Discreet Logic Lightscape 3.1 (3D animation software) (Software Review)(Evaluation)

Article Abstract:

Discreet Logic's Lightscape 3.1 is a graphics/imaging utility that permits an animator to move scene-accurate lights to various locations in order to create lifelike images. The software, priced at $495, $99.95 for upgrades, adds photorealism and natural lighting effects to 3D scenes. Lightscape 3.1 has moved from being a UNIX solution costing $15,000 and a Windows NT solution priced at $3,000 to become software that all 3D professionals can use. The workflow for Lightscape is separated into preparation and solution phases. The preparation phase allows users to import models and assign image maps, lighting positions and other environmental parameters. The user's dimensions should be identical to the natural world because the program tries to link to real-world situations. In the solution phase, the user can preview changes in light levels or types but is unable to move them before the final render. The software comes with an honest and complete manual with information on how light works physically.

Graphics software, Graphics/imaging utility, Graphics utilities, Discreet Logic Inc., Lightscape 3.1 (Graphics/imaging utility)

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Dynamic and interactive Web servers

Article Abstract:

Reviews of four Internet/Web server packages with database middleware, and four hardware/operating system platforms, are presented. EveryWare's $349 Tango is rated the top product in the Web database middleware category due to its ease of use and cross-platform support. It is the most scalable middleware available but lacks integration with Internet languages. Microsoft's $995 Internet Information Server 3.0 with NT server and Netscape's $995 Enterprise Server 2.01 tie for high marks among Web server software packages. Microsoft's offering is slightly easier to install and maintain, and features NetShow streaming multimedia features, while Netscape's offering includes more tools and is more powerful. Microsoft's Active Server Pages 1.0 is closely integrated with Microsoft NT. Among server hardware platforms, Apple's $4700 Internet Server Solution 8550/200 is the lowest-priced Workgroup server but also the slowest. Silicon Graphics' O2 offered the most complete authoring/publishing solution.

Electronic computers, Microcomputers, PowerPC-based system, Macintosh computers, PowerPC based computers, PowerPC processors, Internet/Web database software, Internet database software, Hardware multiproduct review, Software multiproduct review, Internet server software, Internet/Web server software, SPARC processors, MIPS-based system, SPARC-based system, Pentium-based system, Pentium based computers, MIPS (Processor performance), EveryWare Development Tango (Internet/Web database software), Microsoft Internet Information Server 3.0 (Internet/Web server software), Netscape Enterprise Server 2.01 (Internet/Web server software), O'Reilly and Associates WebSite Professional 1.0 (Internet/Web server software), WebSTAR for Macintosh 2.0 (Internet/Web server software), Microsoft Active Server Pages (Internet/Web server software), LiveWire 1.1 (Internet/Web server software), Cold Fusion Professional 2.0 (Internet/Web database software), Apple Macintosh Internet Server 8550/200 (PowerPC-based system), Silicon Graphics WebForce 02 (MIPS-based system), NeTpower Calisto Web 3 (Pentium Pro-based system), Sun Microsystems Netra i1/170E (SPARC-based system)

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Kinetix perfects juggling act

Article Abstract:

Kinetix's 3D Studio Max 2.0 3D Windows development environment provides developers with an enhanced graphical interface and expanded functionality. The application offers excellent modeling performance with power mousing capabilities. Developers can drag-and-drop material textures and maps and obtain gesture recognition of user-defined mouse paths to execute many commands. A new rendering engine allows developers to obtain faster speeds by allowing them to ray-trace in critical parts of a scene and shade in others. However, Studio Max 2.0's graphical interface may slow down experienced modelers because it requires too much mousing. The expanded feature list is poorly organized, which makes it difficult to locate the exact function needed. 3D Studio Max is priced at $3,495. Upgrades from version 1.2 are $795.

Software Publishers, Energy Mgmt Software Pkgs (Micro), Image processing software, Kinetix (San Francisco, California), 3D Studio MAX 2.0 (Image processing software)

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