CompuServe Thread

#Lost Lights

6 messages in this thread
#186855From: Eric C. PetersonAug 23, 1995 2:01 PM
Hi Jonas, I've verified the bug, and I've got independent confirmation from a friend in the UK. Using Vapor or Flame over any of the same frames as LenzFX's flare causes the flare to fail to track the target light. In most cases the Flare just sits still wherever the light was when it started. This can be disconcerting, when everything else in a scene is moving… I can't see a reason for this to happen. Audrey's kinda busy, but I might ask her to write a test routine that watches the light's motion in 3DS.LOC. This appears to be the next step necessary to pin down the bug's location, if not the cause. Would this be worthwhile? Your thoughts? -Eric
#186858From: Jonas Ruikis [ADESK]Aug 23, 1995 2:16 PM
Hi Eric, << Would this be worthwhile? Your thoughts? >> If you're trying to help out Digimation, then you may want to start a dialog with them privately. If you're trying to verify Vapor and Flame, you should run the same tests with other IXP's, maybe Yost's Disk #1 set and post your results here publically. If you're looking for insights for your own IPAS developments, then all of the above. 😉 jonas[adesk]
#186983From: Eric C. PetersonAug 24, 1995 1:12 AM
Greetings! Hey, I got a 😉 out of you that time! I'm happy. I like to find from time to time that we're not bugging the heck out of you! As far as I can tell, LenzFX is the only IXP (or at least the only one I know anything about) that uses LIGHT location in 3DS.LOC as opposed to OBJECT location or image processing techniques (contrast edging, thresholding, et cetera). Thus, running the check with Disk #1 doesn't get us anything (they work just fine…) since those routines use I-P or object location info. I guess I was asking if you (Autodesk) had a general interest in nailing down whether the problem exists in LenzFX, Flame & Vapor, or in Studio 4 – with the implied larger question being: 'If it is a bug in Studio 4, is it going to get fixed?' I know y'all plan on a gradual transition, but I also know that things like the DS64PCI inviso-face-select bug aren't gonna get fixed because they'd require not only new Vibrant files, but an R4c3 as well. Thus, while it would be helpful to us to have information relating to global procedural faces + light location, it is not really important to us – from a product support point of view – unless the workaround DOES eventually change. Given that possibility, it would be worthwhile to suggest to the boss that she gin up the test IXP in case it's a Studio thing, in the hopes it'll get patched BEFORE it becomes an issue for our customers as well. I'm not trying to say that it is a Studio bug, just that IF it is, and IF it's important to you, than it would become important to us for find out. Am I making sense? Of course, another factor is that LenzFX 2 is due in a matter of weeks, and it may be educational to see if it does the same thing. Thanks for the suggestions… -Eric
#186986From: Ernie JacksonAug 24, 1995 2:11 AM
>> If it is a bug in Studio 4, is it going to get fixed?' I know y'all plan on a gradual transition, but I also know that things like the DS64PCI inviso-face-select bug aren't gonna get fixed because they'd require not only new Vibrant files, but an R4c3 as well. << Do you have inside info on this. It affects me too and I _was_ hoping that it would be fixed _before_ MAX. – ej
#187029From: Jonas Ruikis [ADESK]Aug 24, 1995 9:55 AM
Hi Eric, << I'm not trying to say that it is a Studio bug, just that IF it is, and IF it's important to you, than it would become important to us for find out. Am I making sense?>> Sure.. 3DS stability and predictability is veryimportant to me. << Given that possibility, it would be worthwhile to suggest to the boss that she gin up the test IXP in case it's a Studio thing, in the hopes it'll get patched BEFORE it becomes an issue for our customers as well.>> If Audrey wants to write a test for *.loc validity for IXP's, I'll love to see the results. << Lenzfx..>> Your energy in this matter is commendable and I again suggest that you take up a discussion with Dave at Digimation. jonas[adesk]
#187157From: Eric C. PetersonAug 24, 1995 9:36 PM
Good Evening Jonas: Thanks for your comments. I think Audrey is going to develop the test routine to track light location data. We'll run it with and without vapor or flame. -Eric