#Black Belt & ALADDIN 4D
19 messages in this thread
Ben,
Just wondering if you new if there was a support are or topic dealing
with the New ALADDIN 4D animation package?
Or better yet do you know of any other Black belters who are using
this application?
Lee
Don't know a thing about it, sorry about that.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Lee,
I am using Aladdin (somewhat).
Jonathan, via AutoPilot // Only Amiga makes
\\// it possible…
JH,
Well what do you think of it and have you done any animations with it
yet?
What system do you have and what other applications like Aladdin 4D
do you have?
Lee
Lee,
I have an Amiga 2000, 8megs fast ram, '28mhz '030, 50mhz '882. Real big
hard drive…:) running under WB2.1, currently.
My impressions of Aladdin…I think that the modeler stinks, period. Very
counter-intuititive in many ways. I do not think that there is enough
flexibility.
I like everthing else, tho. For the most part, the rest is nice and easy,
especially the animation features. I have done a few minor anims, nothing
important yet.
The texture features are great, too. If they would only get their
modeling upgraded…yowzah!
One other thing…the docs stink, especially their weird page numbering
scheme. It renders the index useless.
Since you guys are software publishers, I would love to hear what you
think.
Jonathan, via AutoPilot // Only Amiga makes
\\// it possible…
JH,
We have an A3000 with 18 MEGS of Ram, IVP-24 Craphics card, DC-TV and
125MEG HD pluss 44MEG Syquest on the SCSI line.
I would have to agree about the manual, it is just about as bad as
the Imagin manual. Where I get real critical is when an instruction is flat
wrong or so poorly written that you are unable to make the tool or function
operate.
With respect to the modeler…thats a bit hard to say. I have heard
many users both praise and condem a modeler. If you have a head for three
dimentional visulation most modelers can be made to creat just about
anything. We are currently moving our office so we havent had much time to
use our copy. Right aftere Christmass/NewYear we will be moved and Have
more time to work with the program.
Lee
Lee,What are you guys keeping tabs on the competition?Hows the SGI
software coming along?
PG,
What compatition? what Amiga products even begin to approach SGI
animation applications?
As you very well know I am always interested in user interfaces and
how others approach solving problems of the animators vs the Programmers.
the only way to do that is use as many different types of applications that
do the same job. In this way we can avoid the really bad design approaches
we see and better understand the thinking of good solutions.
SGI is coming along fine we hope to be announcing a release date in
Computer Pictures and Computer graphics this coming spring.
BTW it is now possible to buy an IRIS INDIGO for less than an A3/4000
with Toaster and full Ram HD ect….:-) Computer graphics houses that once
drooled over the AMIGA and Toaster are jumping to INDIGO at the Rate of 20
a day or so I was told by an SGI-based software rep last week.
Sense we don't sell HWD and have no direct info on this it is hard to
say how accurate the comment might be. I do know the price structure is
correct how ever.
How would you like to work in 1280X1024 True color all day?
We do!
Sleep Tight!!
Lee
I'm curious about the IRIS INDIGO….how much is 3D software for that
box?
Steve
Uh, last I heard WaveFront was selling for a cool $25grand. (Not including
the hardware.)
Not these days, the prices have fallen through the floor. I know one new
INDIGO convert that got a Full Wave front package including all the latest
modules for inder $12K.
This means that with the basic INDIGO he spent less than $20K for a system
with 32Meg RAM, 450MEG HD running at 30MIPS+ and had a vull Video software
thrown in to fill out the package.
he has a complete Computer Graphics system, he can do independent jobs or
do contract work for any major animation House in the country and be fully
compatable.
We have $18K invested in an A3000 with all the add on Ram, HDs Craphics
cards Controlers and 3 Major Animation Packages. And as any AMIGA owner
knows we don't have anything approaching 30MIPS in the system.
Lee
Steve,
Depending on what you want to do it can go from on-line shareware to
as much as you want to spend.
