>It depends on whether you are trying to approximate relativistic effects or
>actually model them.

Assuming we want to be able to model the actual effects, would it be
possible to do it by modifying the POV source code?

Rohan _e_ii

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In article <web.3dedbae45d040d8dc571aa6c0@news.povray.org>,
 "Rohan Bernett" <rox### [at] yahoocom> wrote:

> Assuming we want to be able to model the actual effects, would it be
> possible to do it by modifying the POV source code?

I don't think you can write something that simulates *all* the effects, 
it is probably completely impractical to do. The answer depends on how 
much you want to simulate in POV, but doing anything of any complexity 
would take a huge amount of work. Also, POV is not a simulation program, 
it's a renderer. Many things are "faked" for speed.

It would be possible, but impractical. More work than starting from 
scratch, and wouldn't have any real advantages.

-- 
Christopher James Huff <cja### [at] earthlinknet>
http://home.earthlink.net/~cjameshuff/
POV-Ray TAG: chr### [at] tagpovrayorg
http://tag.povray.org/

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Rohan Bernett wrote:
>>It depends on whether you are trying to approximate relativistic effects or
>>actually model them.
>
>Assuming we want to be able to model the actual effects, would it be
>possible to do it by modifying the POV source code?
>
>Rohan _e_ii
>

Rohan -

Are you still interested in adapting POVRay to Relativistic Ray Tracing?
I have an interest in such a project, if POVRay proves to be sufficiently
adaptable to allow it.

I have been comparing the Backlight solution to the POVRay solution.
I have compiled and tested both.  The POVRay 2.2 adaptation appears
to be one dimensional, since it will only render properly with the
velocity component along the Z axis (into or outof the screen).

Backlight works fine and is not limited to a Z velocity. But there is
the animation issue, as you said.

I need to modify the source code for a few added features for my
research. No decision as to which package to modify.  POVRay is a
candidate, as is Backlight, and a number of other similar pacakges.
You can find more information on my progress here:
http://www.HyperVisualization.com

I am interested in hearing about what you have learned, so far.

- Digital Don
  dbl### [at] dcgFXcom
  1-949-548-1969

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"Rohan Bernett" <rox### [at] yahoocom> wrote:
> Would it be possible to create a patch for Povray that would allow it to
> turn it into a relativistic raytracer?
>

This discussion may well be dead, but if anybody is listening,
you'll find a modified version of Povray 3.5 at

http://www.maths.monash.edu.au/~leo/relativity/sr-photography/

You'll find sample images, animations and source files.

This version produces relativisticly correct images when the camera moves
relative  to the other objects in an other wise non-relativistic scene
(i.e. relativistic effects are only accounted for between the camera and
objects). This version also ignores any colour or intensity shifts that
arise from the relativistic motions.

Cheers
Leo

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