This is an archive of CompuServe forum messages from 1985 to 1995, as saved in transcripts by John Foust.
Search Results (129 messages)
Charles, I'm glad you got it solved! I was getting worried for a minute there . Jim Jonah
Charles, So… the PMac wins!!!! (this time ). I'm glad you got it solved, don't you just hate that 8.3 file name business? I feel for that one myself a few times :). Jim Jonah
Charles, Your results are just not consistant with mine, and others, tests. You said, on the PC, that you a .fli file, was that at 640x 480 or 320 x200? It would be fairer to render on both machine to the same settings. Did you create these files on the…
Rico, I am a BIG fan of A:M. It allows me to work in ways that previous to finding this program, I would have had to spend $45,000 dollars on an SGI with Alias. To me, ALL programs have quirks in the interface, that is just part of working with…
Charles, What files formats were you using both for saving AND importantly, for your maps? Were your maps 24-bit? (Steve, are your PC programmers using assembly were Ken isn't on the Mac? This is a huge time difference, not in line with all published specs on Mac/PC performance.) thanks, Jim…
Lee, No A:M book, I was talking to Elsby about a traditional animation book by Tony White that shows the necessary keyframes for such things as running, walking, talking, etc… She tried to find the book, but was told that it is out of print. Sorry! Jim Jonah
Elsby, >> The CD project I feel is slipping away. Things are very difficult at the moment but I'm keeping my smiles :- )
Charles, >> Did you mean all 30 frames renders in 1:05 on your PMac? 😮
Elsby, >> As I said its fine but are you saying it would be slowing the Mac down. I should take the card out & connect to the 7100's video?
Charles, Yes, there are some primitives posted here. Jim
Steve, I always turn off the rendering display when rendering ;). Can Ken add a feature on to not allow background events (users controllable of course) while rendering, on the Pmac version? Please? There would then be no wasted CPU cycles. Usually when I'm rendering, that is the only thing…
Hanspeter, Yes, A:Ms way of dealing with file management tripped me up at first. BUT, since the files are text based, I was able to go into them and change file and folder names so that I didn't have to redo all of my animation. You really should look through…
Elsby, I'm sorry to hear about the book being out of print, thats wierd, I just bought it right before I recommended it to you. If you wish, I could copy some of the pages for you! No I haven't seen your pleas elsewhere, didn't someone come to your rescue?…
Charles, What object is your Map applied to? Some of the primitives on CIS don't render correctly when maps are applied to them! (I keep meaning to upload some of mine ). The cube with an X though it doesn't work right on the X side, and the circle has…
Hi Dejan, On the Mac A:M, both command-z and u undo, and, if memory serves me right, its that way under Windows. Doesn't AutoCad use similar single keys commands? While the standard is two-key hot keys, more and more programs are adding single key hot key, (Premiere, Photoshop for two).…
Adam, I agree with you about the A:M interface. After using Macromodel/StratStudioPro, etc… A:M just makes more sense. I think there interface violations are far less than it seems, some simple(?!) fixes would have stops the bickering. (i.e. when tabbing into a field, highlight the values already in that field.…
Hi Elsby, How are you! I'm sorry to see (hear?) that you haven't concurred A:M yet :(. It took me a while, (I'm still learning tricks!) but, IMO, the result is worth it. Hang in there and ask away! Jim Jonah
Charles, The non-AV Pmacs have a High Performance Video display card in the PDS (processor direct slot). This card comes with 2megs of VRAM which can be upgraded to 4 megs for about $135 to drive a 21" monitor at millions of colors. The card is AS FAST as a…
Grady, I just DL'd your materials, Thanks for posting them!! I am already using them, with success! Have you experimented with the deeper areas of Material (i.e. moving over time, attempting water, etc..) The SKY.MAT on CIS is excellent! Thanks again, JIm Jonah
Charles, Try rendering the clam.cho at 640 x 480 targa, no optimized color, no show screen. On my PMac 8100/100 non-av 32 megs ram using the PDS Video Card (w/ the 2 meg upgrade) to drive a 21" NEC Monitor, this file rendered in 1:05 compared to 2:10 (about) on…
Pawel, I just tried a trick I learned over on AOL using the same map for transparency and ambiance to create a visible light source. The map was a gradation from a light gray to black, saved as a Pict file, and everything worked perfectly for me. Your "black/background" color…
Hanspeter, PMFJI, I missed the beginning of this thread, but from your last message it sounds like you had problems with overlapping transparent objects. Have you tried using the cookie cutter and the transparency maps to eliminate unwanted parts of the transparent object? On the fog issue, again have you…
Michael, I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but… In action, with you character loaded and in its starting position, save a set of actions you could call "hold.ske". Then in direction, load this action first for the character that will be delayed. You can then specify the…
Michael, My limited experience with figure substitution worked for me when I did the following: 1. Have a figure that has the ghosts (a) 2. Have a figure that has the ghosts renamed to the new figures (b) 3. Have each of the new figures (c). 4. Animate the new…
Michael, I agree that shadows would help Reboot from looking too computerish, also (as my wife pointed out), so would some depth of field ("everything is in focus…") and even some haze in the distance. Of course, we know this would have killed their making the deadlines for the first…
Michael, What network/channel is showing Transformers? Have you seen Reboot? What do you think of that show (ABC Saturday Mornings in Michigan)? Jim
Pawel, From what I've read, multi-processor Macs will happen, but not until at least system 8.0. I can't wait! Jim
Steve, >>It so happens that field rendering is, ahh…. busted on the Powermac…
Robb, I have come to the realization that the faster the computer, the more I'll use transparancies and reflections! So, a render farm will probably always be the way to go! Happy Holidays! Jim
John, The review of PS on different platforms was for version 2.5. Don't forget that the PowerMac version 2.5 was running in emulation. V3.0 is also much faster, FWIW. All that really means is I now am working with larger files, files for video resolution are very fast to work…
Steve, I just reread the Premiere manual on this, Premiere is calling it "field 1" or "field 2" and states that the Radius board VideoVisionStudio requires "field 1". It looks like I interpreted this wrong. Maybe "field 1" is the first field being rendered (zero, upper) and "field 2" is…
Robb, >>What is the configuration of your equipment, RAM, SPEED, VIDEO Board/BUS, etc.? This would help me with my next purchase decision.
