HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jonathan@rahul.net (Jonathan Heiliger)
Subject: Re: Matrox Studio
Reply-To: jonathan@mecca.epri.com
Organization: Electric Power Research Institute
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 17:45:07 GMT

Neal Wickham (nwickham@nyx.cs.du.edu) wrote:
> In article <ksPPXB3w165w@gilligan.tsoft.net> bbs.mirage@gilligan.tsoft.net 
(Jerry Lee) writes:

> Yeah... you don't want a Toaster, there's going to be a second generation
> ToasterII for the new A4000 which will probably sell for the same $2,500
> so don't go buying a crummy old Toaster.  :)  Geese, how long has the 
Toaster
> been around? ...3 years???  That's old in computer years!  :)

   B.S.  The Toaster doesn't cost $2,500; that's what they tell you.  For a 
decently equipped system (68030-25MHz), 8mb of RAM, and a 120mb HD will run 
at least $4,000.
 
 
-- 
Jonathan Heiliger .... Electric Power Research Institute
Senior Animation Engineer ... 3412 Hillview Ave. 
Internet: jonathan@mecca.epri.com .. Palo Alto, CA
Telephone <*> [415].855.2888 ....... 94303
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: christ@crash.cts.com (Chris Trichel)
Subject: Mac Version of POV
Organization: CTS Network Services (crash, ctsnet), El Cajon, CA
Date: 25 Jan 93 17:19:27 GMT

Can anyone tell me where the Mac version of POV is up? Archie is no
help cause I can't tell what version is what... also if you could
give me an exact path name... (I have to use mail servers to 'FTP'
stuff)

thanx mucho

Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: mnemonic@netcom.com (Rev Lebaredian)
Subject: Re: 3-D Objects
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 13:22:15 GMT

cfury@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Chris Fury) writes:
: Could somebody tell me where I could get my hands on a mess o'
: 3d objects?

Does anybody know a place besides the typical imagine mirrors?

Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: nowinski@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Andrew Nowinski)
Subject: Resolutions
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 16:18:54 GMT


How many pixels can fit on one line until a VGA to NTSC encoder
on a PC cannot encode further? 

Is there program with a frame buffer that can hold a picture in a
resolution like 768x480 24-bit color on a PC? And when recorded
to NTSC it will look different from a resolution like 640x480
24-bit color?

Are there any PC programs that can generate images in 768x480 
24-bit color and display the whole image on the screen without
going over the borders?  

Is there a difference when looking at a video that has been
recorded with a resolution of 768x480 24-bit color and one that
has a resolution of 640x480 24-bit color?

Thanks in advance.

--
Jack Nowinski 
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: Jack Palevich <Jack_Palevich@Taligent.Com>
Subject: Re: Macintosh PlayMation experience
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A78CAB41E501C1CC@kip-10.taligent.com>
X-Xxdate: Wed, 27 Jan 93 05:12:33 GMT
Organization: Taligent, Inc.
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d17
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 05:12:29 GMT

In article <1993Jan26.024907.1777@midway.uchicago.edu> chris williams,
chrisw@fciad2.bsd.uchicago.edu writes:
>   Intuitive in the real sense, or "intuitive" is the Mac-buzzword sense?
>Press the "g" key for group. Press "Return" to un-group all. About two
minutes
>to get it, tops.

No offence, but we just aren't going to agree on this issue -- you think
intuitive means "easy to learn, and powerful once learned", while I think
it means "doesn't require learning". Try this test: Get five novices,
hand them the program and a list of tasks to do, and sit back and see if
they can do the tasks without _any_ prompting from you or from the
manual. Some of the best Mac user interfaces (Finder, ClarisWorks)
actually pass this test. I somehow doubt Playmation would. Often the
changes required to make an interface pass my definition of intuitive are
quite small, and do not require much recoding (nor much relearning on the
part of the veteran users). The trick is to be really honest about the
test -- it's no fair prompting the novices to "help" them over the rough
spots.

> 
>>Spline curvatures are edited by nonintuitive curvature control
parameters
>>attached to the nodes, 
> 
>   Complain to Ed Catmull. Catmull-Rom splines behave differently than
the
>Bezier splines that you are used to. The advantages of these splines
for...

