#Video Animation Blues
6 messages in this thread
We are using a TARGA based ray traced system, and have recently gotten an
Amiga I've played around with Videoscape 3D and Sculpt animate and I got to
admit I'm not impressed. Although the demo's look great, I can't figure
out how any one created them. The user interface for Videoscape sucks
period. Sculpt is a close second place. I just got 3 Demon, hoping for an
improvement, and although there are a couple of bells and whistles, I'm
limited to a handfull of colors. We want to accurately build models in 3D
and render them with as many colors as possible. Real time animation is a
plus, but we will probably limit it to 50 to 100 frames and edit. I'm
interested in TSilver and saw the dolphin demo (very nice), but am
concerned as to whether it will meet our needs
Incidently, I've tried porting the TARGA 32k color files over to the Amiga
after converting to GIF. It works, but HAM mode has its quirks. Edges of
images seem to break up? I use a Targa to GIF conversion program, null mod
it to the amiga, use HAMGIF and SAVEIFF to get it into PhotonPaint or the
Director. The images created by our software on the Targa blow away any
thing I've seen so far on the Amiga, and the 3D creation stage is much
easier. Because of the poor quality of HAM, we can't even use the amiga
for display only. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. I would
like to find some reason to keep the Amiga. Bottom line, I would like near
Targa quality images and a clean, accurate 3D model creation program…..is
it possible?
We also have a Targa16 but have not invested in any 3d software. What are
you using. I am an avid user of both Sculpt and Turbo but I know the
feeling of looking at a gorgeous targa image and wondering why I'm still
playing around on the Amiga. One obvious answer is the low cost of the 3d
software and the abundant support for the machine.
It sounds like you need two things: 1) An easy to use object editor and
scene creation program. 2) A raytracer. From what I've heard, either
Sculpt 3D or Turbo Silver should do for the raytracing side of things, but
I haven't heard of any *really* good object editor.
As for porting the Targa files to the Amiga via GIF, it's a hopeless cause.
You lose a LOT of the image just reducing to 256 color GIF, and then the
conversion to HAM fuzzes the edges. Going directly from Targa to HAM would
probably produce a significantly better image. (The edge fuzzing is
unavoidable, but can be reduced significantly with work…)
Finally, you won't be able to get near targa quality images on the Amiga,
period. Targa is a 15 bit RGB format with a higher resolution than the
Amiga's "12 bit" (sortof) HAM format. You can get very good images with
some work, but it won't be Targa quality.
Of course, I've heard rumors of a 21 bit true RGB board for the A2000, but
nothing concrete… –>Steve Bennett
This Targa system you mention, can you give me more information concerning
this? I've heard Targa around the system, but don't know about it. I'd
appreciate knowing what system it runs on (IBM I assume), costs, etc..
The software I'm using is called Big D. Big D is a raytrace software
designed to work with Autocad. You use AutoCAD to create the 3D model and
then render it with BigD. Big D creates shades, shadows, reflections,
transparent surfaces and more, and with a Targa 16 or compatible, in 32,768
colors. Big D is available from us (we are currently the only distributer)
and costs $595.00. If you are interested in learning more about this
software, Targa or other related hardware/software, call me at (808)
732-2237…
Why not buy a Frame Buffer for you're Amiga and either Sculpt 3d or Turbo
Silver. Both support them and will give you 7?? by 4?? pixels with 16 million
colors. I think Mimetics has one of the available frame buffers for the Amiga
GreggT