#Mirage IPAS user
36 messages in this thread
TO ALL MIRAGE IPAS users:
I just got the Mirage IPAS. I'm moderately dissappointed by its .IXP
instead of .AXP. The biggest disadvantage is the effects just doesn't
look too real because it couldn't cast shadows and other drawbacks
associated with 2-D compositing in VPost. The plainly printed manual
doesn't even give you any tutorials or any "useful" tips. Due to my
limited experience & knowledge on Mirage, the recent comments will
change as I'm more experienced.
Getting to the point here. I was wondering if you like, hate it, or
"so so". I appreciated if you can give me more comments about the
Mirage IPAS.
I have got some very nice effects from this software working with
video. Try making a sky by useing a fractal image in 3DS. Render with
alpha split . load the alpha image as a mat in Mirage. Setup the wave
you like and use the 24 bit image as the base image in Video Post.
Rerender the images as a flic… You now have a very convincing
animated cloud backdrop.
-Brandon
Brandon:
Thanks for that reply about how you use your Mirage IPAS for animated cloud
backdrop w/ digitized video frames.
SPECT
T-Spect Le, I have mirage and use it frequently, but not in the
straight forward approach. I turn on the brightness/darkness
switches and filter it over a grey background, then use the resulting
flic or string of targa files as a bump/shinyness map for other
objects. I am dissapointed that it does not support an animated mask
right now. Overall, I'd say it's a good product. -Kyle
***it does not support an animated mask right now.***
It doesnt? I have been successfull using sequential bitmaps as masks. Works
great for "cloaking", "Predator" and "Transporter" effects.
Check with Digimation to make sure you have the latest version (1.3.3).
Bill
>>Check with Digimation to make sure you have the latest version
(1.3.3).<<
Greeting from another IPAS user at Santa Ana, California.
How on earth did you get ver. 1.3.3 ?
[ I just ordered the Mirage 1.3.2 on Friday, Oct. 28, 1994 through
Digimation. I received on Monday, Oct. 31, 1994. Anyway, thanks for
your news about the update.]
>>It doesnt? I have been successfull using sequential bitmaps as
masks. Works great for "cloaking", "Predator" and "Transporter"
effects<<
Yes, I do believe you on this. But I'm wondering if you can cast
shadows on your sequential bitmaps to use the Predator & Star Trek
effects for added realism. Another thing I want to add is that I
haven't seen any animation using Mirage Fxs and the camera moves!
Yes, I mean the camera move & the Mirage fx also move in sync with
it. I know that you have to take extra steps in doing this, but it'll
make your scene much more "advanced" than just a static shot.
– SPECT
*** How on earth did you get ver. 1.3.3 ? ***
I got mirage about a month ago, ver 1.3. Discovered a prob with
using sequential masks files > 100 or so. David responded quickly
verifying the problem and sent me the update a week later. This
allowed me to load a sequence of masks in the 200+ number (so far).
*** cast shadows on your sequential bitmaps (?) ***
only in so far as the geometry the maps are assigned to. To do what I
think u are getting at would require multiple render passes to set up
the masks and the geomtry parts in the scene u want to effect. then
video post to get the result. I havent experimented much with this
yet so I may be wrong.
*** the camera move & the Mirage fx also move in sync with it. ***
Yep, done that! I have a scene of a space station flying in from off
camera across a planet. the station "cloaks" into view. I am still
tweeking the mask images to get the desired fade-in effect. Hope
this helps. At least inpires!
>> Greeting from another IPAS user at Santa Ana, California.
Small world – I'm in Newport Beach! We just finished a show open for
a series on FOX with extensive use of Mirage, and I must say that it
worked out great! Love it!
>>We just finished a show open for a series on FOX with extensive use
of Mirage, and I must say that it worked out great! Love it!<<
Hi there. You're Gregory Pyros!! I've read your book "Inside 3DSr3";
"3DS Special FXs" pg. 128-132. Quite useful tips & tricks you got
there. Keep up the good work.
