#???????(from a Mac user)
3 messages in this thread
I am a mac user who for the last year has been evaluating faster platforms for
doing 3-D. I was impressed by Seaquest and B5, but did not really consider the
Amiga until the Screamer was announced….. Anyway I know very little about
Amigas, or Lightwave, and If anyone can help me with the following I would
appreciate it!
1.) Can lightwave read any common geometry formats like DXF or IGES making it
possible to model on a faster platform and then render in Lightwave? Has
anyone tried this and are there bugs (faces that dont render etc)
2.) Is the Toaster/Lightwave combo available on a 68040 based Amiga? What are
wireframe redraw/regen times like?
3.) Were Seaquest's and B5's models built in Lightwave? Does it have CAD
features like grids, snap points, and object layers? (i.e. how do you manage a
large model without going crazy). What is it's polygon limit?
Well that's a start. Thanks in advance for any help!
Charles Brush
P.S. I read in AV video that NewTek dumped Windows NT as the Screamer's OS,
opting for a proprietary OS that makes the Screamer incompatible with other
animation packages. Is this true? If so it's really dissapointing! Rendering
on 4-R4400s is great, but you still have to model on an '030 or '040 and this
wastes a lot of time (this is where Indys and Indigos really shine). NewTek
could have competed directly with SGIs multi-processor machines. I'll bet a
lot of SoftImage and Alias users would have bought Screamers if they were
marketed correctly. They're sure a lot cheaper than an SGI Onyx or Crimson for
raw rendering power.
Best bet is to pickup a few issues of Video Toaster User magazine and
AV/Video to get Toaster/lightwave info. If memory serves Lightwave has a
TIO to allow you to load DXF's, if not there's always Syndesis Interchange
Plus. As far as I lknow all the model from Seaquest and Babylon 5 were
created in Lightwaves modeler. John Gross who works on Seaquest is here
often and is a Fount of USEFUL info. You might also look into getting the
"Lightwave Pro" newsletter which John Gross is the Editor of. Not having a
68040 or a Toaster I can't say what the redraw speeds are but I'm sure
alot of folks here will be able to tell you.
Charles,
1. LW can read DXF, 3DS, Sculpt, Wavefront and with the help of 3rd party
products, a score of others.
2. LightWave is available on any speed Amiga. Amigas are a little
different in that you can upgrade processors on a card, so you could buy a
stock 68000 (actually not available anymore except used) and upgrade it to
a 68040.
3. seaQuest's and B5's models were definitely built in LightWave Modeler.
It does have CAD features such as grids, snap points, and layers (8). The
poly limit for any one model is 65000 polys. Large objects such as the
seaQuest and the B5 station are actually made up of many smaller objects
that are just parented together.
No comment about the Screamer…
JG