Category: Streaming Video
To improve the web surfer's experience, it is important to place as few obstacles in his or her path as possible. The web code on the pages (shown here) attempts to automatically load Cortona, a freely downloadable VRML viewer for Windows, Macintosh and Pocket PC. Cortona works with Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator and compatible browsers...
I then loaded this 3DS model into 3D Studio MAX, where I zoomed and panned to various positions in the 3D scene and defined these positions as camera viewpoints. I then exported the model in VRML97 format. I then double-clicked the resulting WRL file to test the results in my Web browser, on which I had previously installed ParallelGraphics'...
Model Size
When creating any 3D model for output via the web, file size is, of course, an important consideration. Performance on "average" computers is also an issue. To optimize my VRML output, I tried several methods:
Reduce the number of polygons in the model
Delete unnecessary items, such as clear glass windows.
Compress the WRL...
In addition to exporting the files as WRL, I also exported the model as a Flash animation using Vecta3D. This tool is available in two formats: Vecta3D-Max 1.1 is a plug-in for 3D Studio Max that allows you to output low-bandwidth SWF (Shockwave Flash) vector based images and animations from virtually any 3D scene. There's also a standalone...
After converting the DWG model with PolyTrans or 3D Exploration for grayscale or colour models, respectively, I loaded the converted 3DS output into Vue D'Esprit 4.0. Vue4 is an easy to use rendering program with an easy, intuitive interface for placing lights, vegetation and various textures. I set up the scene with a partly cloudy sky, a bit of...
The next step was to convert the supplied AutoCAD R14 model into a format suitable for display on web pages. Fortunately, I had several tools capable of performing such as conversion. Rhino 3D did a fairly good job at importing the model, but its exported files lost the colors of the original model components when I loaded the 3DS mesh output...
All designers tend to look at designs through a filter of their own sensibilities. The first step toward the development of a successful architectural website is to determine the architect's personal sensibilities.
To begin the process, I asked the architect for a list of other architects and designs he admired, and enquired about the websites he...
In this section, we'll discuss some of the plug-ins available for MAX that can help create realistic wind, gravity, cloth simulations, fluid dynamics and more.
Plug-in Power
Many MAX artists find that plug-ins can be time savers, as they often reduce drudgery and speed tasks in MAX. However, there are some plug-ins that perform feats that the...
The image shown here was created with a Max R2 plugin called Afterburn. This plugin, from ID8 Media, can be used to create explosions, wispy clouds, smoke and a variety of other effects. Because the effect is volumetric, you can actually fly right through the clouds and see them move around you. Indeed, does it not kick ass?
The Afterburn plugin...
AVI, MPEG and QuickTime movies aren't the only ways to view animations on the Web. The animation shown on the previous page was converted to VRML97 using Max's VRML export (virtual reality modeling language) capabilities, producing a 3D model shown here with 2000 polygons (290K), or here as a higher-quality 16,000 polygon (1.4MB) model. This way,...
"Video post" effects can be applied to your scenes to enhance their visual appearance, as the before and after images to the right demonstrate. Max includes a number of Lens flare, Glow and brilliance effects that can be added to a scene -- even one you've already rendered. Indeed, video post production is akin to audio studio production...
Part 1: Program Overview
Part 2: Making things sparkle and shine with Video Post-processing
Part 3: Blowing things up with volumetric particle systems
Part 4: Character animation and Motion Capture
Part 5: Putting animations on the Web with VRML and AVI
Part 6: When things get hairy... Get hairy back with Shag Fur effects
Kinetix 3D Studio Max...
Product: 3D Studio MAX R3.1
From: Discreet (now headquartered in Montreal)
Availability: now
Price: US$3495 SRP ($ 5200 Canadian); an educational version is available for about $900
Be Discreet
Kinetix recently changed its name to Discreet, following the purchase of Montreal-based Discreet Logic by Autodesk, Kinetix' parent company. Autodesk, the...