#3DS Release 4 announced
23 messages in this thread
For more details, please see 3dsr4.rls in "Index and Info", library 9.
For your benefit, we have highlighted the key messages of the release:
-With the introduction of Release 4, 3D Studio now boasts workstation-level
production efficiency, in addition to the workstation-level quality and
performance which were achieved with Release 3.
-3D Studio is the #1 professional animation software, regardless of
platform, according to industry researcher Robi Roncarelli.
-New features, in the form of plug-ins, include True 3D Inverse Kinematics,
Spline-based Modeling, Fast Preview Rendering and a Keyframe Scripting
Language.
Bob,
I'm confused! Are the new 3DSr4 'Plug Ins' included in the r3 to r4 upgrade for
<$300 (Say yes please)? Is r4 a Pentium Compile? Is there any MS Windows
support stuff you can tell us about? Please reply, I'm i'm goin' nuts.
-Andy
Andy,
Please see my message # 114770 and the associated press releases.
Also;
<<Is r4 a Pentium Compile?>>
Sorry, I don't have any information on that topic yet.
<< Is there any MS Windows support stuff you can tell us about? >>
R4 should be able to run in a DOS window, just as R3 does today.
-Brian
Has R4 DPMI been fixed so that it can run in a Windows NT dos window? (In other
words, does it use the newest Pharlap DMPI code that is compatable with Windows
NT?)
Peter,
Sorry, I don't have the answer to that one yet. I don't know if they changed
the version of Phar Lap they used.
-Brian
Andy (et al);
I'm at Siggraph right now and after the flood of messages last night, I went
back to talk with Gary, Jack, Bob B, and everyone else so that I could
provide straight answers to all the questions that were flying around after
the initial announcement.
There are files that you can download that have the press release info about
R4. In answer to the most pressing questions, R4 will include the IPAS
routines that Gary mentioned. They ARE part of the R4 package. R4 is new
code, which provides better hooks for development of plug-in modules, both
from Autodesk and from third party developers. Autodesk has termed this the
"plug-in" release simply to indicate the importance they are now placing on
the third-party market, similar to its importance to AutoCAD. But while the
neat new features that were announced are themselves IPAS routines, they are
part of the R4 package.
The Shreiber IPAS that was mentioned is called Puppeter, and is actually an
R3 IPAS that is available now. It isn't an IK but rather a constraint-based
manipulator. While the R4 IK module mathematically constructs the frames for
movement based on motion parameters that you set rather than keyframes, the
Shreiber program requires that you set keyframes.
There will be a lot of new IPAS routines for R4 thanks to the more robust
facilities. For example, there will be a Kai's Power Tools IPAS that will
require R4.
Hope this clears things up.
David
CADalyst
PMJI, but thanks very much for the information. A couple of questions if you
get back on-line soon:
<< The Shreiber IPAS that was mentioned is called Puppeter, and is actually an
R3 IPAS that is available now. It isn't an IK but rather a constraint-based
manipulator. >>
Are you saying that it's utilizing *_foward kinematics_* with constraints ?
<< While the R4 IK module mathematically constructs the frames for movement
based on motion parameters that you set rather than keyframes, the Shreiber
program requires that you set keyframes. >>
So the YG's IK is *_procedurally driven_* only ? Interesting.
Thanks,
BILL
Bill:
The Shreiber program does appear to be FK. The new Autodesk IK module in R4
appears to be particularly robust. You can set the constraints for each
movement and even apply damping. You can then control motions interactively
or have the computer solve complete motions. For example, you can move a
figure's hand interactively and the IK solves the motion. But you can also
attach feet to the pedals of a bicycle and then have the IK solve the motion
of the human riding the bicycke.
David
CADalyst
Thanks a lot David. So it does support linked heirarchies then ? That is,
pulling appropriately on a hand of a bi-ped could bend the figure over at the
waist if defined properly ?
BILL
Bill:
Yes. It appears that if you define the heirarchies properly, everything
follows the appropriate motions.
David
CADalyst
David,
Your description was fundementally accurate except that Puppetteer is an IK
just like Kinemation. You move the hand, the arm follows. Both approaches will
be invaluable for the production of character animation.
Thanks for clearing the air. <g>
-JE
John:
Sorry. I was passing the description on directly from what the Shreiber
folks told me.
David
CADalyst
David,
No problem as your description accurately follows along with the press release,
but I'm curious to know if someone specifically stated that it was not an I.K.
system?
Puppeteer is a motion capture/editor system, which is its primary purpose, but
it does have nodes and links which can be moved in IK fashion along with
rotational constraints etc. So you can create your own motion paths from
scratch.
From the text provided by GY regarding the R4 IK and the emphasis 3DS has as
animation package, the IK system will be designed as a motion creation system,
much as the 3D Builder is a modeler.
The best reason to have Puppeteer is that if you don't want to create your own
motion data sets or you want to create your own through hardware, you will be
able to capture them through FOB hardware available for Ascension Technology or
obtain MotionSets ™ produced by Biovison from Viewpoint Datalabs. But you
can also create your own sets through ASCII text editing as well as edit
dataset files you've acquired in this fashion. Once you have the datasets, you
can edit them and use Keyman to reduce the number of keyframes. Also you can
use the data sets on a variety of different models, just by creating a new
puppet for the particular model you want to apply the data set to. Everything
translates proportionally.
As I've said before I think both systems will compliment each other very
nicely, all based on needs. For some the R4 IK system will be more than
sufficient, for others Puppeteer will be a logical extension.
I hope you got a demo version, if not, e-mail me your address and I will insure
that you get one.
John,
<< I hope you got a demo version >>
Is there any chance you could mail me a demo of the Puppeteer?
Thanks,
Mark Yankee
Mark,
>> Is there any chance you could mail me a demo of the Puppeteer? <<
I believe Schrieber has plans to upload a working demo version of Puppeteer
upon their return from Siggraph. That being the case you should be able to
download it Monday or Tuesday, possibly sooner. Faster than I could mail you a
copy. 🙂
-JE
Thanks for the info, John
Mark Yankee
Sure thing Mark, thanks for your interest.
-JE
John:
I think the point that the Schreiber people were trying to make was exactly
as you described and was an attempt to differentiate between Puppeteer and
the r4 IK routine. I did get a demo copy from Schreiber, which I'm looking
forward to trying out once I get back to Bellingham. I'm currently on
vacation until next Friday, August 5.
David
CADalyst
David,
>> I did get a demo copy from Schreiber, which I'm looking forward to trying…
<<
Great! Have a nice vacation. (I see you can't keep away from CIS <g>)
-JE
John:
Having a notebook computer is one of the things that makes my job so easy. I
can go on vacation and still get my writing done for the magazine in the
vening when everyone has finally gone to bed. Besides, there's so much
message traffic these days that I'd be totally lost if I didn't keep logging
on each day. <G>
David
CADalst
David,
>> Besides, there's so much message traffic these days that I'd be totally lost
if I didn't keep logging on each day. <<
How true! Those little notebooks are pretty handy.
-JE
/* from Autodesk and from third party developers. Autodesk has termed this the
"plug-in" release simply to indicate the importance they are now placing on the
third-party market, similar to its importance to AutoCAD. */
So, like, when can we expect 3DS LT? <ducking> -dave
WHAP!!!!!!!
Darn it….I missed!
You ducked too fast.
<g>
-Brian