The system comes with an application called "Showcase" which is a combo- WP
using Post-Script fonts and which includes audio and Video applications to
do sound and MIDI stuff/ and an Application called Media Mosaic, which has
a real time capture in 24BIT with up to 1280X1024 in True Color, there is
also a video(Movie) builder which produces .IMS files that can be run in
real time on the monitor or through a Video Card. There are severl "film"
players as well as tools for editing .IMS files. Of course you can do
animations with this system. There are a fair number of exceptional Art and
media applications that run in the 1 to 2 K price range. There are several
new animation packages that produce commerical professional animations (3D)
in the 3 to 12 K range.
The real power is in the speed and the fact that the basic system has
all the day to day tools you need and graphics cards are very inexpensive,
even compaired to the AMIGA world.
That and the fact that when you boot the system for the first time
you are also compatable with nearily all high end systems in use today.
Lee
You've pretty much confirmed what I expected….once you've got the basic
system, you'll still have to invest a lot more money on the software in
order to get the job done. The basic hardware is there, but the extra
software adds up fast.
Steve
Steve,
Well that's a yes and no propasition, If you want to you can get an
INDIG with a Full set of Professional software for as little as $16K. This
is a package deal which will get better and better as the 93 season
continues.
It is alo true that you can spend way to much for software.
It all depends on what you want to do and how you want to use your
resources.
Take me as an example, First I am an artist and animatior. Way back in 1983
I wone the First local TV EMMY for best Technical achievement, I used an
8Bit Computer as part of my work. Ever sense then I have been interested in
the potential of the computer as an artist's tool.
Now I have a very nice A3000 this Black belt/DCTV and other hardware like
IVP24 Card. I also have all the major software like Imagine, ALADDIN 4D,
Sculpt 3D, SILVER. ect and so on. In addition I have ATARI stuff and
Silicon Graphics too.
The reason for all this is to search for the kinds of tools to do the work
I am interested in doing and producing the very best software possible.
There is really no single set up or single machine that can do the best
job, at least in animation. The proof of this is in looking carfully at
what the professional houses do. You would be surprised how bad they dom
some of their work can be and how much truly bad work goes on the cutting
room floor. Often times it is because they just have one solution.
In any case keep your eye on the whole graphics market for what you feel
will be best for you.
Lee /exit
Lee
I use Aladdin 4D and would love to see some sharing of experiences and
learnings. Still a beginner in the world of 3D but find this package
very encouraging of budding ideas.
—Robert—
RC,
Well then we should start a topic on this application and begin. How
about describing Aladdin 4D and what you have done so far. What about your
out-put? DCTV, Single-frame ect?
How do you like the modeler and the texture mapping? any problems
with it? What other applications do you have and how do they compare with
Aladdin 4D?
I have the software and the hardware, but am in the process of moving
my office so it will be several weeks before I am up and running again.
Lee
I've done some flying logo type stuff for a video for my company. As well
as played around with the typical SF type space scences. Am currently
working on an office set animation for a marketing video. I output to DCTV
usually a DCTV-3 as I have no single frame capability :-(. Record to Hi-8
then edit to VHS.
The texture mapping I love and find pretty intuitive. The modeler is good
in many respects but is missing some useful functions. Like the ability to
multiple select individual points on a polygon and move them as a group.
You have to move individual points or the entire polygon. I also wish
there was a way to name groups and select them. The animation capabilities
a very extensive. The rendering speeds are pretty good on my 2000 with GVP
030 at 40 board the great thing is it will render directly to DCTV or Opal
so I don't have to wait for the entire frame to check changes. Just hit
the escape key and E the return to editor to adjust and make more changes.
It really encourages experimenation.
Other software – Imagine 2.0 🙂 I just gave up on this one. And just
bought a Toaster for Xmas so I'm looking forward to learning LW. But am
going to miss the ability to render directly to my DCTV.
BTW if you plan to use Aladdin I highly reccommend subscribing to the
"Magic Lamp" newsletter. I was a Draw4D-Pro user and found the newsletter
veryt helpful and well worth thge $36. Also if you can find someone with a
Draw 4D-Pro manual it is much-much better than A4D for learning the
modeler and basics thought the handling of attributes and textures has
totally changed.
—Robert—
Robert,
Thanks for the comments, I have Draw4D pro and received the update.
Thanks for the input.
Lee