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From: keith@actrix.gen.nz (Keith Stewart)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics
Subject: Re: Vista Pro
Message-ID: <1991Mar15.044446.25414@actrix.gen.nz>
Date: 15 Mar 91 06:31:56 GMT
Lines: 47
Comment-To: ECZ5ACK@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU

Organization: Actrix Information Exchange, Wellington, New Zealand
References: <9103122134.AA12910@lilac.berkeley.edu>
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 91 04:44:46 GMT
In article <9103122134.AA12910@lilac.berkeley.edu>
ECZ5ACK@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU (Andy Kohler) writes:
> I'd like some information about Vista Pro.  I own the original Vista,
> and I'm not impressed by the quality of the images (the little
polygons
> are too visible).  Now I've seen ads for Vista Pro, claiming (among
> other things) no more little polygons.  Could someone who has used
> both comment on the improvements in Vista Pro?  Also, how much memory
> is required to use Vista Pro - I think I heard 3 megs somewhere, but
> I want to be sure.
> 
> Thanks for any information.
> 
> Andy Kohler
> ecz5ack@mvs.oac.ucla.edu  or  ecz5ack@UCLAMVS
 
 
I have VISTAPRO (PAL version) and there has been big changes from the
original VISTA. 
"no more little polygons"
The manual says there are three methods to overcome "fat polys"
-  Use Zoom function which now allows you to set angles
-  Select higher camera altitude
-  Use Gourand shading THIS IS NEW TO VISTAPRO. It blends the edges of
the polygons witheach other eliminating the sharo colour change.
It does however make the picture more artistic.
As to the little polygons Gourand shading gets rid if them.
There is much more control over the elements on the rendering in VISTA.
The files can be saved a IFF 24 bit files The picture can also be saved
as RGB to use in SA4D.
You can save the landscape as a Turbo Silver Object file. This realy
uses memory!!!!!!!
All the functions have been improved i.e The script function now allows
for preview and allows you not only to save rendering as IFF individual
pics but a special format called VANIM which allows animations to be
rendered limited only by hard disk space. However playback is a bit slow
(a 2630 board helps though) 
I upgraded to this from VISTA and it was one of the best upgrades I have
ever done. 
You need 3 meg RAM for NTSC and 3.5 meg for PAL. (I have 5 meg and PAL)
The people at Virtual Reality are excellent at support. I found a small
bug in the PAL version and their response was immediate.
Email me if you have any specific questions.
Keith