#Questions
16 messages in this thread
Mike, I got your address. Now we can communicate better. I posted my first
message to some unknown Impulse person. In the meantime, thanks to Tony
Ramirez, I am actually creating animations.
First of all, let me compliment you on a very powerful and reasonably priced
product. Just so you know I am on your side. (Before I start badgering you
with questions and complaints.)
1. I have not gotten the upgrade newsletter as of 7/28/93 at either my home or
work address. I am registered user of 2.0 on both the Amiga and PC platforms.
Mike Nielsen 312 Troon Road Dover, DE 19901 (302) 678-8685
2. I hope that Imagine 3.0 has a much better manual. It would have a been a
good strategic idea with 2.0 to buy a bunch of manuals from Steve W. at
wholesale and bundle them with them with the software and charge $15 more, no?
I am sure you are tired of the criticism, but when I don't get to the Project
Editor until half through the manual, I begin to think maybe I have eaten
stupid pills for breakfast. I worked on the manual for 3 weeks without getting
to actually making an animation. Despite what you think, human beings do
respond to a bit of positive reinforcement from time to time. (Like seeing
funny bunnies hop about the screen, for example.) I detect a bit of Ingmar
Bergman (stoic Scandanavian) in your teaching methods. Take a look at 3D
Studio's manual some time. Rather than being a barrier to learning, it is a
model of structured learning.
3. How the heck do I use a path in an animation? Can you point to a specific
page in the manual that explains how to use a path to control the motion of an
object? I mean, I have learned 3D Studio and Lightwave, so it is not exactly
like I am dim or something. But Imagine seems to have been encrypted for no
particular reason.
I don't want to trash the product. I think you guys have the best product at
under $500 ever created for computers. It is priced less than 2D animation
programs like Animator Pro for the PC! The only
[<<< Message: 60898 Continued >>>]
thing holding you back is refinement on the interface and manual. If I wanted
to make it tough on myself, I would have used POV-RAY. <g>
Michael, I'll let Mike handle the manual issues, but let me tackle your path
question.
To have an object follow a path, first add the path to the stage. The path may
be created in the stage editor or in the detail editor. In the action editor,
delete the position bar for the object which you wish to assign to the path.
Then, add a new position bar for the length of the animation.
Select Follow Path from the Position requester. Enter the name of the path
(usually PATH).
You can set acceleration/deceleration along the path, etc. by filling in the
requesters.
The most important thing to remember regarding paths is that objects always
follow paths along their Y axis. Therefore, if you're like me and you build
objects facing the -Y direction, you will often find your o object backing up
along a path! Just remember to reorient the axis so that positive Y points out
along the logical front of your object prior to saving it and loading into the
Stage.
Hope this answers your question. –Rick Rodriguez
Rick, I copied the tips on Imagine's path to disk for later review and
learning. Thanks a lot. BTW, on what basis does Mike think the depth axis
should be labeled Y instead of Z? Is there some esoteric branch of math that
graphs 3D space this way?
Actually, in advanced mathematics, Imagine's axis labeling is more commonplace.
I think animators got it messed up many moons ago and the labeling has stuck.
I like the approach taken by some programs which allow you to define your own
axis labels. After all, it's all rather arbitrary anyway. –Rick Rodriguez
Is Imagine ever going to be compatible with 040 accelerated A2000's?
Several others and myself have asked this question before…
-Jonathan
I have seen Imagine run on 040 A2000s and A4000s. There may be a problem
with your set-up.
<<< Tony D. Tracer >>>
I have _no_ problems using any other software. I run Emplant, Real 3D,
ImageFX, ImageMaster, FinalCopy, PageStream, AP, and many other software
packages with no problems…. only with Imagine and I know of at least 5
other people with similar problems all with 040 based 2000's… If I use
my A3000, it works fine. Also works OK if I disable my 040 on the A2000.
-Jonathan
Michael,
actually, I cannot remember any 3-D math class where the Z axis referred to
anything but height above the X-Y ground plane. The problem, as Rick pointed
out, is that most people have a few years of 2-D paint programs under their
belt, where only two axes are used: X and Y, and they are parallel to your
computer screen, which happens to lie vertically in the real world. I feel
Impulse was totally right in using standard 3-D terminology.
Blaq!
I don't think there is a "standard" 3D terminology that's correct…
This is one of those "it depends what book you're reading" types of
things. In the three 3D graphics classes that I've had, the Z axis has
always been the depth. However, a random sampling of the books I have
within arms reach give an even split. "Fundamentals of Three-Dimensional
Computer Graphics" by Alan Watt and "An Introduction to Ray Tracing" by
Andrew S. Glassner make the Z axis "up and down" (but even then they have
one picture that shows the Z axis as the depth axis). "Computer Graphics:
Principles and Practice – Second Edition" by Foley, van Dam, et al. and
"3-D Computer Animation" by John Vince show the Z axis as the depth axis.
I consider the Z axis as the depth axis in the 3D programs and algorithms
I write, many because that's the way I learned it, and because of the well
known "Z-Buffer" algorithm which got named that because the creators used
Z as the depth as well…otherwise they would have named it the Y-buffer
alorithm.
In the end, I don't really care how someone names the axis… As long as
it's consistent throughout their program.
Steve
Steve,
Hmmm. Methinks a discreet retreat is in order. I guess I didn't read enough
3-D books to stumble onto the dichotomy. (Bringing up the Z-buffer is a
wonderful idea!)
Blaq!
The funny thing about it is, until you brought it up, I thought all my
books said Z was depth…. Even the "experts" can't agree! <grin!>
Steve
But I think of the screen as the paper, no? There is a very good book on Media
Aesthetics by a guy named Herbert Zettl. He has written the most famous book
on TV production, and his Media Aesthetics book refers to the depth axis as the
Z-axis.
To have an object in Imagine follow a path go to the Action Editor and
DELETE the Align Timeline for the Actor you wish to follow the Path as
well as the Position Timeline, then use ADD to add the Timelines back in,
this will give you a requester for each and one of the Choices for Each
Timleine(Position and Alignment) will be to have the model follow a Path.
Make Sure you have the 2 timeline go for the # of Frames you want the
Model to follow the Path.
Also note you may need to change the Axis around a bit to get the Object
to Follow the Path Correctly(the way you want)
Hope this Helps you Mike.
Thanks for the Imagine tips. I was deluged with good advice. Hopefully my
feeble mind will do something useful with all the good info. BTW, I sent you
private mail about my problem with Ron. All problems have been resolved but I
am still a little ticked at NewTek.
Glad to be of help Mike and ISN't IT GREAT being on CI$ and getting help
in a day or two???? Thats why, I cancel other Services like Genie and
Delphi but always stick to CI$…….
Glad to see all yer troubles with Ron Kramer have been cleared up as
well.
see you in Toaster Fido Echo.