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From: kent@xanth.UUCP (Kent Paul Dolan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Amiga Rendering/Animation Software
Message-ID: <2175@xanth.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Aug-87 00:58:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: xanth.2175
Posted: Wed Aug 19 00:58:28 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Aug-87 06:42:45 EDT
References: <992@pixar.UUCP> <107@osupyr.UUCP>
Reply-To: kent@xanth.UUCP (Kent Paul Dolan)
Distribution: na
Organization: Old Dominion University, Norfolk Va.
Lines: 71
Keywords: models, aliasing
Summary: useful standard for solids modelling

In article <107@osupyr.UUCP> czei@osupyr.UUCP (Michael S Czeiszperger) writes:
>In article <992@pixar.UUCP> mp@pixar.UUCP (Mike Paquette) writes:
>>Does any of the current crop of Amiga animation and modeling
>>software support some form of machine-independent model 
>>representation?  I'm looking for some form of scene description
>>language [1] and geometric primitive support, such as patches,
>>meshes, or polygons.  
>>
>>This would let an animator whip up models and animation sequences
>>on the Amiga, and then take the resulting model and scene information
>>and feed it through a very high quality production rendering system
>>once the animation 'proofed' on the Amiga looks good.
>>
>
>At Ohio State University, the Computer Graphics Research Group is doing
>just that. [...]
>They currently are making a large investment toward developing   
>a standardized scene description language.  The project is known
>by the name ApE, although I can't remember what it stands for.  If
>you'd like more information contact cbosgd!osu-eddie!osu-cgrg!mark.
>

(Why, WHY am I trying to help someone at Pixar?!?  Oh, well:)

Mike,

Besides IGES (Initial Graphical Exchange Standard, or some such), of
which you're probably already aware, the following current new book
might be of interest to Pixar and to you as a way to get in on the
ground floor of some megabucks.  It is a (published softcover book
form of a) draft of an ISO (the international standards organization)
WG2 (working group 2) proposed standard, as best I can figure out.

	Research Reports
	ESPRIT Project 322.  CAD Interfaces (CAD*I).  Volume 1.
	Specification of a CAD*I Neutral File for Solids, Version 2.1
	Edited by E.G. Schlectendahl
	Copyright 1986, Springer-Verlag, Berlin and Heidelberg
	ISBN 3-540-16297-X
	ISBN 0-387-16927-X	(Why two ISBNs?)
	QA 76.27 .S67 1986  (Library callout)

From the jacket back:

"ESPRIT Project 322, 'CAD Interfaces', has been established to
define the most important interfaces in CAD/CAM systems for data
exchange, data base, finite element analysis, experimental analysis,
and advanced modelling.  The definitions of these interfaces are being
elaborated in harmony with international standardization efforts in
this field.

"The Project is to contribute to the compilation of European Know-how,
and to facilitate the application of CIM methods in industry on a
broad basis.  In this way, the European influence on international
standardization bodies is to be strengthened."

Replace "European" by "human" here, and my urge to upchuck at the
Jingoism would lessen considerably [ When are folks going to
understand that we all live on the same little blue rock? ], but still
it looks like a possible help for your needs or related to your needs.

By the way, this is a definite cure for insomnia, like all standards
documents. 

Kent, the man from xanth.
--
Kent Paul Dolan, LCDR, NOAA, Retired; ODU MSCS grad student	 // Yet
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USPost:  P.O. Box 1559, Norfolk, Virginia 23501-1559	     \// Amigan!
Voice :  (804) 587-7760    -=][> Last one to Ceres is a rotten egg! -=][>