CompuServe Thread

#IPAS disk #5

17 messages in this thread
#118382From: Tim c BrananAug 15, 1994 4:29 PM
I have been looking at the silicon garden disk, and have the OK to purchase it, but I need to know how much control you have over how the trees are grown. I work for a forestry consulting firm and we do timber inventories and input those numbers into custom software that can "grow" the trees in a database based on soil, trerrain, and other factors. What I would like to know is, can we take those numbers we get and use them to produce a fairly accurate model of a tree? And how specific of a tree type can we get, or is it just a matter of texture mapping? We'd like to tell the difference between a Douglas Fir and a Hemlock, for example. If it can't do some of the things we would like, is it possible to alter the PXP with the Developers kit? Thanks for any info. I have to make a choice between Silicon Garden and Schrieber's Imagine Nursery within a day or two, so whatever info you can supply is greatly appreciated. BTW, I have been playing with Disks #6 and #7 over the weekend and I must say they are really cool. Tim
#118389From: Yost GroupAug 15, 1994 5:46 PM
Silicon Garden is really more for doing quick and dirty tree-like things for architectural filler and ornamental purposes. For realism, you can't beat the Schreiber Imagine-Nursery package. Give them a call! – G
#118397From: Tim c BrananAug 15, 1994 6:17 PM
That was a quick response. I downloaded the demo for their nursery, but have not spent much time with it yet, but if you give it your reccomendation over your package, then I guess I will be going with that one. Thanks for the speedy reply.
#118421From: Yost GroupAug 15, 1994 7:54 PM
My package is great for quick foliage requirements where detail isn't a big deal. The Schreiber package is great for when detail is important, at the expense of greater object size. – G
#118433From: Tim c BrananAug 15, 1994 8:40 PM
Unfortunately, neither package is going to work at this time. It turns out the Schrieber packages is almost all Decidous trees, and most of the trees in the NW are Evergreen. I guess we are going to have to use stylized stand-ins. Out of curiosity, can the developer kit allow us to create some type of tree shape based on specific coordinates we give it? I am not a programmer, but this seems possible to me. Who do I talk to about the kit, anyway?
#118514From: Jonas Ruikis [ADESK]Aug 16, 1994 8:49 AM
Tim, << [Silicon Garden] Out of curiosity, can the developer kit allow us to create some type of tree shape based on specific coordinates we give it?>> The IPAS3 SDK does not have a built in L-system. Silicon Garden was based on a book called "The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants" by Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz/Aristid Lindenmayer 1990 Springer Verlag ISBN 0-387-97297-8. << I am not a programmer, but this seems possible to me. Who do I talk to about the kit, anyway?>> You can start with me..I'm responsible for IPAS SDK support. Discussions are held in the software dev kit section of this forum. jonas
#118424From: Philipp HalanaiAug 15, 1994 8:17 PM
Hello, Tim Could You tell me, where you have the demo from. I couldn't find it in the Librarys Thanks Philipp
#118429From: Tim c BrananAug 15, 1994 8:37 PM
I got it from the Schrieber BBS (303) 759 3598
#118518From: LEE STEELAug 16, 1994 9:02 AM
Tim, PMFJI I have heard tell of a Schreiber Nursry R2 with many new tree types and JPEG files replacing the TGAs'. You should probably give Chris Thomas or Scott Susmann a call @ Schreiber. -Lee
#118639From: Tim c BrananAug 16, 1994 6:32 PM
I spoke with someone there yesterday, and he said that with the latest releases of 3DS they will be able to create more types of trees, but it hasn't been done as yet. bitmaps would not help me at this moment, since we more than just a pretty picture.
#119054From: KEVIN CHRISTOPHERAug 18, 1994 2:47 PM
There is a program called AMAP developed by Cirad in france that has some of the most realistic trees I have ever seen. It is a windows program that will write a 3ds file for rendering and animation I think that schrieber is supposed to sell their products in the US, but I am not sure. Their Phone # in (France) is (33) 67 10 15 75 Kevin Christopher Architectural Graphics
#119145From: Tim c BrananAug 18, 1994 10:11 PM
thanks for the tip. I will have to check them out. Do you know of any pricing information?
#119694From: KEVIN CHRISTOPHERAug 22, 1994 3:15 PM
Sorry I dont know of any pricing but the brochure I picked up shows some of the best computer generated trees I have ever seen. Kevin
#119757From: Tim c BrananAug 22, 1994 9:05 PM
Would it be a problem to fax the brouchure to me? Calling France seems a mite troublesome and would like a little more info. Thanks if you can. Fax (503) 644-1683
#119929From: Tim c BrananAug 23, 1994 9:26 PM
Since you haven't read my previous message to you yet, don't bother faxing a brochure, I found out that Viewpoint is distributing AMAP in the US. Spendy program ($1495), but it appears so far to be exactly what I have been looking for.
#119147From: Tim c BrananAug 18, 1994 10:18 PM
By the way, does it have a lot of evergreen type trees? It wouldn't be of any use to us if it didn't…
#119696From: KEVIN CHRISTOPHERAug 22, 1994 3:16 PM
As far as I know it has both Deciduous and Evergreen Trees. Kevin