).  And, in 
Version 1.1 (which is now shipping), are controlled by channels (time graphs)
and not keyframes.  In plain English, this means that you can bend, twist,
and morph with very smooth and natural motion control.  For absolute
motion, the Direction module is used to set up the final animation.
It uses spline based paths, also with channel control (instead of keyframes).
In short, Journeyman goes beyond what you can do with simple keyframed
animation.

> ._.  Udo Schuermann        "How is American beer similar to making love in
> ( )  walrus@wam.umd.edu    a canoe?" -- "Both are f***ing close to water."


-- 
    //    -Ken Baer.  Programmer/Animator, Hash Enterprises / Earthling
  \X/     Usenet: baer@qiclab.UUCP  or  PLink: KEN BAER
         "What?!? Sore again?" -- Bugs Bunny to Yosemity Sam