#Render on more systems
7 messages in this thread
I am admittedly just a beginner with your software. I am truly impressed. I
sure as I do more with it I will have more questions, but right now I have just
a couple.
1. In the manual it states that it is possible to have the render module
installed on other machines (without the dongle?) so that the processing can be
divided up. I tried this, but while RENDER would access the .cho file, it
would not let me access a background (just tried it with the aquarium
tutorial). Am I missing something?
2. I've tried creating new projects according to the way the manual says it's
supposed to work, but it ain't workin'. Again, I must be doing something
wrong. I can save files to new directories, but they don't show up in the
Projects window.
3. Can a patch have more than 4 control points?
Thanks
Charlie
Charlie,
Playmation and AM are very sensitive to the directory structures… It seems
that both problems you describe have to do with this…
If you take the .cho files for rendering to another machine, you have to make
sure that everything else is moved and addressed there as well…
Spend some time reading all the file formats (.cho, .fig, .seg .col,
sur, .att and so on) in Notepad: you will be surprised with how clear and
simple the format and concept is… Right there you will know the reasons when
something doesn't render right. I even assigned all those extensions to Notepad
for quick editing… The PROJECTS.HSH file is where you make the address
changes on different machines – a simple Notepad job!
As for patches; more than 4 points make a hole — no surface.
Regards-
Pawel
<<As for patches; more than 4 points make a hole — no surface.>>
OK, I have a right triangle that I imported from a DXF. I extruded it into a
wedge shape. Even though the face of the triangle has only three points it is
still a hole. Is this something peculiar to DXF imports or do I need to do
something to make it a patch?
Charlie
>>>Even though the face of the triangle has only three points it is still a
hole.
It probably has to do with the way the triangles are translated to splines…
If the 3 points are not conected (try to drag each control point on your
triangle and see if all the lines are attached) they will make a hole… I
learned to avoid the DXF import as much as I can… The few ways I do it is for
flat, 2D shapes created in Corel. I put the control points exactly where I want
in Corel, than convert all curves to straignt lines before exporting to DXF.
This way the program will not try to determine where to add points on your
curve. The best way to bring your type or logos from Corel…
>>>Is this something peculiar to DXF imports or do I need to do something to
make it a patch?
You never know… the DXF started working only recently (2.07) so it is quite
possible that you still might be discovering some problems… Also, I don't
think too many people had illusions that you can just take a DXF shape and
painlessly turn it into splines and patches… After all, the triangle idea is
exactly what Playmation was running away in its very concept… You might have
a much better luck with 3D programs that don't use triangles in their DXF
exports (Caligari TrueSpace comes to mind)
Pawel
Pawel,
Could it be that Charlie's problem is that all 3 points are in the same
spline? I know a spline can't make a patch.
Ron
>>>Could it be that Charlie's problem is that all 3 points are in the same
spline?
It is possible… You never know what the DXF will bring in …
Pawel
With any simple DXF that is brought in, you must create a face (connect splines
accross the front) to keep it from forming a hole (a peculiarity in translating
DXF to splines) all 2D DXFs will extrude as holes unless you create faces on
them….
Steve, Hash Inc.