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[giulianc]

Hi all,

I use some times model 3D and the rendering with PovRay;

I would separate the moment of modeling (definition of geometry, texturing, position of lights and cameras, ecc.) from the post production of images:

1) can You tell me some software for manipolating the pov scene? I proved tclPov (or tkPov), kPovModeler, truevision and some other without satisfaction :-(

2) can You (cycas team) eventually export the scene compatible with some 3D editor for that job?

best regards,
giuliano

[tobo_xyz]

.pov scene files may contain more than 3D coordinates (loops, copy instructions ...). like a programming language, they have to be interpreted - most reliable by povray itself. that makes it difficult to properly import povray into visual editors.

what i miss on cycas is structured .pov output that would make it possible to seperate modelling and finishing operations and to identify objects in the source code. if layers were combined by "union" in the cycas-generated .pov files, many povray-features could be already defined while modelling is still in progress.

however, if you want to stick to .pov export and you are satisfied importing solely the shapes, have a look at POSERAY. for me it runs well by help of WINE on gentoo.

poseray: http://mysite.verizon.net/sfg0000/

tobias

[steve]

Hi Giuliano

I am no expert in producing the highest quality renderings. So I am wondering what kind of manipulation you would like to do in Povray? Is it not possible to set up any scene you like inside Cycas?

[giulianc]

.pov scene files may contain more than 3D coordinates (loops, copy instructions ...). like a programming language, they have to be interpreted - most reliable by povray itself. that makes it difficult to properly import povray into visual editors.

what i miss on cycas is structured .pov output that would make it possible to seperate modelling and finishing operations and to identify objects in the source code. if layers were combined by "union" in the cycas-generated .pov files, many povray-features could be already defined while modelling is still in progress.

the "finishing operations" that You say is one of my targets;

the editors I know (tclpov, pyvon, kpovmodeler, ecc) work on own format; I´m searching for a editor that import the pov scenes generated by cycas;

 

however, if you want to stick to .pov export and you are satisfied importing solely the shapes, have a look at POSERAY. for me it runs well by help of WINE on gentoo.

poseray: http://mysite.verizon.net/sfg0000/

I will have a look, thank :-)

tobias

ciao,
giuliano

[giulianc]

Hi Giuliano

Hi Steve

I am no expert in producing the highest quality renderings.

me too :-)

So I am wondering what kind of manipulation you would like to do in Povray? Is it not possible to set up any scene you like inside Cycas?

I´m not seeking for new features: cycas is a good tool for my job;
the essence I think is that the modelling and the postproduction (video, and movie?) is two different moment;

in postproduction I need controle the cameras, the ligths, etc, but I don´t need to modify the model, thus no walls, no dims, no rooms, and so on; only the material editing is a modelling feature useful  in the postproduction;
   
I´m seeking for a light, simple, efficient tool for navigating in (pov) scenes;

best regards,
giuliano

[steve]

Hi Giulliano

So you want to make movies/videos?

I think your system is Linux...is that right?

If you set up a scene in cycas and render with povray, you can then easily edit the povray code. It is not too difficult to produce a series of frames of your model, each with a different camera position/view. See the povray help file. The basic process is: set up a clock variable, and set the number of frames. Then edit the x,y,z of the location and look_at vectors of the camera to be mulltiples of "clock" Then you can use a video package maybe like kdenlive (or virtualdub on windows) to assemble the frames.

Or you could export the model (3ds or LWO or DXF) to blender and make the movie there!

Just ideas

Steve

[steve]

There is also Kerkythea which is a brilliant render engine for all OS. Not difficult to learn and easy to make walkthrough movies

[giulianc]

Hi Giulliano

Hi Steve

So you want to make movies/videos?

among others, yes :-)

I think your system is Linux...is that right?

yes

If you set up a scene in cycas and render with povray, you can then easily edit the povray code. It is not too difficult to produce a series of frames of your model, each with a different camera position/view. See the povray help file. The basic process is: set up a clock variable, and set the number of frames. Then edit the x,y,z of the location and look_at vectors of the camera to be mulltiples of "clock" Then you can use a video package maybe like kdenlive (or virtualdub on windows) to assemble the frames.

I will try

Or you could export the model (3ds or LWO or DXF) to blender and make the movie there!

I don´t know blender; the user interaction appears to me too complex :-(

Just ideas

Steve

thank you (for kerkythea also), best regards,
giuliano

[steve]

Hi Giuliano

Yes Blender is tricky but there are good tutorials and manuals available. You need a lot of time to learn.

And with povray you have to be a mathematician to work out camera paths, etc!

Perhaps Kerkythea is a good option.

If you export your cycas model as 3ds, the materials will be exported also. It is possible to assign any kind of texture in kerky, but it is easier in cycas.

Unfortuately, the objects from cycas are not named, so it is difficult to tell a wall from a window when the model is exported to kerky. But if you select an object in 3d view, it is highlighted in the object list. Then it is possible to rename it and edit the material.

The Kerky "getting started" tutorial is good.

You can insert cameras, light, skies etc. By using multiple cameras it is not hard to create a walkthrough video. (The program saves a series of stills which can then be assembled into a video)

Let me know how it goes!

Steve

[luca]

Hi steve I´ve missed this, I say -interesting- I´ll take a look deeper...
I´m always a step behind in 3d...

[steve]

OK, let us know what you find out. The trouble is, it takes a lot of time to do this kind of research!