Pawel, Thanks for running the tests, it will help me with my next purchase! I hope you get your video card problems worked out soon, its no fun having a new toy not work correctly! Jim
Steve, Would you consider the lower field to be odd or even. That is how premiere specifics which field is rendered first. Not have a large video background, I am under the impression that the Odd field should be rendered first, is that true? Thanks, Jim
Pawel, I'm sorry to hear about your DOS/Pentium problems! I'm mainly a Mac guy who knows enough about DOS to be dangerous . Jim
#Particle FX
Message #2520
Michael, A month ago or so you offered to render some test files on your P90, if you could be so kind as to render the clam.cho file that comes with A:M, and let me know the timings, that would help me alot! Since everyone has this file, it is…
#Field Rendering
Message #2519
Hi, Does A:M render odd fields first or even fields? Thanks, Jim Jonah
Elsby, I know that I have used 5-bit pcxs as templates successfully. OH YEAH! Remember this program is designed to be a cross-platform app, so do not use SPACES or any character other than a letter or a number in the files AND folder names. This tripped me up several…
Hi, there is a shareware app somewhere on CIS called ZipIt! Search the Mac file finder! Jim Jonah
Hi Elsby, Welcome to Hash Land ! Even though A:M claims Pict and PCX, Targas work best. I have been successful using 8-bit picts and PCXs, but was told that targas are faster and they work in 24-bit, so targa it is! Jim
Bre, Thanks for the P90 rendering numbers. Your hood ornament "Godess" sounds interesting! Was the motion-blur the default (16-pass) or was it the 9-pass (-a3 switch in render24)? Also, were these DOS times or Windows times? When I tried the 16-pass, the individual frames didn't look great, but the 9-pass…
Bre, I would definately be interested in your 9-pass motion blur tests, and even 640 x480 Photo/antialias in render24! I just finished a small project that I used the motion blur on to simulate slow-motion. The results were GREAT! I had the action happen quickly in direction so there was…
#1335-
YARC Boards
Message #1359
John, Greg Patton (GrPatton) on AOL has written a utility that converts DXFs to SEGs. The utility is in Hashes forum on CIS. Maybe you could incorporate gregs utility into your conversion program. I would LOVE to buy 3D clip that could be used in Animation Master efficiently. Hope this…
Pawel, Thanks for the Haze numbers, it makes sense! I hope your P90 just flies! . Jim Jonah
Pawel, I just found this in another forum, thought you might find it interesting, or depressing 🙁 >>Here's another way to check you numeric processor for those of you who don't own SPSS: If you are running Windows, you can test your Pentium chip using the Calculator in the Windows…
Hartmut, Great! If you do have problems, ask away, there are several users who seem to always be available and willing to help! Have fun! Jim Jonah
Pawel, Thanks for the numbers on the Camera Haze. Just curious, do you know what the numbers stand for? Percentage, pixels, etc…? Also, just curious, do you think that the Pentium "division" bug will affect A:M renderings? Even though I love modeling and animating on the Mac, I am seriously…
#Particle FX
Message #2046
– Reply to message #2038 (already scrolled) Pawel, Yes, if there are no other apps running, the rendering will be faster. BUT, the Mac, and Windows, are cooperative multi-tasking environments. Most programs have a main loop running, every x times through the loop, Mac programs should call the "GetNextEvent" (if…
Pawel, >>There might be an exception to it… It is Windows that can see more than 32 megs of Ram
Charles, I'm a PowerMac user who also owns some 486s. A:M is fast on both platforms! Its screen redraw is interuptable and the way it works when zooming or rotating by only drawing the points, not the lines, is unique and a GREAT feature. The PowerMac version is pretty stable,…
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