#Heeeeeeeelp !
17 messages in this thread
We have just ordered 3DS with an eye toward doing Architectural renderings.
Specifically, we want to take an aerial photograph, scan it into the
computer and put a rendered building into the scene. I have created the
geometry for the building in AutoCad. Piece 'o cake, right ? (NOT)
I am reminded of the guy whose father taught him to swim by throwing him in
a river. When asked if it wasn't a awful experience he replied "It wasn't
too bad once I got out of the bag…"
Once I get out of the bag, any advice would be apreciated. Who should I
get to scan the photo? – what file type? – what resolution ? What about
output ? If I am about to step into a pit (and I KNOW I am) please tell me
!
Thanks
Hi Brian, come on AutoCAD isn't that bad for creating 3d models <g>.
Anyway, there are services that will scan pictures in for you. Check the
Yellow pages or talk to your 3d Studio dealer, he might be able to help you
get the scan. For best results, try to get a 24 bit Targa. GIFs and TIFF
will also work. The resolution is up to you, the higher, the better the
rendering will look, but you sacrifice speed by using a high res image.
Also keep in mind the resolution of the rendering. Are you going to render
to a 512×480 targa and use the scanned image as background? If the answer
is yes then get the image in 512×480 resolution.
Yann Bertaud – Product Support, Autodesk.
PS: Remember we all started at the bottom of the ladder here. Keep at it
and you'll reach the top. Aim high young man. <big G>
Well, AutoCad has gotten a WHOLE lot better at 3D over the last few
releases ! Do TARGA files require a TARGA board ? What do you recomend as
a graphics board ? I just got a Diamond SS 24X – any other ideas ?
Remmber, this is uncharted waters for me – I dont recognize half the terms
I see in this SIG ! BTY, re:"young man" – don't I wish. I'm too young to
remember Howdy Doody but old enough to have used R2.14 on an 8088 ! (and
thought I was in high cotton).
Are you asking about Targa files in AutoCAD? AutoCAD support is handled
over in the ACAD forum: GO ACAD. I don't know what AutoCAD's abilities
with Targa files are. But as for AAPro, you do not have to have a targa
board in order to view, use and save images as targa files. AAPro will
take care of all that for you. The only catch is that AAPro can only
handle 256 color palettes. So you have to take your existing .tga files
and run them through aniconv to convert the color palettes.
Brian,
download hotel1.gif in the "what's new" library (#9 I think). This shows an
example of what you described – building created in Acad, rendered in 3ds2,
then composited with an imaging package (in this case Ron Scott's HiResQFX
713-529-5868). The site photo is a birds-eye of a hotel complex and the
trick is to the match perspective view of you 3d model and lighting with
the existing buildings. Finally you composite the images in the paint
package and do some touch up to make it really look like part of the scene.
It's not that hard if you have the right tools and it sounds like you have
2/3 of them already. Good luck.
Martin
I got Hotel2.gif. I even sent it off to have a slide made to show the
client and the boss what CAN be done if one has the knowledge and the $$$.
My dealer lead me to believe that Animator Pro would serve as a paint
package for compositing and such – did they fool me twice ? How much is
QFX ?
Brian,
I thought my file was hotel1.gif? Oh well, whatever. <g>. You can do great
painting and composition with Animator Pro but the limitation is 8-bit
colour right now – this gives you a maximum pallette of 256 colours which
doesn't work too well for photos and renderings with lots of colours.
HiResQFX uses 32-bit colour which is 24-bit colour (16.77 million) plus
8-bits of alpha channel which gives 256 levels of transparency for each
pixel also – this is very handy for compositing because you get smooth
edges. The price is in the $1200 range so not really for the casual user.
Give them a call and get some info. An alternative is Aldus' Photostyler
which is pretty good and supports 24-bit colour in Windows and is only
about $500 discounted and is widely available in retail outlets.
Disadvantages are that it doesn't support compressed .tga files or alpha
channel and it can be slow running under Windows although a fast 24-bit vga
card with a co-processor can help that a bit.
Hope that helped.
Martin
Thanks for the info – now, how do I get 'em to swallow Another $1200 ? Two
Questions:
Re: Hotel.gif – Its the one in the middle – Right ?