Anyway, I don't know if you have to keep this a secret in revealing
the title of the show. If not, then
1) I'm just curious what is the title of the show, air date, ect..?
2) What type of effects do you use with Mirage? (i.e. water ripples,
spooks, cloaking, ect..)
Spect:
>> You're Gregory Pyros!!
Well, it depends on who's asking! :^)
Glad you enjoyed the books, we'll have to get together sometime when you're
down in the area! We must be a full 5 miles away from each other – I'm next to
John Wayne airport, on Dove Street.
Greg Pyros
Hi Greg
Great response to the "Shareware Newsletter" idea, this is going to be great.
I have a quickie question about Mirage.
What kind of machine are you using it on?
I have a 486/66 with 32 megs-O-ram, and the "real time"preview isn't even close
(for some FX, it's closer to a frame every 2 seconds) and even on the 586/90
that I'm occasionally lucky enough to lay my hands on, Mirage still seems to
drag in the mud. Also do you run at 24Bit or 16Bit color for you main display
when using Mirage? (Do you normally run at 8Bit and use a seperate set file to
start Mirage?)
BTW if you have any cool Mirage settings that you would mind sharing, let me
know.
Would you like to do a "How To" about Mirage for 3DS /XP ?
Thanks for the time
See ya'
-David
>486/66 with 32 megs-O-ram, and the "real time"preview isn't even close <
I agree. My 486/66 is slower than molasses with Mirage (the preview, that is).
I saw it at Siggraph on a P90, and bought it. When I got home, all that cool
interactivity was shot. Haven't used it since. (except for playing) I don't
have the time (patience?) to tinker with it enough to know what it'll do. I
still think it's cool.
JNJ
>all that cool interactivity was shot. Haven't used it since. (except for
playing) I >don't have the time (patience?) to tinker with it enough to know
what it'll do. I still think it's cool.
My thoughts exactly.
I'm still glad I have it, but it's just one more reason to get that P90 (like I
need another reason <g>)
BTW what kind of 3D work do you do?
See ya' round
-David
David-
I do graphics for a video production house. Lots of basic stuff, like logo's,
and "info" graphics. Lately, we've been doing more complicated stuff, but
nothing really wild. We're working on chromakeying, and some compositing but
haven't gotten there yet. (no time)
On the side, I'm toying with doing a 3D type game. A basic point-n-click
type. Probably not animation. Windows based. Logos just pay the bills..
>Pentium 90
Yeah, after Siggraph I knew I had to get one. Work's been going well for me,
and it looks like I may buy one within a month or so. I definately could use
it to get stuff done quicker.
What do you do?
JNJ
David:
>> I have a quickie question about Mirage. What kind of machine are you
>> using it on?
Either one of the P-90s or a 486/66, all have 64 megs of RAM. The P-90 is
obviously faster, but I found the 486/66 usable.
I have two different 3DS.SET files, one for 256 colors, one for 16.7 million.
Greg Pyros
Thanks for the quick reply to my "quick " question.
-David
David:
Anytime!
Greg Pyros
Hi,
Yes, I'll contact you when I have free time. From the biography on the books
you're involved with, I pretty much know what kind of works you do.
Unfortunately from now to next quarter of 1995 I'm doing intense 12+ hrs/day
freelance contracted works.
Regards,
TSL
Spect:
>> Unfortunately from now to next quarter of 1995 I'm doing intense 12+
>> hrs/day freelance contracted works.
I don't know, many freelancers on the forum would not consider that unfortunate
at all! Is this all 3D Studio, or programming, or what?
Greg Pyros
Hi there,
I guess my English kind of rusted over the years. I should used "luckily"
instead of "unfortunately".
