CompuServe Messages

Richard, I used to think the same thing until I tried to work on some Viewpoint models. If you want anything with a lot of detail or realism, trying to work on a polygon model that has been converted to splines in AM is pointless. (I should say "pointed", considering the amount of control points there are in a detailed conversion.) There are supposed to be Boolean cutters added to AM in Version 3. If they also add a degree selection for Lathing and some lofting, the modeler will be extremely powerful. Also, over in the Autodesk forum, and in the forums for 3D images and animations both on Compuserve and AOL, too many of the users of AutoCad and 3D Studio and some of the users of other packages seem to be more interested in what you might call "posing". There is not a lot of attention paid to detail. Quality takes time, but too many users are more interested in cranking out images and anims to take the time to make them detailed or accurate. I've downloaded a number of .DXF files, images and anims just to check out what folks are doing with other things. I was so disappointed that I decided to create my own version of one of the most popular models that people upload – the TIE Fighter from Star Wars. I created a TIE and a TIE Interceptor and have uploaded a few images in the SF Fantasy Media Forum, and in the Graphics and Animation area on AOL. I got a lot of positive feedback, and even mild disbelief from a few 3DS and ACAD users for the fact that I used a spline modeler. The fact that there is not a lot of models available here the way there is in the ACAD forum is simply the fault of all of the participants here. If everyone took the time to create one simple commonplace object every 3-4 months and upload it for general use, it wouldn't take long for us to have a huge selection of objects. The drawback is that some people would refuse to contribute while availing themselves of others' contributions. Also, contributions would come from a wide variety of skill levels, and some objects would be more detailed and realistic than others, but you wouldn't find out until they were downloaded. Originally, I also wished for a polygon modeler added to AM, but I have since given that up. Hash wants to move AM into the future, and it is going to pay off big in the long run not to hang on to old technology. Besides, if they added a polygon modeler, how many of us would find it too tempting to use it instead of creating a spline model? I know there are times that I would, and that would take away from me developing my spline modeling skills. It may be a longer, harder road to travel at the moment, but I had to make the decision to use splines instead of polygons. Force yourself to give up polygons unless absolutely necessary, and in a while I think you won't really miss them at all. I know that I don't. Michael S. Flynn