CompuServe Messages

<<Is it possible to export DXF files in raw form as they were imported, and retain rectangular faces? It seems the triangular faces are added on import and remain when you export as either DXF or ASCII.>> In both the DXF files, as well as 3D Studio, Surface meshes are comprised of triangular faces. However, they might not appear triangular due to certain edges being invisible. When DXF'ing out of 3D Studio, any edge that is invisible should be maintained as invisible when you import it into another program. <<Another problem I have concerns rendering objects in 256 lowres for use as sprites. When rendered with ANTIALIAS and SUPERBLACK on you get a blackoutline surrounding the sprite. >> Here is an excerpt from another problem that might be able to be adapted to meet your needs: Q. I am using video post to key an animation (.FLC file) over a background, and the edges of the animation are harsh and jaggy. Ive heard there is a way to soften those edges using Alpha channels. Can you explain this technique? A. Sure. What you are going to create for your alpha channel is a greyscale mask with anti-aliased edges. I prefer to use Animator Pro to create this mask. Bring your .FLC file into Animator Pro and make the background the same color as your key color. (The default for this key color is 0,0,0.) Clip the entire animation as an animated cel over time. You do this by turning on the "T" button on the control panel, and then selecting Cel/Clip from the pull down menu. Now make white your current color and do a one color paste of your entire Flic file. You can toggle the one color option by pressing "1" on your keyboard. Alternatively, select Cel/Anim Cel from the pull down menu, and then turn on One Color in the options pull down menu. Return to the home menu and select Paste from the Cel pull down menu. Since time is turned on, you will paste a solid white version of your entire flic on top of the original. Make sure that you do not shift the image at all during the paste operation. Now use either the Soften or Unzag tool to soften all the edges of every frame. ( With the time button active, select Soften or Unzag as your current tool, and then select Apply Ink from the Pic pull down menu. Choosing Render from the time dialogue box will apply your selected ink to the entire flic file. ) The resulting .FLC file will become your alpha channel. Select the .FLC file you created as an RGB mask in the video post alpha channel column and render.