Hi, everyone,

Yesterday on the IRTC e-mail discussion list, I suggested creating a POV-Ray
book based on volunteer efforts and tutorial contributions. Just since
yesterday, I have received several encouraging messages and offers of help.

Is there anyone here who hasn't already contacted me that would be willing
to contribute to this book?

Also, does anyone know who would I need to contact on the POV admin team to
okay this? The idea is to use the profits from the book to support POV
development and maybe the IRTC, if needed. However, I don't know if
something like this has already been planned, or whether a book like this
would be welcome.

Thanks,
~Angela Perry

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Hi Angela

There is the "10 Best" project that's currently under way, you can find 
out about that at: http://10best.raytrace.com/tracinstyles.html

And from what I've read on this server, POV development is all voluntary
so doesn't need supporting, but this news server does require some 
financial input.  

Personally I wouldn't like to see this community turn into a fund raising
group, so I won't be taking part in any further activitis of this nature.
I'll buy the IRTC CDs and the 10Best CD but for me it ends there. 

-- 
Cheers
Steve              email mailto:ste### [at] zeroppsuklinuxnet

%HAV-A-NICEDAY Error not enough coffee  0 pps. 

web http://www.zeropps.uklinux.net/

or  http://start.at/zero-pps

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Steve wrote in message ...
>Hi Angela
>
>There is the "10 Best" project that's currently under way, you can find
>out about that at: http://10best.raytrace.com/tracinstyles.html
>

Thanks! It looks like a neat contest; I'll check it out.

>And from what I've read on this server, POV development is all voluntary
>so doesn't need supporting, but this news server does require some
>financial input.
>
>Personally I wouldn't like to see this community turn into a fund raising
>group, so I won't be taking part in any further activitis of this nature.
>I'll buy the IRTC CDs and the 10Best CD but for me it ends there.

Maybe I expressed myself poorly: this really isn't intended to be a fund
raiser. The main purpose of this project would be to produce a reference
book for beginners and even advanced users of POV-Ray, combining the talents
of everyone willing to contribute sample graphics and tutorials.

The only reason I mention where I would like any profits from this to go is
because I want people to see this as a volunteer project. It wouldn't be
fair for me to create a book using other people's tutorials and images, then
publish it and keep the money.

Please don't refuse to contribute on the basis that this is just another
fundraiser. If you have a tutorial or image, or you know where one can be
found, please let me know.

~Angela

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On Thu, 9 Nov 2000 16:12:35 -0700, Angela Perry wrote:
>
>Steve wrote in message ...
>>Hi Angela
>>
>>There is the "10 Best" project that's currently under way, you can find
>>out about that at: http://10best.raytrace.com/tracinstyles.html
>>
>
>Thanks! It looks like a neat contest; I'll check it out.
>
>>And from what I've read on this server, POV development is all voluntary
>>so doesn't need supporting, but this news server does require some
>>financial input.
>>
>>Personally I wouldn't like to see this community turn into a fund raising
>>group, so I won't be taking part in any further activitis of this nature.
>>I'll buy the IRTC CDs and the 10Best CD but for me it ends there.
>
>Maybe I expressed myself poorly: this really isn't intended to be a fund
>raiser. The main purpose of this project would be to produce a reference
>book for beginners and even advanced users of POV-Ray, combining the talents
>of everyone willing to contribute sample graphics and tutorials.
>
>The only reason I mention where I would like any profits from this to go is
>because I want people to see this as a volunteer project. It wouldn't be
>fair for me to create a book using other people's tutorials and images, then
>publish it and keep the money.
>
>Please don't refuse to contribute on the basis that this is just another
>fundraiser. If you have a tutorial or image, or you know where one can be
>found, please let me know.

It sounds much better now, initially I got the impression it was being 
produced just to raise money, but if it's being produced in order to be 
a source of reference for beginners then I'm all for it.  

I've got quite a bit of stuff on my web page, but something that may be 
more suitable is a gambelling chip macro that I wrote many moons ago 
which might be a good item to use as an introduction/tutorial on macros.

-- 
Cheers
Steve              email mailto:ste### [at] zeroppsuklinuxnet

%HAV-A-NICEDAY Error not enough coffee  0 pps. 

web http://www.zeropps.uklinux.net/

or  http://start.at/zero-pps

  1:09am  up 30 days,  3:31,  2 users,  load average: 1.19, 1.21, 1.22

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On Thu, 9 Nov 2000 16:12:35 -0700, "Angela Perry"
<ape### [at] financialfusioncom> wrote:

>Maybe I expressed myself poorly: this really isn't intended to be a fund
>raiser. The main purpose of this project would be to produce a reference
>book for beginners and even advanced users of POV-Ray, combining the talents
>of everyone willing to contribute sample graphics and tutorials.

