CompuServe Thread

<<I was most interested in some sort of routine that would allow 3DS to do "Cartoon" type work — more of the Disney variety versus Reboot, and your Outline routine holds some promise in that area. I realize you may not intend it for that use>> Oh contraire <g>, this is one of MAIN purposes I intend for the routine. I am already working closely with people in the cartoon industry in order to develop a tool that does precisely what cartoon animators need. Just to clarify where I am wanting to target my OUTLINE Plug-In, and therefore what features are planned. The main areas I am targeting are artistic and technical illustration. So for example, an architect can use the routine BOTH for a technically accurate plan and use it also "artistically" to general an illustration that appears hand painted. It will provide for both methods of use. When I say hand painted, I mean that the outlines will appear as if generated with a crayon, pencil, air brush, etc, much the same way Fractal Painter allows you to use "natual media" tools. These WILL be available. I am commited to producing the most general tool to suit the greatest range of needs. Your needs as an animator I have already taken into consideration. Though I am always open to suggestions, so please let me know. <<1) Your scissors example seems to indicate that your IPAS will solid shade, but Lumiere was not shaded at all — is this (or will this be) a possibility? Without some sort of coloring, the use of this as a Cartoon routine will be very limited.>> Firstly, my routine takes full advantage of everything 3DS can produce. The OUTLINE routine can then draw the outline on top of any image 3DS can generate. So the example of the scissors was in fact an image generated with metal shading(look at the little screw for slight reflection) and then the outline was drawn on top. So you can use any model, any IPAS, any image filter you want and OUTLINE will work with them. So for your example of solid fill, you simply use a 100% self illuminating material so that the colours will remain flat across the object. You then put OUTLINE.IXP into the video post after 3D SCENE, then press Render. 3DS will render your object in a single flat colour then the OUTLINE routine will generate the outlines on top. Voila! It's that simple. You do the same thing for animations. Set it up, then let it go. No more work on your part, the routine will generate the outlines for each frame automatically. <<2) One of the biggest problems I see in any routine which tries to outline is to be able to differentiate between the surfaces that pass in front of an object, even if they are part of that object. The best example I can give of this is a character's arm that is passed in front of him. Any cartoon routine would have to outline the arm, but as the arm moves back to "merge" into the body it needs to know when to stop. Have you been able to accomodate this?>> Yes, I'm now working further on refining this. Have a look at the last example of the scissors in the OUTLINE3.JPG image. See where the top handle covers the far handle. This is an example of where the hidden edges are removed. The "arm across body" can easily be handled by OUTLINE. <<I'm certainly interested in buying any routine which can do these things.>> It can do all these things. I've put your name onto the list of people I will notify first when the routine is available. Thanks for your interest and remember that I am always open to suggestions/wishlist items. DaviD "swiss army knife pencil" GouID