High Velocity Systems Vector Reality V1.2, 3D Modeling and Rendering for Windows 3.1/95/NT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table Of Contents * What Vector Reality Does * Features * Requirements * New Version Information * Open Development Policy * Vector Reality Demo * Sales, Service, and Information * Order Form * Copyright Information ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What Vector Reality Does Vector Reality is a three-dimensional Modeler and Renderer. The role of the modeler is to allow the user to enter a three-dimensional description of an objects surface in the most logical way possible. The problem is that computer input and display technology is primarily focused on only two-dimensions. Vector Reality allows three-dimensional editing by having three parallel projection views which are two-dimensional, the top, right, and front views. The combination of these views allow the user the full range of three-dimensional motion. Actual 3D data is stored internally, however, only two-dimensional views into the three dimensional data is allowed due to the 2D representation of a computer monitor. In Vector Reality the 3D surface data is stored as a collection of polygons. These polygons often form only a good approximation of an actual surface; however, by increasing the number of polygons in the approximation, the stored surface can be made to look more and more like an actual surface. The role of the renderer is to take the 3D surface description of the modeler data and to output a photo realistic shaded two dimensional picture which appears three dimensional. To achieve this, materials are applied to surfaces which gives the surfaces desired qualities, lights are placed, and the environment is described. For example, one could take a surface description of a spaceship and apply a metallic material to it, light could be placed in the distance to light the scene, stars could be placed in the environment description, and then the renderer would be able to render a metallic spaceship in the stars. In Vector Reality, the rendering process used is called ray-tracing. It allows a high degree of realism, including effects like translucency, reflection, refraction, and shadows. The material system allows for phong smoothing of polygons, and multiple procedural and non-procedural 2D and 3D textures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Features Vector Reality is a 3D modeler and renderer which incorporates polygon mesh based editing with the power of raytracing into one integrated environment. From the surreal to the real, your creativity is set free to create images from your dreams to recreation of actual scenery. New 32bit Operating System Technology * Runs natively in Windows 95 and Windows NT with multithreaded rendering * Runs under Windows 3.1 by using Win32s Logical and Customizable Interface * Object oriented operation creates a consistent interface for ease of use * User definable view system allows for infinite customization * Button bar and Accelerator keys allow for quick function access * Context sensitive help brings you answers when and where you need them Powerful Object Generation * Primitive functions create simple objects automatically * Extrude and Lathe functions create symmetric objects quickly * Array function replicates objects in a pattern * Point Editing allows precise control over object generation * Curve Deformations create smooth 3d curves for organic effects Image Generation * Reflection, translucency, refraction, and shadows create 3d effect * Texture mapping color, translucency, reflection, bumps makes objects alive * Supersampling creates high quality images * Procedural textures include wood, marble, clouds, turbulent colors, granite * Environmental effects include horizon, fog, and stars ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Requirements Operating Systems Supported * Windows 3.1 (or better) with Win32s Installed and 8MB (or more) Ram * Windows 95 and 8MB (or more) Ram * Windows NT and 16MB (or more) Ram Hardware * Video card running in 256 (or more) colors at (or above) 640x480 * 386,486, Pentium (or better) with math co-processor. * Hard Drive with 10MB (or more) free * 3.5" High Density Floppy Drive for installation Software Extensions * Win32s for running under Windows 3.1, included with Vector Reality Release Version, available online separately for demonstration version ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Version Information Version 1.2 includes many significant improvements. The following list notes many of the changes made. Owners of Version 1.1 will be sent upgrades at no charge. * Join Layers Command Added * Invert Selection Command Added * Array Function Command Added * Backface Culling for Camera Views Option Added * Dynamic View Dragging Addded * Changed from Win 16 to Win 32 with Win32s auto-degrade capacity * Multithreded