Not that I disagree with Ken, but I don't see any harm in going about
learning in any particular way.  There's no rules to follow, just do
what's easiest.  I started out doing only script and then moved on to
modellers.  I still do most of my POV-Ray stuff by hand, but I also
spend as much time working with other modellers, and often convert the
models to POV-Ray compatible files.  It's worked well for me.

If you're going to be using POV, might as well learn the language.  I
estimate it takes a few months to get it all down, then you're free to
do just about anything without having to look things up much.

-mike

Ken wrote:
> 
> Matt Morris wrote:
> >
> > I'm pretty much a beginner with POV and I'm just curious the most common
> > way to develop coordinates. I mean, it would seem that a modeler is very
> > useful for creating scenes and placing objects in certain places until
> > it looks right, however I have read that a modeler isn't the way to go.
> > (It doesn't seem like any of the IRTC winners use modelers) Other than a
> > modeler, how can one create a scene by just typing in code? Wouldn't you
> > need some sort of visual representation of what the hell you're doing?
> > Or maybe it's just me, and thats the attitude of all beginners.
> >
> > Matt Morris
> 
> I'll try to answer this one but may fall short.
> 
> Yes you will find the proverbial newbie scrambling to to find a
> modeler to get a visual representation. It's a natural byproduct
> of using paint and Cad programs I would imagine. There is a lot
> of merit in using a modeler in the beginning just to get a feel
> for how the coordinate system works. I personaly started using
> pov without a modeler and suffered as a result for quite a while.
> Now I am perfectly at home in this script driven environment and
> have no need for one. Others will start with a modeling program
> and slowly gravitate away from it when they realize there are
> features in pov that no modeler supports and are forced to work
> with text only. So you see there are advantages and disadvantages
> no matter which way you go. Moray is by far the most popular
> modeling program for Pov but I never liked it because it uses
> a reversed coordinate sytem that is not the default used by Pov.
> 
> Opinion wise I suggest you use whatever method suits you and allows
> you to be as creative as you can be. If you follow my lead you will
> be a better artist than the modeler alone Pov user because you will
> understand the inner working of Pov to a greater extint than you can
> in a modeler only environment. This is not to say you can't achieve
> great results in a modeler only environment I just feel you will limit
> your possibilities.
> 
> Any help ?
> 
> --
> Ken Tyler
> 
> tyl### [at] pacbellnet

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