#Metaballs & Keyscripting
21 messages in this thread
I don't know if anybody is interested but I uploaded several images and
animations that show the use of Metaballs and Keyscripting to do liquidy
looking animations. I know some one was looking for liquidy looking text.
There are two still index JPG files SPRAY.JPG and META2,JPG that show still
shots of the animations. Basically all the animations where created with one
basic keyscript that allows you basically just hose/spray/explode mulitple
objects with basic bounding box collision checking. It works really good
metaballs and I am beginning t experiment with it using a mixture of vapor and
flame to create explosion ala ALIAS.
I will probably upload the script once I get it debugged and and cleaned up.
I also have two questions
1. What is every onees opion of the other keyscripting routines I think it is
called TSE or something like that. I am particluarly interested the AXP
scripting language and how well it performs.
2. Has anybody had any luck converting a keyscript to IPAS. I am beginning to
slowly convert my spray keyscript to make it faster but it is a real pain so
far. Also how much execution spped difference is there between a similiar IPAS
and keyscript rouines. I some the IPAS routine would be quite a bit faster but
by how much?
Peter W.
Spectral Imaging
Peter –
I get to preview all the library uploads. I really enjoyed Spray.ZIP and
Fountain.Zip. Dating myself but – COOL!!!
Anne
Great Job! I saw the spray animation, water flowing, and the two stills! They
are really awesome!
Jason
Thanks,
Hopefully I will have the script completely done here soon, so anyone with
metaballs will be able to do effects like these.
Peter W.
Spectral Imaging
Hi Peter,
I checked out spray.flc and box.flc. Both were very *kewl*.
I stood in the ocean surf yesterday and realized that the chaotic look of the
box.flc near the end of the animation resembled the turbulence of the surf near
the shore.
Can't wait to see your scripts.
jonas[adesk]
Thanks,
Ijust added the finishing touches this weekend. All I need is to add doc's to
it and should e done ( probably around Wed. or Thurs.)
Peter W.
Hi Peter,
What version of metaballs are you running with? Do you know
if version 2 is available?
Can you suggest a dealer I could contact to get my hands
on the latest version??
Thanks,
Andy Roberts
BITS Corp.
I am still running version 1 and am still waiting for the next
version(no one from shcieber has contacted me about it yet) so I
don't think version 2 is out yet. Everytime I call they keep saying
it will be out in a couple weeks.
I bought mine from NW Tech(206-641-3282) my local Autodesl dealer but
I assume you can also order directly from schieber instruments.
In the latest Computer Graphics World there is an article about
metaballs if you are interested I have not read it myself yet but
some my friends suggested it to me.
<< In the latest Computer Graphics World there is an article about
metaballs if you are interested I have not read it myself yet but
some my friends suggested it to me. >>
Is this the May 1995 CGW pg 36 "Plug-Ins Electrify 3D Studio"?
jonas[adesk]
>>Is this the May 1995 CGW pg 36 "Plug-Ins Electrify 3D Studio"?
Actually I think it is this months copy. I just skimmed quickly but it seems
to be a tutorial on how they built the T-Rex using the snap shoot tool with a
background image of T-Rex as a reference. I have not read it completely yet
but seemed real informative.
Peter W.
Spectral Imaging
<< Is this the May 1995 CGW pg 36 "Plug-Ins Electrify 3D Studio"? >>
FWIW Jonas, there is also an article in the July '95 issue of CGW by Jose
talking about his MetaReyes dinosaur model.
Mark
Thanks Mark. I haven't received this copy yet.
Hi Peter,
I guess I can call Schreiber direct.
I read the metaballs article in CGW. The screen shots clearly
show Jose was working with version 2.
It's a very good article by the way – check it out.
I've been hanging around for version 2 because it all seems
to be within 1 consistent interface rather than a smattering
of .pxps and .axps.
Andy Roberts
BITS Corp
Andy,
I also heard rumors that Digimations is going to release a Metaball IPAS
themselves. I think I heard they were going to try to show it off at siggraph
but am not exactly sure.
Does anyone else know anything about this?
Also does anyone know when the v2.0 of MetaReyes will be out.
Peter W.
Peter,
> > I think I heard they were going to try to show it off at siggraph but am
not exactly sure. <<
yes, I think so too. Danny Mercurio has been developing one for some time and
it should be showing at Siggraph (Digimation's booth/area).
Martin
Peter,
<< I also heard rumors that Digimations is going to release a Metaball IPAS
themselves. >>
Yup, for more information you should contact Danny Mercurio at 74551,360. Have
you uploaded your Metaball Keyscript yet?
Mark
Mark,
Not yet, I got swamped with other work this. But I am almost through with docs
so it should by done by monday.
Peter W.
Version 2 is out just give Schreiber a call and they will update it.
Mike White [SDP]
Mike
I just called them and they said it would still be about a month. Am I getting
the run around or what?
PeterW.
Did you ask for Thomas Hickson ? I mentioned to him about your script, so he
will rember. Please give him a call at Schreiber. Let me know what happens.
Mike
>> 2. Has anybody had any luck converting a keyscript to IPAS. I am
beginning to slowly convert my spray keyscript to make it faster but it is a
real pain so far. Also how much execution spped difference is there between a
similiar IPAS and keyscript rouines. I some the IPAS routine would be quite a
bit faster but by how much? <<
The ease of conversion will naturally be influenced by your familiarity with
first, C, and second, IPAS. Most of the important functions in Keyscript (and
TSE) have similar or identical functions in IPAS. IPAS also has similar, though
more demanding data structures to the scripting languages. The implication is
that with allowances for syntax and the more elaborate construction of a C
program, an algorithm from Keyscript or TSE should port pretty directly.