I beg your pardon. I don't deal with Bezier curves -- I'm used to
genuine, grade-a NURBs, thank you very much! :-)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: Jack Palevich <Jack_Palevich@Taligent.com>
Subject: Macintosh PlayMation experience
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A78779BD3F02C1FC@kip-58.taligent.com>
X-Xxdate: Sat, 23 Jan 93 22:39:57 GMT
Organization: Taligent, Inc.
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d14
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 06:33:36 GMT

I bought the Macintosh verson of Playmation, and I'm not entirely
satisfied with it.

Playmation is available on the Amiga, the Macintosh, and Windows. It's
originally an Amiga program, and it's kept its Amiga style user interface
as it's moved from machine to machine.

Pros:
 * Cheap! $300, plus another $100 if you want the not-yet-released 24-bit
renderer.
 * Superb character animation features. You can use animated motions as
subroutines. You can edit the individual surface definition points. You
can use a "spine" to quickly animate complex objects.
 * Nice incremental redraw in modeler.
 * Spline surfaces. No more jaggy polygons.
 * Supports QuickTime
 * Comes with lots of sample models and animations.
 * Comes with a tutorial video.
 * Files are ASCII, and they provide limited documentation of the file
format on their BBS system.

Cons:
 * Weird user interface. Doesn't work like a Mac program. Limited Undo.
 * Comes in five stand-alone pieces. (Model objects, apply surface
attributes, combine objects into actors and design animation subroutines,
combine actors, render.)
 * Crashes all the time. (This is the first release; quality may improve
in time.)
 * Has trouble rendering; often fails part-way through an animation. Some
of the sample animations, like "Desert" are too complex to render at all.
(You get a dialog box which says "111". How helpful.) This isn't a memory
or Init or CPU problem, or at least it shows up on both a IIci with 8M
and a Quadra 950 with 32M.
 * Slow renderer. Only allows ray-tracing.
 * Only renders 320 x 200 x 8, which is pretty crude by Mac standards.
 * Crashes if run from a disk other than the boot disk.
 * If you put up the large preview screen on a 640 x 480 monitor, the
window controls, including the close box, are off the screen, so you
can't close it. (Makes it hard to do anything else with the program, as
well.)
From: nowinski@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Andrew Nowinski)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
Subject: Video and Animation
Date: 25 Jan 93 17:52:34 GMT
Organization: University of Waterloo


Does Matrox Studio produce a RS-170A signal? Is Matrox Studio
used in any TV shows for titles or animation? 

How many colours do Mathematica's Tempra programs have?
Can animation be done with the pictures?
What resolution will the finished animation have and how many
colours will it have?

Which computer is the best for desktop video? 

What resolution does 3D Studio by Autodesk use? How many colours
does it have? Can it be recorded to NTSC?

What resolution does Autodesk Animator Pro have? How many colours
does it use? Can it be recorded to NTSC?

I heard of a animation program called AT&T GLS TOPAS. Is it good?
What resolution does it have? How many colours does it use?
Can it be recorded to NTSC?


Thanks in advance.

--
Jack Nowinski
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: pockets@netcom.com (Sean C. Cunningham)
Subject: Re: Macintosh PlayMation experience
Organization: Metrolight Studios, L.A.
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 18:23:54 GMT

First: Hash does NOT USE CATMULL-ROM SPLINES.  They are loosly based on C-R
splines but they have more control at the CV level that C-R splines.  Also,
Hash splines creat three-CV patches rather than four-CV patches.
 
Second: There is nothing "grade-a" or "genuine" about NURBS...nor is there
anything "standard" about them.  NURBS have been a pain in my side for the
greater part of a year.  Oh  I've created some nice things with NURBS, but
it was a very painful process.


-- 
                       DISCLAIMER: I'm my own person

    // "ocketsPay,                    /         Real World: Sean C. Cunningham
  \X/   ethay onderWay oyBay"       (M-          MetroLand: sean@iris13
                                      \           Internet: pockets@netcom.com

                           Metrolight Studios, L.A.

Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: shf@well.sf.ca.us (Stuart H. Ferguson)
Subject: Re: Amiga Power (Was RE: Babylon 5)
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 11:01:07 GMT

+--- gavin@krypton.asd.sgi.com (Gavin Bell) writes:
| In <107605@bu.edu> kiki@csa.bu.edu (Keith Baccki) writes:
| >[...]	The primary focus should be on PROCESSING POWER [...]
|  [...] The human time and expertise needed to model and animate
| is usually a much bigger cost factor.

