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From: drtiller@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Donald Richard Tillery Jr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Imagine raves (long)
Keywords: imagine 3d raytrace render review potatoes
Message-ID: <1991Jan4.003646.9825@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu>
Date: 4 Jan 91 00:36:46 GMT
References: <1990Dec31.102729.16901@athena.mit.edu>
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Lines: 55

In a message From: spworley@athena.mit.edu (Spaceman Spiff)

[Interesting review omitted]

>              The Form Editor is a bit strange, and I don't know why it exists.
>              Yes, I'll use it to build asteroids, but what else?

Vases, lightbulbs, plates, cookies, jars, glasses, etc., etc., anything that
is symetrical (or even that isn't) is easiest to create the basic shape in
the Forms editor first and then massage it in the Detail editor.

>Small bugs:   Loads. Only one guru, but I was mega-tasking, and it could have
>              been another program. Small bugs abound, though. After you view 
>              a picture, DO NOT PRESS A MOUSE BUTTON TO ESCAPE! Why? It will
>              freeze Imagine (but not hang the machine). If you do this during
>              a looping anim, YOU MUST REBOOT TO ESCAPE! 

You don't HAVE to reboot to stop the anim.  You must hit Amiga-M while clicking
to cause the Imagine window to be selected and then just hit escape.  A major
pain I admit, but not quite as bad as all that (Ctrl-A-A).

>              I can't render glass! Transparency does not seem to work!!
>              It could be my fault, but I've tried LOTS of stuff, filter maps,
>              ambient light, index of refraction, using full raytrace (which
>              is essential) playing with reflection, putting light sources 
>              everywhere- but nothing. I cannot see through anything. I've
>              got a 6M A3000, and Imagine & Imaginefp give identical results.
>              My friend's A2000 couldn't do it either. Any suggestions?

I have no problems with transparent objects (except that I object to the
rendering time-I have a full overscan 24 bit image that took almost 6 hours on
a 28Mhz 68030/68882).  Be sure to turn shininess all the way down!  If not the
object will not be transparent.  If that isn't your problem, let me know and
I'll work with you or send you a couple of my transparent objects.

>A warning: this program does not have a learning curve. It has
>a learning WALL. It is not pleasant like D-paint's "smiley face to colored
>smiley face to bouncing colored smileyface to stenciled animbrushed colored
>smileyface perspective" its all thown at you at once. Keep plugging. Read
>the tutorial through before you start, and read the reference manual each
>time you use a new command. I was VERY frustrated for a while, but its inherent
>in 3D design. I expect that SA4D or Lightwave are probably bad for the neophite
>as well. 

I agree, but the results have been well worth it so far and the improvement
over Turbo Silver is emmense!

>A closing suggestion: All us Imaginers should get together on a mailing 
>list! I'd love to swap techniques, questions, objects, ideas! If one
>doesn't exist already, we should make one!

Excellent idea.  Can we put stuff in ab20.larc.nasa.gov for sharing?


Rick Tillery (drtiller@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu)