CompuServe Messages

I read your previous note about the image lab – congratulations! I know all too well about technologically illiterate management <g>. But you're not using AutoCAD? I trust you must have some CAD package that reads/writes DXF. The biggest advantage for AutoCAD in the architectural community is its overwhelming use – from consultants to clients to vendors. Not having it on hand can cost a firm projects – and it is a good modelor for simple shapes that need to be very accurate (e.g. architecture!). For an architect, the Shaper and Lofter are most powerful when they use DXF shapes and paths. A Lofter DXF path insures that the mesh will allign with the rest of your DXF-imported mesh perfectly. The quick ability to loft gives many chances to experiment. For the model-mesh itself I can only speak of AutoCAD for DXF export. You no doubt have heard of Face Normal nightmares – don't worry, once you know the nuances you will rarely need to flip normals in 3DS. VistaPro – fascinating program, but its for terrain modeling/imaging and not for traditional model building. It creates images or, if you wish, VERY large DXF files. Aliging entities in the 3DE – yeah, this is tough. Remember that the Align command is aligning to the viewport's construction plane – it can be useful but I would hardly call it an accurate tool. Vertex snap – it's only availbale when you really don't need it <g>. If you need to make perfect alignments I'm afraid you are forced to zoom to the "invalid region" and make sure the vertices align (unless yu can weld them and just increase your weld threshold). A trick for centering objects on one another is to copy tracks in the keyframer. All in all, your best bet at making highly accurate models is to do it elsewhere (AutoCAD) and bring the model in. The models' origins match and you will be able to junp between the two programs without alignment problems fro as long as your project exists, changes, and evolves. Hope that helped a little,