An excellent point, Gavin.  This is why smaller shops like Toasters.
They can have one on the desk of each animator and modeler, instead
of having them line up to use fewer, more expensive machines.
-- 
		Stuart Ferguson		(shf@well.sf.ca.us)
			Prepare to Surge to Sublight Speed!
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: johnc@porsche.cs.rpi.edu (John Colasante)
Subject: Amiga hi-res monitor
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Computer Science, Troy NY
Distribution: comp.graphics.animation
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 15:21:41 GMT


Can someone please explain what resolution is acceptable to
produce commercial quality animation with an Amiga? In other
words is 640x400 good for videotape. What other hi-res options
are available for use with Amiga? I am interested in large
screens and many colors. What comes with the Amiga out of the
box and what do you need to purchase that is extra.

Thanks in advance.

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
John Colasante		  		johnc@porsche.cs.rpi.edu

Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: djs55750@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (the man )
Subject: Please help...looking for Grasp/XGrasp
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 18:23:34 GMT

Hi there, I am not even sure if I am on the right newsgroup...but:

I recently came across some files that had the general format of *.gl
Someone told me these were animated pics, and I would need a Grasp or XGrasp
program to view them.  Is this correct, and if so, where can I get this?  I
would be using it on a NeXT if that helps...I admit I am fairly clueless
about things like this, so any help would be great...thanks

					Dave
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: nowinski@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Andrew Nowinski)
Subject: Animation companies
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:19:40 GMT


I would like to know what kind of software & hardware does
Wavefront use? What kind of computer graphics companies use the
IBM PC? Do any professional computer graphics experts use
Autodesk Animator or 3D Studios? Are there going to be programs
that you can draw with all the 32 thousand colors? What are the
best computers to do computer graphics & animation on.?



--
Mark Nowinski
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: watters@cranel.com (David Watters)
Subject: Re: Matrox Studio
Organization: Cranel, Incorporated, Worthington Ohio
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 23:01:43 GMT

In article <ksPPXB3w165w@gilligan.tsoft.net> bbs.mirage@gilligan.tsoft.net (Jerry Lee) writes:
>nowinski@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Andrew Nowinski) writes:

>> Does any one use Matrox Studio? Is it better than the Video
>> Toaster? How much does it cost? Can animation like LightWave 3D
>> be done on it? Does any one have the companies E-Mail address?

>Well.. the Video toaster can't compare with the Matrox.  The Toaster for 
>one thing can't control any devices such as recorders.

It can for laying down animation.  
It is not, and does not try to be, an edit controller.  It is a production 
switcher, comparable to any medium price switcher on the market.  It 
has low-end DVE effects.  It has 2 frame buffers for frame-grabs, and 
paint box work.  It does Chroma effects.  It has a VERY decent character 
generator built in with 24bit fonts, and gosh jolly it just happens to have 
a _very_ useable 3D model/animation/render package thrown in... useable 
enough for a Mac worshipper/Amigaphobe like Tod Rudgren  and many others 
doing actual production animation.  How much do you say??? Current prices
I have seen are in the $2000-2100 range. (see below *)

>The quality 
>between the two is very great.  From my experience (a hands on demo at 
>school -- we also have one by the way),

This certainly qualifies you as a Toaster/Amiga critic! Not.

>I would say that the quality of 
>the matrox far surpasses that of the toaster..

(see below *)

>besides, anything with a 
>"sheep wipe" ... well. you gotta wonder huh?  <-  The sheep thing is on 
>the toaster by the way. =)

Please, a little more bias in you _opinion._

>I'll try to get you the phone number and 
>address to the company as soon as possible.. (by Monday for sure).  All I 
>know right now is that they are located in Canada and it costs around 
>$20K; the key word is around since the actual system that we have at 
>school cost more around $25-30K.

* - Oh Gee!  And you think it is better than the toaster?  I should certainly
hope so at 10-15x the price!

>One more note.. the Matrox is capable of A-B-C rolls (two sources and 1 
>recorder)

It better be for $30k.

