First off let me say that I'm a J3D coder myself, and except for runtime speed I think it's the best 3D programming language available........ I don't ever remember VRML being proposed as anything more than a 3D data format, a data standard specification. So I'll say it again, VRML was never intended to be a CG platform! Just ask the people who wrote the specification. It's important to understand the difference between a data format and a graphics platform. One is an information standard, the other is the software which interprets it. You could never "run" an VRML file, just like you could never "run" a .OBJ file. You can however, import VRML or .OBJ into a high-end platform and render extremely high quality images and animations. Yes plug-ins are required to view VRML off the web, but have you ever found a common plugin for .OBJ or IGES, or STEP? VRML will only be replaced by a better common data standard. I do have to agree that VRML needs compression. However if I remember correctly you can JAR a VRML file. VRML doesn't have graphics quality limitations because it doesn't do the rendering, it only stores the basic information about the scene. I'm currently bringing .RAW files into Maya by converting to VRML then importing, and having wonderful results. (btw... I create the .RAW files with a Java3D program) With the exception of NURBS support, the data in a VRML file is still as good as data in any other format. It's the software which renders it that provides graphics quality. Anyway my point is, VRML has a bad reputation because people don't understand it for "what it is". If you don't like the quality of the content you're looking at, you need to develop a better viewer, not another data format. VRML is a good data specification because it is well defined, and unambiguous(just ask around about IGES, a perfect example of a terrible data standard) -----Original Message----- From: Joachim Diepstraten [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 3:07 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [anfy3d-api] Re: java3d Ehlo > VRML was never intended to be a CG platform! It was in the first place. > VRML is, and always was, a data standard for the web, that's all, nothing > else! > (and an excellent one at that) Nope absolutly not the overhead is way to big, no compression nothing, so communication-wise it's actually a rather dumb format. The only advantage it has it's text-based that's why it's easy to read and therefor rather platform independent. > Web Browsers which support this standard bring real-time 3D to users all Hmm not native, only with plug-ins. > over the world. I defy anyone to name a more widely used 3D web content > format. Well as there is no other 3d web content, no answer ;))). But it's definitly not the wise end. > Java3D is the only alternative to VRML, but has no standard geometry file Yep it is, and it will replace VRML I think. > format other than VRML(no reason to), and to date isn't being supported by Well that's not a bad thing you can add your own readers for a better format. > Nobody ever claimed VRML would produce quality computer graphics, no one > ever considered it. Because the two things are totally un-related. Not really. Showing something moving is only the first step. Next is to have quality computer graphics. Realism in realtime-CG is on the rise rapidly, look at demos/(video-) games and stuff like that from 3 years ago and look at them now. > As a programmer, designer, and CG artist, I'm willing to stand up and say > VRML has it's place! It does exactly what it was designed to do, and does it It had maybe it still has but it failed to be accepted by a broader user base. And as JAVA-Coder I must say we have to watch that not the same thing happens to Applets against Shockwave-Flash. EOF, J.D. (aka Chojin/OtakInc) -- **************************************************** * The new AnimeVR-ThemePark (Version 2) is now open* * go to http://fly.to/animevrpark * **************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ You have a voice mail message waiting for you at iHello.com: http://click.egroups.com/1/2377/7/_/415464/_/954231020/ -- Easily schedule meetings and events using the group calendar! -- http://www.egroups.com/cal?listname=anfy3d-api&m=1 =========================================================================== To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST". For general help, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help".
