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Path: utzoo!utgpu!utcsri!lslipp
From: lslipp@utcsri.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Standardized Polygon Mesh File Formats
Message-ID: <4750@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-May-87 16:12:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.4750
Posted: Thu May  7 16:12:58 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 8-May-87 06:05:18 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 48


Our lab is in the process of developing a standardized polygon-mesh
file format for our various modeling and rendering programs.
In our discussion, it was pointed out that relatively little
was known about polygon formats at other sites (Those mentioned:
MOVIE.BYU and the OFF format developed by R.J. Rost at DEC).


Since this topic is no doubt useful to many labs, we thought it
would be worthwhile to begin a discussion on the net.  Some of the 
areas we discussed were:

i.e.	- organization of vertex, edge and polygon data within a file,

	- amount of topological information maintained within 
	   the file as opposed to generation of that information
	   by the application program.

	- colour (should be able to specify: per vertex - for Gouraud shading,
			    per polygon, or per object)

	- normals (should be able to specify: per vertex - for Phong Shading,
			     or per polygon)

	- texture (should be able to specify: separate one for each polygon,
			     or one for the entire object)

	- hooks for future expansion

	- additional information


Our own discussion was quite free-wheeling, and we thought it
might be interesting to hear other views on this subject.



-- 

Leonard B. Slipp                  Dynamic Graphics Project
               			  Computer Systems Research Institute
(416) 978-6619			  University of Toronto
				  Toronto, Ontario, Canada
				  M5S 1A4

lslipp@toronto.CSNET
lslipp@csri.toronto.edu
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