Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!ufqtp!sutherla
From: sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: RenderMan Standard
Keywords: RenderMan
Message-ID: <488@orange6.qtp.ufl.edu>
Date: 4 Apr 89 15:58:11 GMT
Reply-To: sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland)
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Florida Quantum Theory Project
Lines: 66


	There was some discussion about 8 months ago on comp.graphics on
something referred to as the RenderMan interface developed by Pixar. It
was described as an interface between solid modeling programs and rendering
programs. Some details were given as to what is covered were disclosed. I 
essentially blew it off at the time.
	Now, in the graphics supplement of the April issue of BYTE, 
following the poor representation of the Amiga (including non-Amiga (e.g.,
IBM 4-color) pics credited to the Amiga and the worst ray-tracing pic I've
seen to date on the cover), is a GOOD article detailing the RenderMan 
interface. At first I was skeptical and felt, since it was covered in
BYTE, that it would be another IBM biased article. I was wrong.
	After reading this article, my toes started to tingle and I got this
excited feeling inside. I thought, "this is exactly what the Amiga 3-d
graphics modelling and animation community needs"! We have an IFF standard,
and an SMUS standard. What the 3-D community has not had is a consistent
interface for all the diverse 3-D modelling and rendering packages available
today. Each object format is different, since most modellers are associated
with a specific renderer, and none of them are directly compatible. One 
valiant attempt to cure this plague is Syndesis' Interchange. While this
program is a must for anyone using more than one modeling package, it is 
NOT a standard, it is simply a vehicle for converting one format to another.
This essentially accomplishes the same goal as the Renderman interface; to
allow the user to integrate the "best" modeler for his/her purpose with the
"best" renderer for the project at hand. However, Interchange is NOT perfect
and a new module must be written for each new product that comes out.
	What Pixar is trying to do with Renderman (as is described in the 
BYTE article) is to set a standard which will allow objects to be given
attributes which surpass even the most advanced hardware available today. 
This way, as new technology is developed, it will be able to use the same
standard. Thus, an object can be given all the attributes desired and 
ported to any renderer.A given piece of software, such as Sculpt-Animate,
would only use those attributes which it is capable of rendering. For 
instance, a sphere is defined to be quartz and have a "roughened" surface.
SA would ignore the refraction information and the texture mapping, whereas
Turbo Silver would be able to use both of these. Videoscape 3D would 
interpret the quartz as a transparent "color" but ignore the index of 
refraction and texture data. 
	The major software developers (Byte-by-Byte, AEGIS, and others) got
together to agree on an ANIM standard (although the players are as different
as snowflakes). So why can't Byte-by-Byte (SA-3/4D), AEGIS (V3D/Modeller),
Impulse (TurboSilver), Hash Enterprises (Animator Series), the Forms in 
Flight II people (name?), Octree (Caligari) and all the others get together
and accept the RenderMan interface as THE IDEAL 3D graphics interface for
the Amiga, the premiere modeling personal computer? This would, in my humble
opinion, be a major step for the Amiga to gain more respect from the 
general computer community. And we would be in some impressive company. 
According to the comp.graphics article, companies already endorsing the 
RenderMan interface include: Apollo, Ardent, DEC, MIPS Computer Systems, 
NeXT, Prime, Stellar Computer, Sun Microsystems, Sympolics Graphics Div.,
Alias Research, Autodesk, Digital Arts, Intelligent Light, Synthesis 
Software Solutions, Industrial Light & Magic, Pacific Data Images, 
R/Greenberg Associates, Thke Analytic Sciences Corporatin, and Walt Disney
Corporation. Although I am only familiar with a few of these names, the
ones I do know about are BIG (e.g., IL&M, Disney, Apollo, SUN). 
	I would like to know the opinions of other, more knowledgeable
persons than I (Chuck M., Leo S., and others). I wouldn't mind EMAIL 
responses, but I feel that this is a topic important enough for all to 
follow. 
	One last word. If this standard is implemented for the Amiga, 
transition to the new Commodore and Impulse graphics enhancement cards
would be almost painless!

					Thanks,

						Scott