Rendering under Win95/NT Added * 1.5x-2.0x faster rendering * Win95 Enabled Look * Long Filename Support * Persistent Window Placement * Persistent Toolbar Placement * Toolbars Made Detachable * Tool Tips Added * Startup Window size listened to * All Dialogs Re-Designed for clarity * Tab Property Dialogs now used where appropriate * Clipboard now resides in memory * TIFF,TGA,PCX,PCD,BMP Read Support Added * Fast and High Quality Image Viewer * Fixed Modified Flag * New Storage Directory Heirarchy * New New/Open routines * New Object File I/O * New View Type Menu * WSP Properties Moved To File Menu * Center/Zoom Moved To Submenu * Fixed Rotated Object Render Bug * Fixed Bounding Box/Light Clip Bug * Fixed Pointy Object Octree Bug * Fixed Add Polygon Bug ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Open Development Policy We believe that in order to create the best product, we must be as open as possible to the ideas of our customers. If you have any ideas, comments, criticisms, or implementations please communicate them to us. By combining the ideas of our customers with quality software engineering, we know we will be able to create the most useful, understandable, and creative 3D modeling and rendering package possible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vector Reality Demo The Vector Reality Demo is a working demonstration of the Vector Reality product. It includes all of the Vector Reality package, except save is disabled in workspaces, and it only renders at 160x120. The Vector Reality Demo comes in the form of a zip file. To use the demo, retrieve it and place the file in its own directory and unzip it using an unzipping tool like pkunzip. For pkunzip, use pkunzip vecrel12.zip. The Vector Reality demo will decompress into that directory. Install the package by running install, which is in the directory you unzipped to, from within Windows. Make sure your computer meets the program requirements listed above. If you're running Windows 3.1, you will need Win32s (~1.2MB Zip File), which is available at: ftp://oak.oakland.edu/SimTel/win3/win32/pw1118.zip The demo (~1.4MB Zip File) is available at: ftp://avalon.viewpoint.com/pub/demos/vecrel12.zip ftp://ftp.povray.org/pub/mirrors/avalon/demos/vecrel12.zip ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sales, Service, and Information Sales of Vector Reality Vector Reality is only available directly from High Velocity Systems. It is not available in stores or by any mail order company. Vector Reality is US $99 + US $8 Shipping via FedEx 2nd Day where available (Nebraska Residents add US $6.44 for sales tax) Call: (402) 423-1848 to order via Visa/Mastercard (No Surcharge) or COD (No Surcharge) Or, See Order Form to order by mail. Service All questions about the Vector Reality product are handled through any of the following addresses of High Velocity Systems. Service and Technical Support is provided free of charge. Phone Number: (402) 423-1848 Internet Mail Address: jvanabra@nyx10.cs.du.edu Mail Address: High Velocity Systems; 6521 S. 41st Street; Lincoln, NE 68516 Information Additional information about Vector Reality, including the Vector Reality Demo, can be found on the World Wide Web at: http://nyx10.cs.du.edu:8001/~jvanabra/highvel.html (this location) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Order Form For Vector Reality V1.2 (rev 1.0) Print out this form, fill in, and mail form and payment to address below. Information: Price: US $99 per copy ordered Shipping: US $8 via FedEx Second Day where available per copy ordered Sales Tax: Nebraska Residents add US $6.44 per copy ordered. Payment Method: Check, Money order in US Funds written out to High Velocity Systems, Visa/Mastercard (No Surcharge), or COD (No Surcharge, US Residents ONLY) Mail Completed Form To: High Velocity Systems 6521 S. 41st Street Lincoln, NE 68516 USA Fill In These Entries, Please Print: Order Type: __ Check/Money Order, __ Visa/Mastercard, __ COD Company Name (optional): First Name: Last Name: Street Address (1): Street Address (2) (optional): City: State: Zip Code: Country: Telephone Number: E-Mail Address (optional): Quantity Ordered: Total Payment Included: Complete the Following 3 lines for Visa/Mastercard Orders Only Card Name: Card Number: Expiration Date: Additional Optional Information: Where did you get this Vector Reality package from?: Any Comments?: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright Information All Versions All Vector Reality executables and help files are Copyright 1995 by High Velocity Systems. The Vector Reality executables and help files may not be modified and/or redistributed in any way without permission. Texture Images files were retrieved from the public domain. Demonstration Version Permission is granted for one copy per computer for the Vector Reality Demonstration Version as packaged by High Velocity Systems at no cost to the user.