Byte 3D articles
20 messages in this thread
I'm proud to announce that I've moved up the ladder of freelance writing with
the appearance of my first article in Byte magazine… it's in the July issue
in the "State of the Art" section, titled "3-D Steps Forward". It's on the
topics of OpenGL, VRML, Open Inventor, QuickDraw 3D, rapid renderers like
BRender, RenderMorphics and RenderWare, and finally the growing trend of
plug-ins. 3DS's IPAS gets a mention, natch.
Any questions, I'm all ears…
John,
congrats on your elevation to Byte contributor! I used to subscribe but there
wasn't enough relevant to me. I'll be sure to get a copy of July's issue,
though.
I've been a Byte subscriber since the days when the authors would include their
ham radio call signs in their by-line, and I must confess I agree…
sometimes, it sure seems like it's a "middle manager" kind of magazine. I
tried to keep that sort of reader in mind when I was working on this article.
I know my research helped focus my mind on the real-world relevance of the
topics I wrote about. For example, how OpenGL accelerator chips might benefit
3D programs in months to come.
John,
>> For example, how OpenGL accelerator chips might benefit 3D programs in
months to come. <<
quite right! I really hope so.
Congratulations, John. I'll be sure to grab a Byte when I see it. I always
learn from your writings.
Alec Jason
John:
Congratulations! I'll be checking that issue out as your topic sounds quite
interesting.
Bob
>> I'm proud to announce that I've moved up the ladder of freelance writing
with the appearance of my first article in Byte magazine… it's in the July
issue in the "State of the Art" section, titled "3-D Steps Forward". It's
on the topics of OpenGL, VRML, Open Inventor, QuickDraw 3D, rapid renderers
like BRender, RenderMorphics and RenderWare, and finally the growing trend
of plug- ins. 3DS's IPAS gets a mention, natch. <<
Congrats… I'll have to check it out. You, of all people, should have a
strong grasp on all the alternatives!
BTW, I heard that Byte's COMDEX runner-up award went to Lockheed-Martin's 3D
chipset.
– Dan / n-Space, Inc.
John,
< the appearance of my first article in Byte magazine.>
Great news. I hope you can revitalize the Byte content a little. I am
tired of reading articles centered around data management and net servers.
There is more to life!
Sanford
Sanford,
>> There is more to life! <<
Yeah like animation! animation! animation! 🙂
John
John,
<animation, animation!>
I will second that. I'm animating 7 days a week now, and I wish I had
another day available. It gets in the blood. When I finally get my par and a
huge hard drive, look for a looooong animated .FLC. Have you thought about
doing something like Noah's Arc with all the wire meshes on the Syndesis ROM?
I'd help if you are interested. Could be really wild with lots of IPAS's, etc.
Sanford
Sanford,
>> I'm animating 7 days a week now… <<
Yeah, I kinda figured. <g> >> It gets in the blood… << Yeah but so does tall
blondes with long legs, racing cars, cutting video, sailing (which is probably
the only thing that keeps me sane, the tall blondes definitely don't <g>) and a
few other things… and while I enjoy those things I don't spend anywhere near
as much time with them as I do this stuff… And believe it or not, I don't
actually look like a geek, even though being around these machines all the time
has probably turned me into one. <G>
I think those guys in Venice Beach have the right idea… plenty of
distractions, so maybe you could get away with only putting in 10 hours a
day… <g> The allure of those sleek racing forms on roller blades would pull
me away at least once in a while… <g>
>> Have you though about doing something like Noah's Arc with all the wire
meshes on the Syndesis ROM… <<
I'm not sure that kind of thing is my calling… I'm more into the graphics
logo stuff and abstract design of things… opens and ID's tags etc. I can do
character animation when I can relate to the characters but that's not often…
Fantasy Adventure games I can do, and some Sci FI stuff but animals are in a
totally different league, at least for me.
But I'm open to the idea of a joint entreprise on something… however now is
not a good time anyway. Contrary to popular perception about hanging out here,
I actually spend more time here when I've got work to do… as I can't often
get away and this becomes an escape… <g> Sometimes the deadlines are so
tight and I'm so exhausted, I don't even have time for that… Next few weeks
promises to be pretty intense, but we'll see. Lets keep the dialog open though,
and see what develops…
Later,
John
John,
Tall blond girls on rollerblades on the beach….Oh yeah!
Sometimes I eat lunch at Venice Beach. Its a kind of therapy, you know.
Animal animation….. I have found it to be very tough to do well.
Bones Pro is actually quite difficult to get right for things like lip
movement….I may have a job doing a snarling bear….its going to be a
challenge.
I'm into joint projects….hopefully there are lots of years ahead to
do that kind of thing. I too am super busy right now. Good luck on your
projects.
Sanford
Sanford,
>> Sometimes I eat lunch at Venice Beach. Its a kind of therapy, you know.
Yeah I can relate… we've got the boardwalk down in P.B. same thing except a
little tamer… most of the time anyway. <g> There are some great seafood
bars… grab a beer whatever, hop on a skateboard and cruise to the next
place… I'm not much of a drinker but in the summer on a skateboard… its
like the only way to travel… <G>
>> Animal animation…. I have found it to be very tough to do well… <<
I'm sure. I've played around with a Brontasaurus and it kinda moved around like
a hippo. <g> I'm not sure that's right at all. 🙂 I think Dinosaurs are cool
to animate… I could get into doing some Raptors… I guess I've got this
thing about lean mean fast machines. <g>
>> I may have a job doing a snarling bear… <<
That sounds like a job alright… so is this something you're getting a
reputation for… I guess so… seems like an interesting way to specialize,
especially if you're really into it…
>> hopefully there are lots of years ahead to do that kind of thing <<
I have no idea, I'll be 39 in July and I don't know where the time went… <g>
well yeah I do… at least the last 6 years, they just vaporised… So I
wouldn't count on it. <BG> (Actually I was thinking about the middle of next
month. <g>)
John
John,
God, can you stand up on a skate board? I nearly killed myself on one.
I never learned the trick of stopping while still standing….you just dive
off, right?
Animal animaton
<<
so is this something you're getting a reputation for… I guess so… seems
like an interesting way to specialize, especially if you're really into it…>>
Actually, I would like to specialize in animals eventually. I really love
animal and insect behavior, not to mention their uninhibited violence. You
can't show that with people,,,,they'd think I was blood-thristy or something!
Who Me?
I love dynamic, startling images…..they make cool animations.
As I said, I'm up for doing something like that.
Sanford
Sanford,
>> you just dive off, right… <<
That's a new one on me…. <g> better to stand it up and drag the tail of the
board… or endo the board, nose first, both of which take some balance and
daily practice which I rarely get/do…
>> I'm up for doing something like that… <<
I'll keep you posted… you'll probably be shocked. <g>
Later,
John
Byte 3D Articles eh? Take this over to Take 5 ok.
DM
>> Take this over to Take 5 ok. <<
I think it died already, what do you think? 🙂
John
Sanford, Please take your discussion with John over to take 5.
DM
David,
Have no fear. I'm happy to move non-IPAS discussion to take-5. I hope
to see some cool IPAS animation from you this year at Siggraph.
Sanford