Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!hplabs!well!ewhac
From: ewhac@well.UUCP (Leo L. Schwab)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: CAD 3D for the ST?
Message-ID: <4665@well.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Dec-87 06:29:03 EST
Article-I.D.: well.4665
Posted: Tue Dec  8 06:29:03 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Dec-87 11:15:09 EST
References: <1987Dec1.141501.13703@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> <609@aucs.UUCP> <35470@sun.uucp> <1246@vaxb.calgary.UUCP> <626@aucs.UUCP>
Reply-To: ewhac@well.UUCP (Leo 'Bols Ewhac' Schwab)
Distribution: na
Organization: Reality Distortion Enterprises
Lines: 51
Summary: Don't forget the Amiga, too.

In article <626@aucs.UUCP> 870646c@aucs.UUCP (barry comer) writes about
CAD-3D on the Atari ST.

	It should be pointed out that similar software packages exist for
the Amiga.  Among these are:

	o VideoScape 3D (Aegis)
	o Sculpt 3D (Byte by Byte)
	o Forms in Flight (<dunno>)
	o Silver (Impulse)
	o Photon (MicroIllusions [coming Real Soon Now])

	Sculpt and Silver are ray tracing packages.  VideoScape and FiF use
a polygonal shading model.  I've only see a short demo of Photon; I have no
idea what it is.

	It should also be pointed out that the Amiga's video (in general)
more closely conforms to the NTSC standard.  Or, to phrase it more
accurately, it's not as far off the NTSC standard as the ST.  Also, all of
the Amiga's video modes are NTSC compatible, and can be recorded directly
onto videotape (though it will look cruddy.  If you're serious, you'll have
to get a box to clean up the signal).  In addition, the Amiga is capable of
generating a full video (overscan) image.

	Because of the greater number of colors the Amiga has to work with,
images are noticeably better.  This is particularly important to remember if
you're using a polygonal shading model and more than, say, three colors.
Since Amiga has more color registers, shading of the objects will be
smoother.  VideoScape in particular performs dithering on the polygons, thus
increasing the number of perceived shades.  Amiga's HAM mode is also helpful
for generating smoothly shaded images.

	Admittedly, the user interfaces for these software packages is, in
my opinion, not as well developed as the interface for CAD-3D.  This is
being addressed, however, in the form of Modeller 3D (for VideoScape), and
InterChange, an object translation program which translates object
definition files between VideoScape, Sculpt, Forms in Flight, and even
CAD-3D.  Similar programs are sure to follow.

	If you wanted the ideal set-up, you would, of course, buy both
systems: the Atari for object creation, the Amiga for rendering.  (0.5 :-))

	I'm not trying to start a MCIBTYC war.  I'm simply pointing out that
other systems exist that warrant attention.  If I have made inaccurate
statements, please point them out to me in my mailbox.  Thank you.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Leo L. Schwab -- The Guy in The Cape	ihnp4!ptsfa -\
 \_ -_		Recumbent Bikes:	      dual ---> !{well,unicom}!ewhac
O----^o	      The Only Way To Fly.	      hplabs / (pronounced "AE-wack")
"Work FOR?  I don't work FOR anybody!  I'm just having fun."  -- The Doctor