#Terrain Module
6 messages in this thread
I am also a SC3D owner, who just recently is spending alot of CPU time
rendering objects. I am interested in Turbo Silver due to the fact that I
hear it takes less time rendering, and produces a higher quality output –
is this so? What other advantages are to owning TSilver? I also have the
program DBW_Render which I love, though is a pain to use due to it's user
interface and large amounts of time used in compilation.
Joe – We feel TSilver is a superior product on a number of fronts. First
of all, the rendering times are MAGNITUDES! faster than SC3D. TSilver also
includes an animation capabilities in the program. Some of the properties
we offerthat are not in SC3D are True glass %#P refraction, IFF mapping
which gives you the ability to MAP ANY IFF picture around any object or
group of objects. TSilver is able to produce images in any and all color
modes and resolution of the Amiga except Half-brite. We are just actually
finishing up version 3 which will be available as a free upgrade to all
current registered users. THis upgrade should be finished in 10 day or
so.
Version 3 offers further enhancements like: True Texture mapping Like DBW
Render, multiple light sources (up to 32,000). Also any object can be a
light source. A "Scan Line" converter mode to give results comperable to
Videoscape, a new animation section which now allows users to perform
multiple loops and other effects within the same animation. TSilver also
allows much larger and more complicated objects than SC3D. We have also
just released "Terrain" a low cost companion module to Turbo Silver which
allow the creation of landscapes, like mountains, valleys, & even 'moving'
water and waves. I must say however, that many users of TSilver who have
switched from SC3D do prefer the SC3D editor interface.
With programs like Interchange from Syndedis, you can still create objects
in SC3D, and move them to TSilver easily. Also the next release of 3-Demon
will have the current Turbo Silver format included. Perhaps the most
important feature we at Impulse offer is FREE SUPPORT! If you have a
problem with any of our products, we give you an 800 number to call for
support. Also all of our upgrades are either no cost, or very low cost.
And we are dedicated to continually improving the program. If you have any
other question please give us a call.
One thing I've been meaning to ask about TSilver… Can I start a picture
rendering, then when I need to use the machine for something, stop
whereever it is, do my stuff, and then continue rendering where it left
off? This is an absolutely important feature for me when I start using
raytracing (which I expect to soon…). Also, what memory and disk
requirements are there? –>Steve Bennett
Steve – realisticaly there is no way in our system to stop a trace, and
finish it up later. TSilver how ever does multitask if you have enough
memory in you machine. I am usually in Trace mode during the time I am on
CIS. THings obviously slow down a whole lot, but it still works. As for
the memory and disk requirements, I would simply suggest that you buy as
much RAM as you can afford. Depending on the size of animations youre
planning to create 20MB is OK, but 30 or 40 is better if you also plan to
have alot of other stuff on the Hard Drive. If you are serious about
rendering I would suggest that you invest in 3MB ram and an 020 board with
an 881 or 882 instead of 7 or 9mb of ram. remember too, that in TSilver
you can set up Traces before you go to sleep or leave work and have the
machine chug away while you are asleep.
Stan I suggest you go to the DLs in the vendor forum, and get SetPri.arc
from DL6 (The softCircuits DL). You are welcome to distribute this free of
charge, if you like, with your stuff. It's a really nice priority setting
program that will allow the user to drop TSilver's priority with little
danger to other tasks like that which occurs with other, more general
priority setting programs. If TSilver is set to -1, I suspect it would stop
very nicely while (the user) does other things… and still take advantadge
of all the pauses in the users work to render just that little bit more!
That would work, no?
Thanks Ben I'll dash over and get it. I'll give it a try, tonite and
tomorrow, and pass it by the programmer. If it fits the bill, I will be
more than happy to include it in 3.0 which is shipping RSN with the
appropriate kudos to SoftCircuits. <–Stan