Welcome to Vertex 2.0.
======================
This text file should help you get a better feel for this new version
of Vertex. There a LOT of changes, all of which are covered in the
new manual, but this file should give you some idea of what the major
changes entail, on how best to make use of them.
Fast Key and Menu System
========================
The old fast key and menu system has been completely replaced. This
may take some getting used to, but the new setup adds much more
functionality, and allows you to customize which key presses
activate which functions.
The heart of this new system is the menu option "Project-Config-Key
Config". (i.e. the Project menu has a submenu labelled Config, and
that menu has an option called Key Config.) This system is very easy
to use.
To bind any key to a menu function, simply press and release the
key. You should see the key's code appear in the requester, and any
current defintion will appear as well. If the key has no current
definition "--" will appear instead. Then, all you do is select the
menu option you wish to bind to that key.
The same applies for buttons on the Main Screen. Just click the key
you wish to bind to a button, then click the button.
You may also use qualifiers. Alt, Ctrl and Shift can be used in
conjunction with any key, making possible many different options for
each key.
Once you set up the keys how you like, you can save the definitions
by clicking on the 'Save' button in this requester.
Also, if you'd like to print these key definitions to a file, use the
Project-Config menu option titled "Key Reference". This will bring
up the file requester asking for name of a file. Just enter the name
of a file, and you can print the file at a later time.
Interface
=========
The new Vertex also sports a new interface. You will probably
see the background grid immediately, and you should see the new
buttons available on the left of the Main Screen. The old
shape-creator has been removed and integrated directly into the
main program. (For an interesting demonstration of this new
setup, click the Add button on the Main screen. Then, press and
hold the Alt key, then draw like you would in a paint program.
Viola! - freehand drawing in a 3D environment!)
You will also see that Vertex supports Left/Right, Top/Bottom
and Front/Back views. Also, Perspective mode is a toggle now,
available in any view mode.
The main screen also holds some new tools such as Rot, which
allows you to rotate objects freely, and edit, which is an improved
version of the old edit tool. The 'Edge', 'Face' and 'Add' tools
allow you to undo one step at a time while still in the
respective function, or you can undo the whole process by
exiting the function and clicking undo.
Also, there are some hidden features as well. The Shift key can
be used to contrain movement on the horizontal axis, and the Alt
key can be used to constrain on the vertical axis.
Pick and Upck also support qualifier keys: Ctrl will enable
selecting with a circle, Shift will force the standard box
selector and Alt will enable lasso selection.
Much more has changed as well. Vertex fully multitasks, and now
uses the math co-processor (if it's available). The background
grid can be used used in a snap fasion when editing or adding
points. And, by using the new key system, most any function can
be used from most any other function.
File Output
===========
Imagine
-------
File support in this new version has been greatly enhanced.
The Imagine file format has been concentrated on to improve
handling of surface attributes. Currently, settings for color,
reflection, transparency, filter, shine, dither, roughness,
smoothness and hardness are supported. There is still no support
for image maps or textures. This may be a drawback for some
uses, but the complexity of handling these attributes quickly
confuses the issue of converting object geometry.
However, this version does support hierarchies and groups for
the Imagine format. Also, axis positions are handled as well.
Finally, although it won't show in this demo version, the save
feature for Imagine has been greatly enhanced. There are no
longer any delays which grow exponentially with the size of
Imagine objects.
Also, Vertex saves separate groups in separate files, in the
normal Imagine fashion. If you wish to save separate objects in
the same file then you should use the Turbo file format, which
is still readable by Imagine.
Lightwave
---------
Lightwave support has been greatly enhanced by using a new
polygon fill function. Nearly any surface will be correctly
triangulated, even ones with holes.
Lightwave also benefits from the extended surface attributes
offered for the Imagine format.
Caligari
--------
Limiited support for Caligari has been added to this new
version. Only the .sobj format is suported, and it is suggested
that hierarchies not be used with Vertex. The documentation on
the Caligari file format is extremely vague on some aspects of
this odd format, and The Art Machine is limited by what vendors
offer.
Other formats
-------------
The POV format is now supported for triangle primitive objects
in this new format. The manual comes with information on how to
set up the camera and look_at points for POV, and these files
will also output colors, transparency and reflection.
Importing Files
===============
Vertex 2.0 offers some exciting new possibilies for importing
files from different software. EPS files, generated by ProDraw
2.0, can be imported directly into Vertex's 3D environment.
Also, IFF files may be transferred in 2 different ways. An
"altitude map" can be generated, where each pixels color
represents the height of a point. IFF files may also be traced
by hand, opening up new possibilites for precise conversion of
bitmap images.
The sample files included with this demo will give you a good idea
of how these features work.
Bezier Curves
=============
Vertex 2.0 now has complete bezier curve support. Curves may be
edited in 3D as a "template", which can later be converted to a
set of 3D points. These points can be quickly filled with the
new polygon fill tool.
When editing curves, they can be treated as both single curves, and
as continuous splines. The default mode is spline, where editing one
"handle" will result in the opposite handle being moved in the
opposite direction. To edit a handle alone, simply press and hold
the control key - this forces the curve to be treated as a lone
curve.
If you're new to working with bezier curves, try starting with the
cirlce primitive, and editing it until you feel more comfortable.
You may also subdivide a selected curve with the
Modify-Curve-Subdivide function.
Fractal Trees
=============
This new feature can create some interesting results. You can
even create custom leaves for these trees, or use no leaves at
all to create some interesting lightning bolts.
To get started, you may want to try the demonstration trees which
accompany the demo.
A Final Note
============
There is much more that has changed with this new release of the
software - but I'll leave you to explore this stuff on your own. All
functions will be covered completely in the manual, along with
tutorials, appendices and an index.
This demo version is the final beta release. I have, with the
help of the beta-test crew, attemtped to hunt down every
inaccuracy. However, with any program this complex, it's still
possible for problems to appear from time to time. If you do run
across any problem, please bring it to my attention as soon as
possible.
I'd also like to take this time to thank each of you for helping
me produce this software. I've strived at every corner to
produce a quality product, and with your support, I've managed
to create a program I'm proud to attach my name to. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Alex D. DeBurie
President, The Art Machine
=====================================================================
Vertex 2.0 Demo
(C) Copyright 1992, 1993 The Art Machine
All Rights Reserved
Installer and Installer project icon
(c) Copyright 1991-93 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduced and distributed under license from Commodore.
INSTALLER SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE;
NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE. ALL USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIABILITY
OR RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED.
=====================================================================
Amiga is a trademark of Commodore Amiga, Inc.
Wavefront is a trademark of Wavefront Technologies, Inc.
Sculpt 3D/4D are trademarks of Byte by Byte, Inc.
Imagine is a registered trademark of Impulse, Inc.
Turbo Silver is a registered trademark of Impulse, Inc.
Lightwave 3D is a registered trademark of Newtek, Inc.
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