David
Watters
-- 
David R. Watters (watters@cranel.com)    Cranel Inc. Development & Engineering
"Porsche.  The very name is, to many, the last word in sports cars. Any car
 blessed with these magic seven letters is sure to be the very best. Period!"
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
Subject: Re: Amiga Power (Was RE: Babylon 5)
From: djmccoy@netcom.com (Daniel J. McCoy)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 06:17:14 GMT
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)

In article <1993Jan18.232247.7341@gw.wmich.edu> 32coulter@gw.wmich.edu writes:
>Hi netfolk,
>
[stuff about peeked interest in platform power debates deleted]
>
>  I have noticed that the Amiga proponents are claiming that their technology
>is more *cost* effective in the long run.  I believe, all in all, that cost
>is the ultimate issue.
>  My impression, however, is that it takes a *network* of Amigas to compare
>with more expensive, but singular, SGI and other machines.
>  I am doubtful that purchasing *many* computers is more cost effective than
>purchasing *one* more powerful computer.  You might argue that if *one* Amiga
>dies you still have others to rely on, hence an advantage.  My experience 
>suggests otherwise.  Why?  What if the server dies?  What about the increased
>probability (and thus cost) of machine failure as the # of machines increases?
>
>  Well, just some thoughts.  Any input, comments, thoughts, corrections,
>amplifications, anthropomorphisms are encouraged!!

I view a networked system differently.  There is nothing stopping a user from
being able to continue modeling or setting up another render while other
machines within the network are rendering away (rendering and multitasking
don't always mix :) ).  One thing I'd wish NewTek would look into is 
possibly releasing a network version of LW and have site licenses for x
amount of machines.  Currently, each machine on the network needs a Toaster
($2500 baggage).  Who knows what Foundation Imaging has as far as the 
software is concerned.  One can delete the cost of a server as well.  
Complete peer-to-peer Amiga only networking is highly possible.  I would
also venture to say maintenance costs are lower on an Amiga than, say SGI
and other high end platform as are system demands and configuration costs
as far as software and hardware is concerned.

Being an Amiga and Toaster user myself, I can certainly see the power is
at my fingertips (and on my desk).  I can certainly see the friends I've
had over the years also see this power and are making a living at it while
I dream of having artistic talent.  Some have started out with a one
Toaster system.  With the money made there, they've bought more systems
and are networking them together to go for bigger jobs for more money.  It's
working out for them.  It can work out for anyone.
 

-- 
Daniel J. McCoy
Internet : djmccoy@netcom.COM or Daniel_J_McCoy@cup.portal.com
Portal   : Daniel J McCoy        BIX: dmccoy
Happiness is just a render away...
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: edscl@solomon.technet.sg (eds)
Subject: Microsoft Video files
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 14:07:44 GMT


Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: watters@cranel.com (David Watters)
Subject: Re: What do I need for DOS 3D animation?
Organization: Cranel, Incorporated, Worthington Ohio
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 23:24:51 GMT

In article <1jnddaINNivi@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aa794@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Pete Nofel) writes:
>
>Since I abandoned the MS-DOS environment for video animation (I still think
>it's gangbusters for DTP) some other fool I work with is willing to break
>his teeth on turning his perfectly good clone into an video machine. I quit
>trying to figure that out a long time ago, but he seems to want to try.
>
>He's got a 486-33 with a 280Mb hard drive, 8Mb RAM, an SVGA/VESA diplay
>board, and a Video/VGA I/O board. In software we've got AutoCAD Rel. 11
>w/AME, AutoShade, 3D Studio, Renderman, Animator, and Animator Pro.
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>What's he need produce moving pictures? He wants to do 3D modelling &
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>animation in 24-bit resolution as well as 2D animation.
   Didn't he answer these questions before he purchased the titles he did?

Is it me, or do some post smell of piracy more than others.
In my defense, I will argue that this person should have had all these
questions worked out before he went out and spent a fortune in software.

Maybe I am paranoid, and I certainly apologize if I am wrong, but I have
a ton of reasons to believe what I do.
Heck, every PCdick I know has a pirated copy of 3D studio.

David
Watters


-- 
David R. Watters (watters@cranel.com)    Cranel Inc. Development & Engineering
"Porsche.  The very name is, to many, the last word in sports cars. Any car
 blessed with these magic seven letters is sure to be the very best. Period!"
From: pstatcw@psy.gatech.edu (Christopher Whaley)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
Subject: Request for information
Date: 25 Jan 1993 18:50:00 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
NNTP-Posting-Host: psy.gatech.edu
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

[I apologize in advance for those of you who read the related (but
 distinct) groups to which I have cross-posted]

I am conducting a research project which requires the use of 
full-motion video and/or animation.  The problem is to simulate the 
output from video cameras that overlook roads and highways.  The system 
operator would be able to control camera zoom and pan, and would need to 
be able to view traffic under at least hundreds of different conditions.
It is possible that we will consider using pre-recorded video to be 
displayed under computer control, but animated video techniques are 
also being considered.  I am specifically interested in information 
regarding:  

o Hardware for various platforms (SGI, Sun, Mac, PC)
o Software for animation and recommended platforms
o Storage devices best suited for storing large amounts of compressed video
o U.S. Companies which have animation production facilities

In addition to the above items, we would also be interested in hearing 
about any extremely high-end (supercomputer-based?) systems that might 
be used in the animation industry.  


