CompuServe Messages

George, >>>I don't know of any 3D software that does not initially subdivide curved surfaces into facets. <….> If you don't mind me jumping in, but this is exactly how Animation:Master and Playmation from Hash, Inc work — with splines and patches. Their curves aren't maybe as easy to control as Bezier but there are no facets or flat surfaces in there at all (unles you want them flat and straight, of course) or the curve resolution issues — all are perfectly smooth, regardless of how close you get with the camera. Because of that, you don't ever have to worry about facet angles and smoothing setting — if there is any edge (even 175 deg. angle) it will render as such… (This sometimes drives me nuts in the traditional polygon based 3D rendering programs.) A:M & Playmation are the only programs that works that way that I know of, but there might be others… Hash, has a section on this forum, so you can find more from them on the subject if you are interested… Pawel