CompuServe Messages

Hi Jim, I'm new to this conference (found out about it from a Visual Software mailer I received last week) but have been using Renderize-VR for about a year now. I am also an industrial designer, working for a corporation, and have had fantastic luck using VR as a rendering and visualizing tool. I make extensive use of the feature in VR that allows you to import .STL files. This file format is used by Stereo Lithography, a computer driven modeling technology and is widely supported among almost all solid modelers. I create design concepts in a solid modeler (ProEngineer) and output fantastic poliginal files that can be easily imported into VR. Since I work for a computer company (Digital Equipment Corporation) I'm producing renderings of server and PC related products. We output 2000×1700 tif files and send them off to a production house that prints them on an IRIS color printer. Product managers become our slaves when they see these renderings and will do anything to get their hands on them. I E-mail .bmp files to people involved with the project so they can pull them up in windows. Would love to upload them to give you a look but the products are not yet on the market. I try to keep things simple as far as textures and materials go because we need to draw all the attention to the product design and form instead of the environment. I do use the "decal" function to put on text and logos but would love to let it rip someday with all the great texture and bump map features of VR. I would be interested in how you are using the tool in your design process and what kind of products you are involved in developing. I also look forward to taking advantage of this conference. Bernie Maurer