#Imagine 3.1 Questions
11 messages in this thread
Hello there! I'm new to Compuserve and I've been using Imagine 3.1 for the
past month or so, and I have a few questions I hope someone can answer. I
don't ask questions until I've gone through the manual and could not find the
answer there, so here they are:
1) How does the METALS texture work? In the text file, METALS was
overlooked, and I have no idea of what the input boxes for the parameters
relate to. How do I make something gold or brass or chrome, etc., and how do I
apply a finish (smooth, bumpy, peened, etc.)?
2) Suppose I have two objects. Is there an easy way to copy and
apply the attributes of object one to object two?
3) Hardware question: In the attributes box, the object color is
dithered but I have a Diamond Viper video card with 2MB of ram, so it can
support 16 million colors. Do you have any idea why the object color is
dithered?
Thank you in advance for your attention.
Joe Vicas
Hi Joe, and welcome! Let me see if I can answer most of your questions.
>> 1) How does the METALS texture work?
Here's the snipit from the Texture doc file I have:
———-
Metals Texture
Type: Color, Reflect, Bump.
This texture was put together so I could have consistent and pre-packaged
metallic textures. The requester lets you pick from 6 metal looks (Gold,
Brass, Copper, Chrome, Silver, and Aluminum), and 6 finishes (Smooth, Bumpy,
Peened, Scratched, Pebbled, and Crumpled). It also lets you set how highly
polished (how reflective) the object is or (if you use an antiquable texture)
how much antiquing is used. As a default, the texture sets the object to be
highly reflective. The Requester doesn't give any hints to this, but the
textures can be scaled be changing the size of the texture axis.
Requester:
Metal Number: Enter the number of the requested metal – the numbers are
explained on the requester itself.
Dull/Polished: This parameter turns the reflectivity of the metals
down/up. (0=100% DULL, 1=100% Polished
Finish: Enter the number of the surface texture you want to use –
The numbers are explained on the requester itself.
Antique: This parameter adds antiquing to metals with bumpy
finishes on them. (Value ranges from 0 – 1.0)
sample object: primitive sphere
———–
Keep in mind, that metal surfaces get their look from what they reflect in
their environment. So either place the object in a scene, or apply a
reflection map to it to get the full effect.
>>
2) Suppose I have two objects. Is there an easy way to copy and apply the
attributes of object one to object two?
<<
The APPLY function will do just that. Select object one, then SHIFT select
object2, object3, etc. Then select APPLY. The attributes of object one will
be transferred to the other objects/groups.
-OR-
Select object one, then From the ATTRIBUTES requestor click on SAVE. This
allows you to save that objects attributes to a file. Then, having selected
object2, enter the ATTRIBUTES requestor and LOAD the attributes you just saved.
>> 3) Hardware question: In the attributes box, the object color is dithered
Imagine's editors only use 640×480 16color modes. Therefore the swatch is
dithered. Imagine 3.2 has been said to allow user defineable screen sizes for
the editors as well as 256 colors.
Hope this helps you a bit Joe.
-GreG
GreG: Thank you very much! Your answers were exactly what I needed. I guess
I wasn't seeing any results because I rendered the object against a black
background, so there was nothing to reflect. BTW, I just want to mention that
I've used 3D Studio and Chrystal Topas, and they are very good programs with
their own strong points and weaknesses, but I use Imagine almost exclusively
now because I really LOVE it!
Thanks again,
Joe
>>…but I use Imagine almost exclusively now because I really LOVE it!
Joe,
I'm very happy you enjoy it! There are many people that use Imagine with other
renderers. Like you said, each has it's week points and strong points. I know
of people who use both 3DS, or Lightwave, but all their modelling is done in
Imagine. Go figure. <g>
Have a ton of fun, and stop by the Graphics User Group A forum (GO GUGRPA)
where the Imagine User Group section resides.
-GreG
GreG : Thanks for the information. I'll be sure to drop by the forum. One
thing that I wanted to mention though, was that before I bought Imagine, people
told me horror stories about the interface not being friendly to users
accustomed to DOS and that the learning curve went straight up, well, I don't
know about anyone else, but I had no problems at all in that regard. I was
very surprised that I had so little trouble adapting and I'm in a constant
state of astonishment discovering just what Imagine can do, or rather, what can
be done with Imagine.
Last but not least, I kind of feel like a yutz, because after I posted my
message here, I found the APPLY command in the manual. Egads.
Again, thank you for your help,
Joe
>>
I don't know about anyone else, but I had no problems at all in that regard. I
was very surprised that I had so little trouble adapting and I'm in a constant
state of astonishment discovering just what Imagine can do, or rather, what can
be done with Imagine.
<<
Joe,
I've heard horror stories about many software packages. So I usually try not
to listen to them, and go in with a fresh, untainted view. I see you have
also, and it seems to have worked for you.
I'm still finding out what can be done with Imagine. There are so many
different looks that can be achieved, effects that can be produced, etc., that
it's overwhelming at times.
Looking forward to seeing what a new user with a fresh outlook can come up
with. Feel free to share some of your work with the rest of us!
-GreG
GreG: When I create something that I'm happy with, I sure will upload it. For
now though, it's experiment time. Got to learn to walk before I can run. But
I'll tell you this: I'm so excited that I feel like a little kid at Christmas,
no kidding. I just made a simple test animation with some type and the quality
is really terrific! Yeah, I'm sure you'll be hearing from me.
Joe
>> For now though, it's experiment time.
Joe,
Feel free to ask for tips, suggestions, techniques, etc. over in GUGRPA forum
when you feel the need to.
>>
But I'll tell you this: I'm so excited that I feel like a little kid at
Christmas, no kidding.
<<
The best thing about that feeling Joe, is that it never stops. Every time you
see something that YOU created, something that existed only in your minds eye
only a few minutes, hours, days ago, that feeling will be there! Have a great
time!
-GreG
GreG: Thanks, I will to everything you mentioned. BTW, I went over to the
Imagine User Group and downloaded all of the messages. Quite a group here <g>!
Reading the messages was a revelation. I can't wait to try all of the things
that were mentioned, the problem is that my time is somewhat limited (sigh).
I'm also going to download some of the images in the library. There's nothing
like looking at other images to get your own creative juices going. I'm an
artist by profession and I find that looking at other artist's work always
provides a jolt to not only do more work, but to do better work.
Also, I do have another question about the METALS texture, (thought you were
done with that, didn't you? <g>). OK, I use the 4 boxes adjacent(?) to Metal
Numbers:, Finished:, Dull/Polished, and Antique. The image comes out looking
fine. I couldn't ask for better. BUT, what are the other 12 boxes used for?
When I put numbers in them, the image doesn't seem to change at all.
Thanks for everything.
Joe
>>
BUT, what are the other 12 boxes used for? When I put numbers in them, the
image doesn't seem to change at all.
<<
Joe,
Depending on the texture, not all boxes are used. So entering values in them
won't have any effect as the textures themseleves only access the boxes they
need to.
-GreG
GreG: OK. I find it a bit odd that there are boxes that aren't needed, but so
long as I get the texture I want, it's no problem. BTW, Happy Thanksgiving!
Joe