Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!dorsai!parnoux
From: parnoux@dorsai.com (patrick arnoux)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: AT&T Pixel machine
Keywords: Pixel, software
Message-ID: <J0Vky1w163w@dorsai.com>
Date: 10 Mar 91 05:40:06 GMT
References: <12303@ur-cc.UUCP>
Organization: The Dorsai Diplomatic Mission
Lines: 23

gest_ss@troi.cc.rochester.edu (Gavin Stark) writes:

> 
> Question:
> 	Does anyone know if a front end for the RayLib package for the AT&T
> Pixel machine exists?  Or any other utilities that might be used with it?
> (i.e. using some other software and a conversion package to get images
> traced on the Pixel.)
> 

CAVSoftware in New York City has a renderer running on the Pixel Machine
which reads RIB files (RenderMan Interface Bytestream). The implementation
is fairly complete (Just read Steve Upstill's book, all the information
is there). But while it is possible to generate images from Dimension,
Macromind, Strata, Swivel, and most other modelers that output RIB, the
program cannot deal with "shader files". Pixar does not release the
format of the .slo files, therefore only a limited number of preset
shader types are built into the program. It's too bad, because the
Pixel Machine is a real screamer and images that render in hours
on other machines render in seconds or minutes, any image that
takes close to an hour is both HUGE! and COMPLEX!.
The machine is just the thing for animations.
                        Patrick Arnoux