Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!sdd.hp.com!think.com!mintaka!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!ubc-cs!sol.UVic.CA!csr!bcorrie From: bcorrie@csr (Brian Corrie) Newsgroups: comp.graphics Subject: Re: AT&T Pixel machine Keywords: Pixel, software, RenderMan Message-ID: Date: 11 Mar 91 17:59:54 GMT References: <12303@ur-cc.UUCP> Sender: news@sol.UVic.CA Organization: University of Victoria Lines: 42 Nntp-Posting-Host: csr.uvic.ca parnoux@dorsai.com (patrick arnoux) writes: >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 Can anyone fill me in on just what a .slo file is? I am playing/thinking about RenderMan and the shading language, but do not have access to any RenderMan renderers, so don't know how they work. Is the shading language interpreted at run/render time, or do they do dynamic loading of the shader descriptions some how, with the .slo files the executables for the shader???? I realize this will vary with the implementation, but some general ideas would be great, if you happen to use a RenderMan renderer that supports the shading language. >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 Thanks for any help you can throw my way.... Brian -- Brian Corrie, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. bcorrie@csr.uvic.ca Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, volume, humidity and other variables, the organism will do as it damn well pleases. Sounds like some of the code I have written......