#Is Vis. Reality for me?
9 messages in this thread
Michael –
Thanks for yours. Hadn't heard about DCAD's 3D version for Windows.
Previously, ASBC had announced that DesignCAD 3D was coming out with a render
program, similar in output to Renderize Live. Wonder if that's part of the
Windows version.
Good luck with the demo.
— gtm —
I don't think the improved rendering program is included in the upcoming
release, based on the review I read. I did hear, though, that Corel is buying
the DCAD3D code and packaging it in a suite with a rendering program, to be
released toward the end of 1995.
Michael, I've been using Renderize and Visual Software products for about a
year and a half now and have found the program very useful as a product design
rendering program for CAD databases. I use a solid modeler called ProEngineer
that outputs STL files to Renderize. DXF files give you much more flexibility
in material and surface assignments so if DCAD3D is able to output DXF then you
are all set. I find that VR gives me the ability to do quick and dirty "sketch"
level renderings up to very close to photo-realistic stuff. The font tools and
image editing modules have also been helpful in post rendering "tweeking" of
images and the image output options cover most file formats. I am able to
output a high rez image to a ".tif" file and get an iris print from a service
bureau that just knocks my clients socks off. I also able to make lower rez
images that can be viewed on any MS windows paint program.
I play with the animation features but find the still rendering output to be
the best to give to clients. As far as learning it, something just clicked with
this software. I did a lot of playing around with CAD rendering packages trying
to find what would work for me. Those programs were all very limited and never
seemed to cut it. Also tried a low end Wavefront product and a product called
Electro Gig. The common thread with these products was the fact that they would
read ProEngineer files. VR did it all and was very easy for me to pick up. I
did a lot of background reading on PC rendering and took a one day course on
basic rendering theory. This seemed to help with understanding what the program
was doing and made it easier to pick up. I'm an industrial designer and have
been thinking in 3d for years so this also made things go easier.
Long and short of it is check out the demo and "buy it" its good stuff.
Bernie Maurer
Bernie, I am the CEO of Visual and I read with interest your comments about
using VR with ProE. We are currently examnining stengthening our relationship
with ProE and I would enjoy discussing this with you further. If you would
forward your phone number perhaps I could ask you some questions.
Douglas, I would love to talk to you about ProE and VR. I think it is a great
combo and tell every ProE user about the software. They have intentionally not
taken the rendering end of their software that far with the intention of
allowing 3rd party rendering software take up the slack. I had a heck of a time
finding a good package that did not cost an arm and a leg and converted .stl
files. When I first bought VR (then called Renderize)the .stl converter was not
up and working and I converted my .stl files from ProE into a crude form of
.DXF file that did the job. When your .stl converter was included in a later
release it was show time. I think you guys could check out the high end
engineering modeling software market. All high end software (SDRC, Euclid,
Unigraphics, ProE, Catia) have .stl output and their rendering modules cost a
heck of a lot more than VR. Enough already…I'll mail you my phone number.
Bernie
Thank you for your reply. I have been on the fence about getting Renderize and
your feedback helps.
You mention having taken a one-day course on rendering theory. Where did you
find such a course?
I am an engineer, not an industrial designer, and I imagine such a course would
do me a lot of good.
Thanks,
Michael Katz
Michael, I took that course at Northeastern University offered on a Saturday.
It was offered through the ACM (association of Computing Machinery, some name
hugh)in Massachusetts. Not sure where you live but you might have a local
chapter. Just luck that I found it, havn't seen it offered since. You could
find a book on the basics and that would probably do the trick. A publisher
called "SAMS" seems to have a good selection but I do not have any of their
titles handy. Also a book called Desktop Computer Animation by Gregory MacNicol
(Butterworth-Heinemann Stoneham MA)was published in 1992 but also has a good
simple background in rendering. Got to watch books though, they become out of
date quickly with technology being what is. Good luck Bernie
Bernie,
Thanks for the information. I will look for the books that you mentioned.