>>Is this all 3D Studio, or programming, or what?<<
It's an interactive cd-rom game for the teenage – adult market. For my part of
he production: 70% 3D Studio, 0% C+ programming, 30% live digitized video
compositing to animation [Adobe Premiere on the Macs]. I'm n o t responsible
for SGI Power Animator v5 (for detailed main character close-ups), original
musics, storyboarding & management. I'm currently in the production phase of
the project. The theme is action/adventure type. Some violence & sex, but still
have a "R" rating, not NC-17 ! Heavy video rotoscoping & compositing make less
work for 3-D Studio based character animation so I'm doing lot of futuristic &
gothic architecture modelings. We still have to finalize the title, but
temporary it's "Mentat Muadbib".
Spect
Spect:
Sounds like a fun project!
>> "Mentat Muadbib"
Sounds like it's out of the "Dune" books! I like it already!
Greg Pyros
>so I'm doing lot of futuristic & gothic architecture modelings……
I'd love to see some of your models, I'm really into gothic
architecture.
Hi Bill,
just checked — I've got v1.3, can I upgrade for free or is it more $$$?
thanks,
-Kyle
Hi, check with David at Digimation.
Bill,
thanks
-Kyle
Kyle,
The upgrade to v1.3.3 (which is the latest) is free. Just check with David at
Digimation and he'll send it right out to you.
I'm trying to find time to put several new enhancements into Mirage,
including the ability to use animated flic files for masks and a
graphical file selector, as well as a few more controls for the
ripples. I'm also considering making a BXP version that would work
like the IXP, but you would be able to apply an animated mirage
effect anywhere in 3D studio where you can load in a bitmap or flic.
For example, you can assign a mirage effect directly as a texture map
in the materials editor. This would be available to registered
Mirage users.
Aaron,
<<you would be able to apply an animated mirage effect anywhere in 3D studio
where you can load in a bitmap or flic. For example, you can assign a mirage
effect directly as a texture map in the materials editor. This would be
available to registered Mirage users.>>
-most excellent.
Here's a wishlist item
I would like to be able to control where a ripple might start. For example you
toss a rock in some water – I want to set the frame# the ripple should start
and where. This could be defined in 3D space, or coordinates of the image
resolution.
I like how the ripples and waves move together, but I think it lacks some
control of all the aspects of the wave/ripple.
Another useful way of masking would be to queue the alpha channel –
then set wether or not Mirage affects black or white parts of the
image.
Wow! Sounds good to me. Thanks Aaron, I am enjoying Mirage already and the
future u describe is even more exciting!
Bill
>>BXP -For example, you can assign a mirage effect directly as a texture map in
the materials editor. <<
That would be really cool. I'd like to see that.
JNJ
You are a tough guy to get a hold of. I have a question for you. I was planning
on showing Mirage for the user group on the tenth, and wondered if you or Gary
are up to doing the actual demonstration. I have not had as much time to fiddle
with it as I would like, and you obviously know it better than I. Eybrowse I
can handle, but I've only scratched the surface on Mirage. You or Gary up for
it? Let me know, If you can't, I'll have to cram and learn as much as I can
before the 10th.
Actually, I believe it does support an animated mask. I have spent a little
time with it, and was able to make an animated mask, though the docs could use
a little more info on it, I did get it to function.
Tim,
<<though the docs could use a little more info on it>>
yeah. I assumed that because It wasn't clearly stated in the docs that you
could use a sequence of files – so you couldn't. I guess you can!
thanks
-Kyle
I just used animated masks for the 6th time in mirage. You need to simply
specify mask*.tga (or other extension).
John Tissavary | LUNA cie, inc
John,
thanks, I guess it wasn't documented very well in the docs.
-Kyle
The docs are pretty useless, but a few minutes test driving can go a long way.
I avoid manuals unless absolutely necessary, I guess it has its advantages
sometimes <g>.
jt
I love Mirage, but them I'm a big fan of 2d graphics effects. Besides, it's
easy to integrate into 3D scenes using masking.
John Tissavary | LUNA cie, inc