POV is being developed so rapidly (especially in the unofficial field)
that by the time a book has been collected, written, proofed, printed,
advertised and sold, it will have become outdated. An electronic
version of it, either a web site or an Acrobat (or PostScript)
document would be better as it will allow for easier updates. Ideas of
such sites hit people now and again but the Ultimate POV Tutorial Site
is still a dream. Maybe you can stir the events that will make it
become true :)


Peter Popov ICQ : 15002700
Personal e-mail : pet### [at] usanet
TAG      e-mail : pet### [at] tagpovrayorg

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Peter Popov <pet### [at] usanet> wrote:

> On Thu, 9 Nov 2000 16:12:35 -0700, "Angela Perry"
> <ape### [at] financialfusioncom> wrote:

>>Maybe I expressed myself poorly: this really isn't intended to be a fund
>>raiser. The main purpose of this project would be to produce a reference
>>book for beginners and even advanced users of POV-Ray, combining the talents
>>of everyone willing to contribute sample graphics and tutorials.

> POV is being developed so rapidly (especially in the unofficial field)
> that by the time a book has been collected, written, proofed, printed,
> advertised and sold, it will have become outdated. An electronic
> version of it, either a web site or an Acrobat (or PostScript)
> document would be better as it will allow for easier updates. Ideas of
> such sites hit people now and again but the Ultimate POV Tutorial Site
> is still a dream. Maybe you can stir the events that will make it
> become true :)

Not really true.  A book such as this would be for beginners, after all. 
And things like placing objects, turning them, basic textures, lighting, etc
are not likely to change.  There could be a 'future' section to the book
that deals with Isos and the like, but they're not what would make up the
meat of the book.

Geoff

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Peter Popov wrote:
> 
> POV is being developed so rapidly (especially in the unofficial field)
> that by the time a book has been collected, written, proofed, printed,
> advertised and sold, it will have become outdated. An electronic
> version of it, either a web site or an Acrobat (or PostScript)
> document would be better as it will allow for easier updates. Ideas of
> such sites hit people now and again but the Ultimate POV Tutorial Site
> is still a dream. Maybe you can stir the events that will make it
> become true :)

There is a French POV-Ray Documentation Project, that intends to
write from scratch a documentation to POV-Ray (including MegaPOV) instead
of translating the official one (this has already been done).

The idea is that the process of translation is painful (because, you
know, there are always those sentences that don't easily cross the
language barrier) and restricts the translator to what the original
author has written (which is, as Peter reminded us, necessarily
outdated -- even if only slightly).

The POV-Ray documentation translations are good, but Fabien Mosen (and
others) felt it would be better to have a new documentation, aimed at really
using POV-Ray, more than being a reference document.

The authors estimate 60% of the work is done, and it can be accessed
here (and for those who quickly skimmed through this text, yes, it is
in French):

	http://users.skynet.be/bs936509/povfr/index.htm


								Adrien

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I agree.  I would not expect any purchaser would require the most volatile of
information to be there but would rather see core information presented with
authority.

A book could very well have a legitimizing/popularizing effect.  Also,
popularizing or 'interest' material might also be presented, discussions from
leading practictioners or the software's authors, say.



Geoff Wedig wrote:

> Peter Popov <pet### [at] usanet> wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 9 Nov 2000 16:12:35 -0700, "Angela Perry"
> > <ape### [at] financialfusioncom> wrote:
>
> >>Maybe I expressed myself poorly: this really isn't intended to be a fund
> >>raiser. The main purpose of this project would be to produce a reference
> >>book for beginners and even advanced users of POV-Ray, combining the talents
> >>of everyone willing to contribute sample graphics and tutorials.
>
> > POV is being developed so rapidly (especially in the unofficial field)
> > that by the time a book has been collected, written, proofed, printed,
> > advertised and sold, it will have become outdated. An electronic
> > version of it, either a web site or an Acrobat (or PostScript)
> > document would be better as it will allow for easier updates. Ideas of
> > such sites hit people now and again but the Ultimate POV Tutorial Site
> > is still a dream. Maybe you can stir the events that will make it
> > become true :)
>
> Not really true.  A book such as this would be for beginners, after all.
> And things like placing objects, turning them, basic textures, lighting, etc
> are not likely to change.  There could be a 'future' section to the book
> that deals with Isos and the like, but they're not what would make up the
> meat of the book.
>
> Geoff

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