CompuServe Thread

#Release 4

6 messages in this thread
#127696From: Stan CohenOct 7, 1994 10:09 AM
To the SYSOP: I would like to find out additional info regarding Release 4 and EPS Support. Specifically, what is meant by "Outputs an EPS file as a raster result"? I am currently using Release 3, and have a potential client who needs output as EPS files, that would be compatible with tools like Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw, and also for the MAC platform. These files are needed as EPS outlines, printable at any resolution, and editable. What is the word on Release 4 release date? And what is the compatiblity with my client's needs? It would be greatly appreciated to have an answer ASAP
#127716From: Brian Rudolph [Adesk]Oct 7, 1994 11:50 AM
<<Outputs an EPS file as a raster result"?>> This simply means there is now the ability to render right to an EPS file. <<What is the word on Release 4 release date?>> We don't have a definite date yet, but it should be real soon. Dealers have already been shipped pre-release copies. << And what is the compatiblity with my client's needs?>> It sounds like your client needs EPS files. This will create them. Sounds compatable to me. -Brian
#127736From: Terry GilbertOct 7, 1994 1:07 PM
>>I would like to find out additional info regarding Release 4 and EPS Support. Specifically, what is meant by "Outputs an EPS file as a raster result"? I am currently using Release 3, and have a potential client who needs output as EPS files, that would be compatible with tools like Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw, and also for the MAC platform. These files are needed as EPS outlines, printable at any resolution, and editable. What is the word on Release 4 release date? And what is the compatiblity with my client's needs? It would be greatly appreciated to have an answer ASAP<< The EPS output is raster (bitmap) only. It is equivalent to TIF output but in postscript format. What you need is something to export objects or faces as polygon outlines. I think that Alias Upfront will import a DXF and export as polygonal faces. This is either exported to a file or maybe copy to clipboard (I don't remember). It does each face as a separate polygon. I don't know anything that will generate the outline polygon of a 2D projection of a group of faces. I have used AutoCAD to do that kind of conversion, but it is mostly manual work. You still have to add the shading manually. Terry Gilbert Forcade & Associates
#127737From: Nik Grant [adesk]Oct 7, 1994 1:19 PM
"Outputs an EPS file as a raster result"? I'm not sure where you got that phrase – the raster thing seems to refer to the optional "Preview" image, so that some word processors can display the image on screen, rather than just show an empty box. EPS files are not raster, they're ASCII, is where I think you were concerned, right? It's the usual EPS file format.
#127757From: CSA/CAOct 7, 1994 3:38 PM
Nik, and Brian, Let me try a clarification on EPS images (such as 3DS R4 will output). Yes, it's often an ASCII file (if Hex encoded), however Binary is common also. 3DS outputs a raster image (whether .TGA, .TIF, .GIF, etc., some with compression). Postscript files can include object-oriented, scalable entities, such as line, circles, text, etc., that might be created in Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator or other primarily vector editing packages. These packages also allow layouts that include referenced raster "images". In a PostScript file, raster images are generally included with some PostScript header info, followed by the image data on a pixel-by-pixel basis, raster line by line, Red, Green and Blue (not necessarily in that order). Thus something that renders as a 1 MB uncompressed .TGA file will add 1-2 MB to a PostScript or Encapsulated Postscript file. The header info tells the printer how to intrepret the incoming picture, including any scaling, rotation or placement. Vector and raster objects can be mixed within the same file, overlaid on top of each other, etc. Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
#128301From: Nik Grant [adesk]Oct 11, 1994 9:40 AM
Kevin – gracias!