CompuServe Thread

>> I'm writing an article on Computer Graphics, animation Hi Andy, Dont forget the people who do it just for the fun. They use STs Amigas and PCs. They are alot cheaper than a SG. OK 🙂 Andy,UK

>I'm writing an article on Computer Graphics, animation and multimedia. >I would like to include some information about the use of Silicon Graphics.. Are you doing your article on just SGI's or all 3D animation? That there are more professional 3D/Computer graphics people based on Macs, and PC's than with SGI's.. If you want to be all inclusive, you'll need to cover the bases.. Some of the biggest 3D programs outside of the SGI arena are: 1. 3DS- PC based, used for everything from CD-ROM games development (7th Guest, for example), industrial/commercial graphics & ID's, etc. 3DS offers a variety of plug-in's called IPAS' that offer many things that even SGI's don't include.. at a fraction of the cost. 2. Lightwave- Amiga based (with new versions coming out for PC's, and others) Lightwave has been most notably used for the graphics of several tv series in the US. Babylon 5, and SeaQuest are both done with the program. 3. Electric Image- Mac based. Not a modeller, but a good renderer, and animation program. Also has plug-in's, but not as extensive as 3DS at this time. Many of EI's users use modellers like FormZ, and MacroModel for object creation. 4. OTHERS I know I blew by alot of other 3D programs, especially for the Mac. Several of which are quite good. I'm not up with all the Mac software, so I know I've missed some. I'm sure somebody will chime in and fill in the voids. I use 3DS, which I believe is a great program- with great features available with the IPAS'. These range from modeling tools, to particle systems, and other wild stuff. The big programs I'm aware of for the SGI are: Alias Power Animator SoftImage Wavefront I hope this helps a bit.. John

Where will your article appear?

Andy, SGI is used for mostly major applications (with a lot of bucks) However the bulk of 3D aniamtions is still done on more discrete platforms like PC MAC and AMIGA. And a lot of those animations are as good as any animations created on an SGI. I know of some Belgian companies that have SGI's but the bulk of there work for broadcast TV goes through 3DS, however if you look for users of SGI machines, I think you have to look for people working for big TV networks, and sometimes even the networks themselves.