CompuServe Messages

Something unexplainable (at least by me!)- I am running Acad r12 c2, AME extension r2.1, Animator Pro v.1.3, and 3D Studio V. 2.1a (am waiting for v3). I run a 486-33 clone w/ 32 MB memory, Dos 6, Qemm 7.01, Stacker 3.1. I usually would dxfout from AME the individual layers, intenting to make individual objects. The two objects that seem to have run into some kind of conflict are the building and the glass. I usually will map and render individual objects (using the same lighting and cameras), and then make a "composite" mesh of the individual mesh files. When I did this the glass quit reflecting. I knew (and verified) that the glass was indeed reflecting properly (i.e. I did map the Automatic reflection map to the outside set of faces of the glass solid). It was only when I composited the individual mesh files would I lose the reflection. Sometimes the reflection would partially work, but usually a part or all of it would just be black. I had a mapped sky dome merged with the glass object to verify the reflection. After investigation, I fould out that when the building solid was merged, that was when the problem began. when I hid the building, it rendered fine. The building solid has recesses in it for the windows (subtracted solids to make window "sockets"). I know and verified that the glass did not intersect in any way with the building solid; the window frame is even inset a bit, and the glass sets in the frame. The window "socket" is recessed 12"; the window frame inset 8"; there is overhang, but no connection. BTW, the glass and window frame render fine together, and the glass is centered 3 dimensionally in the window frame. I had a series of spot lights in the scene to highlight areas, etc., and two cameras. I know this is weird, but I cant explain it, and I thought maybe there is somebody who can. BTW, I ended up just mapping to the glass the same map I used for the sky dome; It pulled off the illusion OK, but I would have preferred to have reflections of other objects in the scene.