#Release 2 Raytracing?
15 messages in this thread
3DS output resolution is only limited by the size of your hard disk.
– Jack
Jack,
All I know is that one of our users (who uses BIG D, 3DS, and
AutoShade/RenderMan extensively) told me he could not render anything in
3DS with a resolution greater than about 1600 pixels due to hard disk
requirements. Since he is a power user, I am sure he had at least 100+ MB
free disk space so something other than the image file itself (maybe shadow
maps?) is taking up a lot of disk space. He claimed that rendering anything
above 2K resolution (while possible) is just not practical. So I'd be
interested to know just what the hard disk requirements would be for a
typical 4K x 4K image.
Dennis Bragg
Gary can answer that better than I can. There's a file about memory usage
in one of the libraries here that details which 3DS elements use up memory.
At a guess, I'd say that your user has left the Save-Last-Image parameter
On, which forces 3DS to store a HUGE image file on disk while attempting to
render.
– J
We've frequently rendered with 3DS 1 & 2 to 3000×2000 resolution for slides
and even at 4096×2640 for print seperations.
It works great!! You do require a fair bit of memory or hard drive paging
space. 100 megs should probably cut it depending on the model geometry,
and the other settings in 3DS.
-Jeff
Jeff,
Thanks for the info. I can see that high resolution rendering with 3DS is
doable as long as you have plenty of free disk space.
Dennis Bragg
I hope that this question does not seem too dumb to answer. You say that
you make 3000×2000 images using 3DS and that is impressive. But my
question is about making hard copy with those images. Before you output
these images to a device, do you gamma correct them? Or do you make them
what they should be right in 3DS? I would like to make fairly large color
prints and am interested in knowing if any post-processing is really
required for best results (or even good results). Thanks for any comments.
Hi Albert… Fancy meeting you here (heard from Steve Kennedy lately?)
Regarding the hard copy images from 3DS, the easiest way is to send your
lower rez tgas to any service bureau (I use Image Center in Roanoake VA).
They always rescale the image for 35mm output. It's usually WYSIWYG.
If your looking for Iris prints, etc… There was a note about another
service bureau a few threads back.
The best device independent color I've seen to date, has been from
ColorRepro, Inc. in Bainbridge Island WA. Colin Relph operates the lab
there and produces most all of the artwork and adverts you see for Aldus
PhotoStyler. If you want color seps for print reproduction (for mass
production printing of your images) this is the place to head. I've seen
the same image reproduced on an Iris printer, a dye-sub printer, a 3M match
print proof and on paper (in the magazine adverts). Each image, regardless
of output device, was * exactly * on the money from each device.
His color correction and gamma procedures rival the expert color systems
from Hell, Dupont and Kodak. The address is:
Colin Relph Color Repro, Inc. 8280 NE Baker Hill Bainbridge Island, WA
98110
– Greg
Albert, we use 3000×2000 TGA files directly out of 3DS. We typically take
a second look at the image in Photostyler, then send it to the imaging
bureau we use. We have them image the TGA files to negative film, instead
of slide film. The negatives are then processed and printed typically to
8×10's.
Many of our clients don't care about having actual "slides", so imaging to
negatives is a cheaper (and better quality) method of making prints.
-Jeff
Jeff,
Could you remind me what imaging bureau you're using for .TGA files?
Most of those I know only do slides, not negs.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Kevin,
I've had (and seen) excellent results from the following imaging labs:
F&S Inc., 1019 14th St., PO Box 748, Columbus, GA 31901 (404)324-6308 Image
Center, 1011 Second St., Roanoake VA 24016 (800)433-8829
Contact Fred Morgan at F&S and ask to see their * gorgeous * B size color
seps from TGA files. They are awesome. This company specializes in 150 line
screen 3M match print proofs. You'll have to see them.
Contact Bill Poff or Anne Claire at Image Center. They not only do 35mm
slides but also 4×5 transparencies, as well as Canon color proofs (up to
wallpaper sizes). Excellent stuff all the way around. – greg
Kevin, we're in Canada, so I don't know if you're really interested….the
place is in Winnipeg.
They're using a QCR-Z. I kind of figured almost any slide imager could
just replace the slide film with a suitable negative film….seems to work
well here.
-Jeff
Kevin,
I know of one in Irvine, CA, called (aptly) Irvine Photo Graphics
which will do .tga to negative or slides. They seem to have the latest and
greatest equipment and are always extremely busy. I suggest putting them in
your Rolodex for all your Orange County customers:
Irvine Photo Graphics
17851 Skypark, suite G
IRVINE CA 92714
(714)261-8777
Thanks, Martin. Since we primarily cover an area from San Diego through
about San Luis Obispo, any info about services local to our customer base
is appreciated. BTW, if you know of any service bureaus interested in
offering Tektronix Phaser III output for their customers, we've instituted
an attractive program for them.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates