I know, it's just the beta, but that's not the point here.

The new newsgroup povray.beta-test is for reporting bugs and such things.
But I think all the general happy comments should be posted elsewhere, such
as in this group.

So I'll just start here.

I've been a pre-beta tester for a while, but all the testing etc. meant I
didn't have much time to just play - but I have now!

While updating an old scene of mine to POV-Ray 3.5 syntax I founds out just
how nice the new image_pattern is! Before, I had to use a material_map with
a while loop generating the 256 textures used. The image used in the
material_map also had to be grayscale before it worked.

Now I use a very simple image_pattern instead. No while-loop, no need to
convert to grayscale, and no confusing code - just one single pigment with a
very simple color_map does the job! image_pattern is great! :)

Now, anybody else have some praises they want to share? :D

Rune
--
3D images and anims, include files, tutorials and more:
Rune's World:    http://rsj.mobilixnet.dk (updated June 26)
POV-Ray Users:   http://rsj.mobilixnet.dk/povrayusers/
POV-Ray Webring: http://webring.povray.co.uk

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The documentation is great! I love its look! It also is very
complete and follows high quality standards. The screenshots
in the first section are very well done, I also like the fact
that every menu item, apart the most obvious, has been
documented. The inclusion of the VFAQ is a Good Thing, and the
IRTC CDs are advertised the way I like: Informatively, not
obstrusively.

-- 
Adrien Beau - adr### [at] freefr - http://adrien.beau.free.fr
 Mes propos n'engagent que moi et en aucun cas mes employeurs

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The new logo and new icons also are a real improvement. The
magic touch that makes POV stand above the crowd, on a par
with major Windows applications.

-- 
Adrien Beau - adr### [at] freefr - http://adrien.beau.free.fr
 Mes propos n'engagent que moi et en aucun cas mes employeurs

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I like the tutorial of the "Raytracer in SDL" ... nice Idea ... I didn't
trust my eyes when I read it ...

Also the Idea of a selfcreating portfolio .. very nice ...

--
Jan Walzer <jan### [at] lzernet>
"Rune" <run### [at] mobilixnetdk> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:3b96560e@news.povray.org...

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Rune wrote:

> Now, anybody else have some praises they want to share? :D

From my pre-beta experience, some cool 3.5 stuff I've been using a lot but
didn't use in Megapov (so I won't mention radiosity, media, photons, trace()
etc.) :

- f_rounded_box : a little function hidden in the docs, meant to be used in
isosurfaces, much more flexible than the superellipsoid or than a CSG
equivalent. Because it can be deformed by noise or a pigment, it's great for
bricks and such.

- f_ridged_mf : aka ridged multifractal, great function for isosurface water or
mountains

- function {min(1,max(0,y))} is a non-repeating gradient y pigment. Extremely
useful because very easy to control and turbulence doesn't get in the way as it
does in a repeating pigment.

- pigment_pattern : makes it much more easier to create complex, nested textures
with full control of the turbulence

- light_groups : their implementation is much better and logical than in
Megapov. Lots of applications. For instance, it makes it possible to get
highlights on one particular object in a radiosity-only scene.

New 3.5 pics to follow soon, BTW.

G.




--

**********************
http://www.oyonale.com
**********************
Graphic experiments
Pov-ray gallery

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Jan Walzer <jan### [at] lzernet> wrote:
: I like the tutorial of the "Raytracer in SDL" ... nice Idea ... I didn't
: trust my eyes when I read it ...

  Thanks. It's really nice that someone appreciates it.

-- 
#macro N(D,I)#if(I<6)cylinder{M()#local D[I]=div(D[I],104);M().5,2pigment{
rgb M()}}N(D,(D[I]>99?I:I+1))#end#end#macro M()<mod(D[I],13)-6,mod(div(D[I
],13),8)-3,10>#end blob{N(array[6]{11117333955,
7382340,3358,3900569407,970,4254934330},0)}//                     - Warp -

Post a reply to this message

One if the nicest new features which I personally really like is that
now you can create your own patterns from existing patterns and your own
functions. This is a feature which I have been desiring for long time.
  Of course it was possible at some extent with MegaPov by using pigment
functions, but it's more straigthforward now as there are now directly
pattern functions. You can write, for example:

#declare MyPattern = function { pattern { wood turbulence 1 } }

  Now you have created a completely new pattern which is made by applying
turbulence 1 to the original wood pattern.
  Of course this is not all. You can combine patterns and modify them with
functions, eg:

#declare MyPattern2 = function { pattern { granite scale <2,1,.5> } }

#declare Combined =
  function { MyPattern(x,y,z)*MyPattern2(x,y,z)*exp(-x^2-z^2) }

  Now 'Combined' is a new pattern which has been created with the combination
of two other patterns and a mathematical function. Now you can use it as
any other pattern like:

pigment
{ function { Combined(x,y,z) }
  color_map { ... }
}

and so on.

  Another nice enhancement to function is that they can use any number of
parameters. So now you can write, for example:

#declare Inv = function(a) { 1/a }

and now you can call it just like: Inv(5). What makes this wonderful compared
to macros is that you can do this inside another function at render time.

  By the way, when using functions as pattern, you can easily use all kinds of
"warps" defined by yourself. For example, if you want to apply a "planar warp"
to the 'Combined' pattern above, you would just use it like:

pigment
{ function { Combined(x,0,z) }
  color_map { ... }
}

  You just can imagine how versatile this is, as you can use it like
Combined(x^2, y*z, sqrt(z)) and so on.

-- 
#macro N(D,I)#if(I<6)cylinder{M()#local D[I]=div(D[I],104);M().5,2pigment{
rgb M()}}N(D,(D[I]>99?I:I+1))#end#end#macro M()<mod(D[I],13)-6,mod(div(D[I
],13),8)-3,10>#end blob{N(array[6]{11117333955,
7382340,3358,3900569407,970,4254934330},0)}//                     - Warp -

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"Warp" <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:
> Jan Walzer <jan### [at] lzernet> wrote:
> : I like the tutorial of the "Raytracer in SDL" ... nice Idea ... I didn't
> : trust my eyes when I read it ...
>
>   Thanks. It's really nice that someone appreciates it.
>

hehe ... I was about to ask who of the team had this crazy idea ...
... but I think my thought was right *fg* great work


--
Jan Walzer <jan### [at] lzernet>

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Oh boy...
I think it'll take us at least a full year before we really begin to see
3.5's features used to full potential... :)

...Chambers

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"Adrien Beau" wrote:
> The new logo and new icons also are a real improvement. The
> magic touch that makes POV stand above the crowd, on a par
> with major Windows applications.

It has been a long way from when I first suggested the idea of a POV-Ray
logo back in May 1999 till today, involving lots of organization of the logo
contests, lots of people participating in them, lots of design work being
done etc. I'm really glad it paid off! :)

Rune
--
3D images and anims, include files, tutorials and more:
Rune's World:    http://rsj.mobilixnet.dk (updated June 26)
POV-Ray Users:   http://rsj.mobilixnet.dk/povrayusers/
POV-Ray Webring: http://webring.povray.co.uk

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