On Wed, 05 Dec 2001 20:01:56 GMT, ken### [at] uniplanit (Angelo 'kENpEX' Pesce) wrote:
> > Please create 1.000.000 spheres as separated meshes (not clone or another
> > referrence) and tell us memory size of it.
> mhm why should I do such a crazy thing?

You think it is crazy, but it isn't
When you have parametric equation in 2D and you want present graph of it but you
don't know appearance of this graph it is simpler to create small spheres going
step by step with parameter. The result is fast, smooth, accurate and readable.
I have not to think about otimizations with triangles, trangle creations,
trangle normals etc. For example how can I perform experimets with parameters
with other renderes when I want create graph for such simple:
x=a*cos(b)+a*b*sin(b)
y=a*sin(b)-a*b*cos(b)

> Let's talk about real world problems, not about a scene of 1.000.000 spheres

What is the real world problems? For some people real is science. When you want
to show scientific problem (for example graph) it is best to present it as set
of spheres or boxes. Of course there are math programs to make it. But which
math soft has animation features for parameters? With focal blur for better
space representation? With complex isosurface support? Cross-multiplatform ? So,
please, leave the primitives for such usage. 

> if I have to render that monster, probably I'll make my own sphere-raytracer...

Remember, not everybody has such skills. And why create another aplication when
there is application with both: accurate primitives and complex meshes ? If you
are programmer and you know algorithms for nurbs, subdivision surfaces and
polygons then you can write macros to preform this "modern features". You can
even write own patch and propose it to community if you are as smart as it
sounds. Do it and show us. If it will be good and usefull it could be
implemented in official distribution just like it was with features of MegaPOV.

> Spheres, quartics, infinite planes etc are just something used in old
> raytracing shows

Check the "advanced" folder of samples distributed with 3.5, for example
abyss.pov.

> (four sphere and a reflective checkerboard plane image? no thanks)

I can be wrong but I think that pov can render some reflective spheres over
checkered planes with features for other renderes not possible.

> nowdays everything is modelled with nurbs, subdivision surfaces and polygons

Is it like "all platforms are windows and need aupgrade to xp" ?

ABX
--
#declare _=function(a,b,x){((a^2)+(b^2))^.5-x}#default {pigment{color rgb 1}}
union{plane{y,-3}plane{-x,-3}finish{reflection 1 ambient 0}}isosurface{ //ABX
function{_(x-2,y,1)|_((x+y)*.7,z,.1)|_((x+y+2)*.7,z,.1)|_(x/2+y*.8+1.5,z,.1)}
contained_by{box{<0,-3,-.1>,<3,0,.1>}}translate z*15finish{ambient 1}}//POV35

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