CompuServe Thread

Kevin, You're on the money about the weird things in Imagine, and I'd have to agree with you about some of the programming choices being easier for the programmers than the end-users. But I really wasn't getting on a soapbox to defend any particular program. More to remind people that if they want to know why their nice "chrome" object doesn't look like chrome, they should consider all the parameters that come together in the rendering process (like, you need something to be reflected by your reflective object, and don't just accept someone else's idea of what "chrome" is!) But regarding some specifics: Impulse has done themselves a disservice by not improving the manual for the PC version. Let's face it, I like the soft- ware, but if you're trying to learn your first 3-D program, that particular manual s**ks. I've told people trying to teach themselves to buy a (2nd hand Amiga) copy of Sculpt 4D, and use that manual to learn with; I've always liked the "teaching" style of that documentation. >>Then<< get a more recent program (LW, Img., R3D, etc.) to do some serious animation. Or: 1) go to CalArts 2) go to Wavefront school 3) land a job working with SGI machines 4) find out what budgets and deadlines do to your desire and ability to finish that 12 minute independent project! Thank goodness for "itty-bitty" computers to play with (and the Eniac had 10,000 vacuum tubes, took more power than a Cray, and couldn't keep up with an HP programmable calculator today! Sheesh!)