Re: House.gif – How much time do you have in that rendering ? The powers
that be wants to know….Thanks
Yes it's the one in the middle. I don't know how long we spent on the
house.gif because it has gone through so many incarnations, but it would
probably take 5 days to do it again from building in ACAD/ASG to final
output in 3d-Studio then HiresQFX. There are less expensive Window based
packages which will do much of what HiresQFX does for less than $500 and
the former requires a targa/targa+/Vista board to run.
Martin
Thanks – Let me ask another question or two…. Since I havn't really goten
into 3DS yet what is the difference between it and AutoShade/Renderman ?
Does AS/RM have capibilities that 3DS doesn't or is it just that 3Ds has
tools to build 3D geometry outside of ACad where AS does not ?
How many colors and what resolution were those GIF files (BTW the Slides I
hade made really WOWed 'em !)
Do you have any favorite Windows photo editors ? PC MAg seems to like the
Aldus PhotoStyler……
Brian,
I don't know a lot about Renderman other than it uses procedural textures
(materials created by algorithm's) rather than bit-maps, which is more like
the way 3d Studio does it (although 3ds has procedural textures). 3ds is
supposed to be more optimized and directed towards animation and is easier
to use apparently. An Autodesk dealer would probably give you a better
run-down of AS/RMan feature.
The .gif's are 256 colours maximum and were 640×480 resolution. They were
"resampled" down from high-resolution (1275×975) targa files (true colour
or up to 16.77 million colours max).
Photostyler is my favourite windows imaging package, but I also have
CorelDraw which includes CorelPaint which is the same as Zsoft Photofinish
(costs about $150 at Egghead Software) which also does true colour images
but has less features than Photostyler. The one I use most, however, is
still HiresQFX because it is not slowed down by Windows and supports
alpha-channel and I know it better than the other 2.
Martin
Hi Martin,
About imaging packages, I think that Lumena and HiRES are the best in the
bussines. Don't forget Fractal Painter in the Windows arena! I've done
pretty good stuff with that and a Wacom.
Regarding your problems with 3DS and the Sony LaserDisc (Do you remember
it?) PC Actual (the spanish mag which me and my boyfriend -Jesus- work at)
will try (in fact, Jesus and I will do it) the laserdisc and a Diaquest,
with Topas 4.0 and 3D Studio. If we find any problem and the solution, I'll
tell you. We are planning to edit a series of articles about professional
imaging solutions on the PC (we want to show that the PC have done good
(Xcellent) stuff for many years ago- and, by the way, destroy the "Mac,
King of Graphics Land" myth). Next number, 3D Studio/ Topas/ Targa/
Diaquest/ Sony LaserDisc for animation. Other numbers, probably ATVista/
Lumena/ Wacom/ Kodak Dye Sublimation printer. Wow, there will be lots of
work but…tons of fun too <G>. We are planing to put one of your images in
the 3D Studio/… test (with your name and all) to show some aspects of the
aplications of this kind of programs. Any problem with that? (i hope that
we don't have to pay you the (c)! I only sell my body one time in a life
<G>)
Best wishes, Ana
ps.BTW, how about my images? Have you seen them?
Que bueno Ana!
I am still looking for your images. Did you upload some to the libraries or
did you e-mail them to me? I will check the libraries for anything by you.
Yes, of course, you can use the images I sent – as long as you give me a
credit. Good luck with the magazine article.
Saludos,
Martin
Brian,
Hi-Res QFX lists for $1000 for version 3.0 on the Targa or Targa+
boards, $1250 for the ATVista.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
One workaround for the Photostyler limitation with TGA files is to
purchase Gallery Effects for around $100 (also from Aldus or Silicon
Beach – a subsidary). This program will read and write compressed
TGA files as well as provide a dozen interesting filters for imaging
work.
Cal Rodgers
CADStudio, Inc.
Cal,
Actually, I think Photostyler 1.1a will read compressed .TGA, 1.1
won't. The Gallery Effects (produced by ImageWare, same folks who made
ImagePaint for AT&T GSL) is used to working in the Targa world, and will
add the compressed
TGA capability. Thanks for reminding me.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Kevin,
I have 1.1a and it won't read compressed .tga files. Aldus said the next
update should.
Martin