CompuServe Thread

Darrin: Sorry it's been so long since your inquiry, but I was out of town. 1. Thanks for the info on the effect of swap file size on the pointer responsiveness. I'll look into it and see if there is a solution. 2. Visual Model is a full-featured modeler, including booleans and some other nice tricks to create 3D objects. Its a great first modeler, and very easy to learn so that you can turn out 3D objects quickly. However, I wouldn't recommend it for use as an architectural modeler: it doesn't have the features to handle very complex projects or those with a lot of different elements. 3. No I didn't make it to Siggraph, I was pulled to do another show. Such is life. Cheers. Nick Josephs Visual Software

Darrin: The best Architectural Modeling for Windows is Upfront (formerly by Alias now back in the hands of the original developers, SketchTech). It is an excellent 3D visualization program complete with accurate shadowcasting and full 3D and 2D dxf import and export. I recall seeing a used version for sale not to long ago, I can see if it is still available if you wish. They are due with a new release any day now (in July they promised September) but I haven't kept in touch. Hopefully it gets here before Chicago. The new version should catch up with the Macintosh version which has animation, texture mapping and transparency all within the program. I'm looking forward to more "Community" in this forum as well. I've got a couple of things to upload. I'm just no used to CIM anymore. I've been "hanging out" on AOL more often. I wonder how many Visual users use online services at all. What type of work do you do with Renderize and 3DS? sorry if this is to long. joel*

Darrin, For an architectural modeler, you might want to check out CADKEY Inc.'s DataCad. It is a DOS CAD application (they have announced a Widows version is on the way) specifically for architecture. This is a long established program with a lot of credibility in the architectural community. They are currently running a promotional pricing of $150 for the professional version. If you want more info, you could go CADKEY and sniff around their forum. I understand that DataCads DXF output works very well with Renderize. Robb

Darrin, I just learned about this forum for Visual Software, and read your message to Nick Josephs of 15-Aug. I am an architect specializing in architectural illustration, and have been using Renderize to some extent for over a year. Regarding your problem with the sluggish cursor during disk access of the swap file: I have been searching in vain for a solution to this problem ever since I enlarged my swap file from 30 Mb to 80Mb. It drives me nuts. The only thing that I know for sure is that the magnitude of the problem is directly proportional to the size of the swap file (I've tried a number of different sizes from 30Mb to over 80Mb). The cursor problem manifests itself in other software that accesses the swap file, particularly Micrografx Picture Publisher. I have been intending to call Visual Software about the problem, but now that this forum exists, perhaps Nick will be able to respond. Regarding your architectural modeler question: The only modeling software that I have used is Upfront, until recently known as Alias Upfront. Alias has returned the distribution rights back to SketchTech, Inc. I have been very satisfied with Upfront and I am eagerly awaiting Version 2 for Windows which SketchTech says will be ready by the end of October. (I have Version 1.1 for Windows) Version 2 for the Macintosh has been available for some time. Upfront exports DXF files which import flawlessly into Renderize. Some other notable aspects of Upfront are: Created by architects for mostly architects; sun shadows displayed for any time/date/location in the world; the model creating working views are always in perspective with shaded surfaces and hidden lines removed (unless you choose otherwise); 256 named layers manipulated in a very nice spreadsheet format; accurate dimensional input via keyboard or on-screen rulers; import a photograph and match the model perspective to that of the photo; 2D & 3D DXF import; export 3D DXF, WMF, TIFF, PCX, & BMP and some other file formats; easy to use and relatively bug-free, in my opinion. There is one problem area and that is occasional improper sorting of some surfaces for display apparently due to conditions such as non-planar surfaces, &/or intersecting surfaces that have not been resolved by cutting at their intersections; the software does not provide any assistance in finding the offending surfaces and often the surfaces that are not displaying correctly may not be the ones causing the problem. I originally purchased Upfront to construct perspectives to be traced over for manual rendering; I still frequently do this. I then found that clients were interested in some illustrations printed directly from Upfront -particularly somewhat diagramatic overall views of complicated subjects. I then began enhancing Upfront bitmap exports in Picture Publisher, which is very much like doing a manual rendering utilizing the computer. I really have not used Renderize all that much yet, but am trying to do more with it on appropriate projects. If you are interested in checking out Upfront, here is their contact information: SketchTech Inc. 43 Main St., Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Tel: 612-379-1435 -Richard