#3DS2RIB RIB23DS
16 messages in this thread
Can anyone help me find a utility that is supposedly somewhere on
Compuserve, that will convert 3DS mesh files to RIB format and/or RIB
files to #DS ?? Thanks, Mike
that utility has never been released. It got stuck in some kind of
political vortex over at Adesk and hasn't been heard of since.
I, for one, will keep praying to the Great 3D Gods until something is released.
Perhaps sacrificing a few mesh animals might help?
Ian.
Ian,
>> Perhaps sacrificing a few mesh animals might help? <<
I don't think anything short of a huge public outcry or the organizing
of a 3d Studio animators union would help. I think the pressures off
and the fledgling utility is gathering dust at Adesk's cellar <g>.
I don't quite get it. Even if its not quite ready for prime time.
there must be an alternate way of distributing this app. Shareware?
PD?
I'm curious as to how you would want to use this utility? I'm under
the impression that the utility never got finished. The resources for
this task were assigned to what was considered more important
projects like 3DS File Lib, IPAS developers kit and so on. Anyway,
what Renderman renderer do you want to use and what benefits do you
get from using it? (I'm not being critical, just curious)
Since folks seem to be interested in RenderMan here, I thought I'd
jump in with some relatively new info involving RenderMan and the PC.
It would seem that a new Windows-based rendering program from Pixar,
WinRman is being bundled with MacroMedia's MacroModel for Windows.
Although Pixar dosen't seem to be interestred in actually marketing
WinRman as a stand-alone product, I understand it *can* be obtained
from directly from Pixar for approx. 1500$. How functional WinRman
could be for the 3DS user remains to be seen, and I haven't
personally investigated this information yet. However, if I was dying
to use Rman shaders with 3DS I think it would certainly be something
to look into.
Did you say $1500 for standalone WinRMan? $1500 will get you the Macromodel
the Mac for a couple of hundred.
Ian.
>>$1500 will get you the Macromodel the Mac for a couple of hundred.<<
If what you are trying to say, Ian, is that you can buy MacroModel for
the MacIntosh for a couple of hundred dollars, then by all means, be
my guest and by a Mac!
Well, for one, I'd love to import Typestry models. As much as I love
3DS, Typestry does a much better job of creating 3d text (and much
easier to!) Secondly, as a student at Pratt institute, I'd like to
find a better way of exchanging 3d data (better than DXF!)
I will agree with you that Typestry does great text – that is exactly
what it was designed for but the animation keyframing leaves
something to be desired. (not to mention the rendering speed)
I'm fairly sure Typestry uses 'Renderman' geometry, not polygon
based objects like 3DS. What you need is for Pixar to support DXF
(or better) export from Typestry – something I brought up when I
beta-tested it. I take it they didn't implement it, I never checked
the final rev.
The tool we were developing wasn't a RIB23DS converter, at least I
don't recall seeing that as a feature. It was only a 3DS-2-RIB util
and when 3DS polygons go into Renderman they really don't look that
much better (if not worse).
You know you might talk to the folks at Syndesis, I know they are
into data conversion utilities, perhaps with enough demand they'll
make the app.
>> there must be an alternate way of distributing this app. Shareware?
PD? <<
there seemed to be a lot of interest in the utility at one time, but
then it all died out. Anyway, I'm just a casual observer here, I
don't set the rules nor do I work for Adesk. I wouldn't have a use
for the RIB utility, although I would like a 3ds compatible
raytracer.
Have you tried POV. Not bad, but you loose a lot in the translation
ie. materials. But it does have some GREAT procedural textures; try
the stone textures.
it's not a high priority to get a raytracer. If one comes along, like
this Mirage one that's been mentioned here, I'd take a serious look
at it. Material translation is very important.
'Try AutoVision, mate.' (Autodesk commercial)
Of course you'll have to have AutoCAD and it's truely only good for
Stills. You can force it to do animations but it's ugly compared to
3D Studio. But it's a cool ray tracer, specially for bump mapped
glass, very cool. (but of course like any ray tracing it takes time)
If you have AutoCAD it makes working with 3DS easier, 3DSin or
3DSout to exchange files with materials and texture maps. Anyway,
thought I would mention it.
Autovision won't work for me, I'm not an Acad user. But thanks for
the thought anyhow 🙂 What happened to the IDL? Has the VPG replaced
it?