CompuServe Messages

Well, thanks Jonas. When I first spotted your waiting message I thought it was going to say "Don't upload stuff like this" or something (which is why I posted the final disclaimer). I think someone could come up with a very useful IPAS similar to what I generalized on in my "Need IPAS Help" thread as it relates to this and many other similar projects. (One last plug to try to get someone to do it) Actually, the final work for the client didn't use the Spurt/Glow/Blur technique as I previously explained and was pretty boring as well. It was a purely technical animation, period. My IPAS final work (for my own curiosity) was just a knock-off of that. Neither were in flic format, but renedered to analog component tape. W/R/T the SIGGRAPH reel: I don't know anything about it. Could you give me details ? Actually, there is a personal project that I've just started which, if ever finished or to my satisfaction, I would be interested in submitting as most all of the quality/creative work I've produced in the last several years has been owned by the client and therefore unavailable for demo reels, contests, etc.. While I originally created the concept, characters, SB's, crude timing, etc. on my own time using my employer's (at that time) SGI and NURBS / Parametric Rendering S/W, I decided to TRY to create and render this piece when I got the R3 update; especially as a vehicle to FORCE me to attempt to become more familiar / proficient with 3DS. I'm finally convinced now that 3DS is the software to commit my personal time to on the PC platform, especially with all this IPAS 3 talk. It's VERY difficult for me going back to polygonal – based modeling/animation/rendering though. The most challenging part of attempting this anim in 3DS (other than the fact I'm still very much learning this particular program), is that it is a character animation piece, probably would exceed 200k faces, and the intricate timing would require 100's of Keyframes (not frames – KF's !). Basically, it's a Rube Goldberg styled countdown machine for my personal demo reel I'm starting (haven't done one in years) which has LOTS of things going on and will require 4-5 VP layers. Anyway, tell me about the SIGGRAPH reel, and if there is any chance of completing this in time (and if I can do it in 3DS), I would love to submit it – it's really different from most typical PC anims. B/T/W – In my personal studio, I master to MII (yes, I'm different). Panasonic AU-665 fed by AT-Vista at 756×486. My experience has shown that a good dub to Beta SP looks as good if not better than mastering to Beta SP (boy, I know I going to catch a lot of flack on that statement). Do you accept MII format ? Anyway, I'm very sorry for the length of this document (I am just now coming out of my shell from several years of not talking to many industry people, so I tend to go overboard) and I look foward to your reply. Regards, Bill p.s. – speaking of going overboard talking, I'm kinda' new at this communications thing too. I'm using the CS 800 number access at 14.4k, and I've been shocked the last couple of months to learn that I'm apparently paying about $25 – 30 / hr. total for access time here ! Is there a better way ? THANKS