CompuServe Thread

#High End 3D Users

8 messages in this thread
#17026From: SyndesisMay 26, 1990 9:20 PM
Syndesis Corporation would like to talk to Amiga 3D users familiar with the following 3D modeling products: Wavefront, and its ".obj" format Digital Arts, and its "AOB" format Super 3D for the Macintosh, and its display list format CAD-3D for the Atari ST AutoCAD and its DXF format QRT ray tracer Please respond in Easyplex. We're seeking ideas, suggestions and potential users of InterChange converters for these file formats.
#17029From: ASDGMay 27, 1990 12:44 AM
And we'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has access to the image file (not the object file) specifications used in these packages.
#17036From: SyndesisMay 27, 1990 5:51 PM
I do have the Wavefront image file format docs here… plus the latest Targa toolkit.
#17083From: Christopher R. HertelMay 31, 1990 12:48 PM
Just another idea… I would like to have the ability to convert files from several design packages (like the ones you listed) into ProDraw structured clip art. In fact, I would like to see GD (expand that abbreviation as you like) publish the specs for the structured drawings. That way I could design my artwork using my favorite tool and just transfer it in to ProDraw (for touchups) or ProPage (for printing). If InterChange can do any of that, please let me know.
#17093From: SyndesisMay 31, 1990 11:25 PM
Using the modules that come with InterFont, you can convert a 3D object to a 2D drawing, in Pro Draw and Aegis Draw format. You get the view of the object you see in the Sculpt North tri-view window. A simple depth sort is done, which gives the same quality of results as Sculpt's Sketch mode, or VideoScape's simplest modes. No shading is done. For an example of this, check out the data library in this section.
#17094From: Christopher R. HertelJun 1, 1990 12:00 AM
Thanks John! Sounds great! By the way: Check your Email. By the way #2: I sent a letter to Bob Tolly outlining some of the things that we have been talking about here RE: TSSnet, plus some other ideas. By the way #3: Is there any difference in the strucured graphic data format between Pro Draw 1.x and 2.0? If so, do you handle it? Other than Sculpt nD and VideoScape, what design programs can you convert from. Any possibility you could convert encapsulated PostScript graphics into ProDraw? By the way #4: Any chance that you could come up with a tool that would appoximate a high-contrast bitmapped graphic in ProDraw format? I have this company logo, see, and I've digitized in in black and white… By the way #5: Ever notice that I have more wonderful, fun ideas than I have programs that DO the things I want done?! As long as we can both laugh at it…. Chris -)—–
#17127From: SyndesisJun 3, 1990 2:22 PM
I haven't seen Pro Draw 2.0 yet, but Gold Disk programmers have told me that it does have a different clip art format. Unfortunately, they haven't detailed it yet for me. (Last time, when they released Pro Draw 1.0, they hadn't ever documented the format. I had to figure out a good part of it myself, and then spent hours on the phone questioning out the rest.) As for other formats, yes, there are currently 85 subdirectories in my development directory, and not all of them deal with our current products. There are other interesting drawing formats I've worked on over the past few years, but I've got to be driven by the market, not just what six people think would be really cool. Especially when those six people want to beta test, or would end up getting a free or review copy anyways. 🙁 If you buy Gold Disk's clip art disk, it comes with a tool that will render the graphic as a bitmap of any size, then save it as IFF. I thought this would be a central part of any drawing program, but they unbundled it and hid it under a bushel basket. See my recent Compute column on the subject. You can always do a screen grab, too.
#17150From: Christopher R. HertelJun 4, 1990 5:49 PM
John, Yes, familiar with ClipMap. I thought it should be part of the product too. I will have to look into InterFont… No, I don't need to be a beta tester. I am doing enough work writing up comments on released products as it is. The last thing I need is more Amiga software that goes GURU when I'm trying to show off! Chris -)—–