CompuServe Messages

3DS or Strata ?

    17-Jan-93 07:45:31
Sb: #32342-3DS or Strata ?
Fm: Craig Sharp [Mem TM] 73417,2320
To: Roberto F. Lacambra 72727,2710
Michelle: Strata Vision is MUCH slower at handling large models on a Quadra 700 with a Radius Rocket than 3DS is on a 486/33 with 16Megs of memory (Don't know if a 900 makes much difference). Strata documentation sucks when compared to 3DS but they are helpful on the phone… Strata doesn't have a CIS forum, as far as I know. Strata will display your renderings in 16 million colors faster than 3DS will… but that is more or less meaningless if your primary goal is animation. Strata doesn't have IPAS, which is an interface that lets your write your own rendering and animation proceedures using 'C' or buy the latest and greatest hot ideas from third parties… the Yost group currently has what appears to be some excellent choices available for moving water, foilage, flames, etc… but I can't say for sure because I haven't seen them. Finally, the PC based equipment is available for less $. If Strata Vision starts supporting multiple processors and you have the bucks to put two in your Quadra, then things will begin to equalize very quickly in terms of performance. C#