Any experiences you would like to share about the above issues would 
be appreciated.  If a significant number of responses are received 
I will be glad to post a summary.

Please send email to pstatcw@psy.gatech.edu

Thank you,

Chris Whaley
pstatcw@psy.gatech.edu
From: pustule@cats.ucsc.edu (Thaddeus H. Wood)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
Subject: 3D-Studio 2.0 help needed!
Date: 27 Jan 1993 06:22:25 GMT
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: am.ucsc.edu


Greetings.  I have access to 3D-Studio here on
a couple of campus machines and have managed to
produce some pretty stunning still images.  
Some of these have been logos, and what not, for
pseudo-clients of mine.

Recently, though, I was asked if I could do a
simple animation of one of the logos.  It's
pretty straightforward, or so I thought, just
having the logo stay in place but rotating 
about its own imaginary y-axis.  (Does that make
sense?  I know I've got the terminology wrong) 
I've spent many hours, frustrating ones, trying
to accomplish this, seemingly simple, task.
Unfortunately, I really don't have the background
to understand how tracks and keys work together.

I've been capable of moving the camera about the
object, but I need a stationary camera, and a
fixed rotating object.

Can any kind soul out there, who knows the answers
to these questions _please_ help me out?

Any sort of tutorial is welcome.

Thanks, much, in advance.

--
    Thaddeus H. Wood  716 Lighthouse Ave.  Santa Cruz, CA  95060
pustule@cats.ucsc.edu  --  +1 408.423.8733  --  pustule@world.std.com
            "At the prompt, please type 'kill -HUP $$'"
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
From: bbs.mirage@gilligan.tsoft.net (Jerry Lee)
Subject: Re: Matrox Studio
Organization: The TSoft BBS and Public Access Unix, +1 415 969 8238
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 05:44:19 GMT

nowinski@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca (Andrew Nowinski) writes:

> 
> Does any one use Matrox Studio? Is it better than the Video
> Toaster? How much does it cost? Can animation like LightWave 3D
> be done on it? Does any one have the companies E-Mail address?
> 
> Thanks in advance.

Well.. the Video toaster can't compare with the Matrox.  The Toaster for 
one thing can't control any devices such as recorders.  The quality 
between the two is very great.  From my experience (a hands on demo at 
school -- we also have one by the way), I would say that the quality of 
the matrox far surpasses that of the toaster.. besides, anything with a 
"sheep wipe" ... well. you gotta wonder huh?  <-  The sheep thing is on 
the toaster by the way. =)  I'll try to get you the phone number and 
address to the company as soon as possible.. (by Monday for sure).  All I 
know right now is that they are located in Canada and it costs around 
$20K; the key word is around since the actual system that we have at 
school cost more around $25-30K.

One more note.. the Matrox is capable of A-B-C rolls (two sources and 1 
recorder)

Computer and Video Imaging Major
Cogswell Polytechnical College.
---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL: jele@eis.calstate.edu
Internet: bbs.mirage@tsoft.sf-bay.org
UUCP    : ...apple!tsoft!bbs.mirage
From: johnc@porsche.cs.rpi.edu (John Colasante)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation
Subject: Animation Player Software for X-UNIX
Date: 27 Jan 93 19:38:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: rpi.65q3=0-
Distribution: comp.graphics.animation
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Computer Science, Troy NY


Hi, in lieu of finding the elusive FAQ for this group I will go 
ahead and ask this obvious FAQ, because I can't find the comp.graphics.
animation FAQ at rtfm.

I am looking for public domain software to playback images in an
animated sequence for X-windows. It should handle different size
images, not just .FLI format. My application only requires playback
of B&W at various frame rates... Something like QUICPICS player for
Macintosh would be ideal.

Thanks in advance

--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
John Colasante		  		johnc@porsche.cs.rpi.edu
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.animation