ftp.nice.ch/pub/next/graphics/3d/Tesseract.0.95a.README

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			Tesseract 0.95a Release Notes -- 22-July-93

The 0.95a release is functionally identical to the 0.95 release, but with a few bug fixes from 0.95, which is available on the Paget Press Electronic AppWrapper #3.

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			Tesseract 0.95 Release Notes -- 14-July-93

This is the third general release of Tesseract.  There have been many changes since the 0.91 release of Tesseract, so many that I don't recall all of them, so I won't attempt to.

I must apologize for taking so long to get a new version released, but a combination of a nasty bug that took more than 6 months to track down, and the birth of my first child, which took up a lot of my spare time, prevented me from getting out a release any sooner.

The chief change for this version is the ability to animate virtually everything.  All shape parameters can be animated, as well as the camera position and orientation, and all shader parameters, scalar, point, and color.  The camera can also be set to track a moving object by following it, or just aiming at it.  Pretty cool, even if I do say so myself.

There's been some progress on the modelling front.  All RenderMan Quadrics are now available, as well as PatchMesh.  I'm still not satisfied with the way that PointsPolygons are working, so I haven't included it in this release.  The next release will hopefully include and document the programmers API, so you can build your own shapes.

Tesseract has been tested, though not really extensively, on Intel boxes.  It seems to be working fine, but due to some bugs in NS 3.1, the save file formats are not interchangeable between Intel and Motorola boxes.  Evidently, the read: and write: methods fixes didn't get into the 3.1 release.  After 3.2 is released, you will be able to read in any saved files and save them out again, and then they will be compatible with both endiannesses.  In any event, the installer package contains a fat binary, so everyone can have fun.

Once again, it's still beta, so save early and save often.  And happy animating......


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			Tesseract 0.91 Release Notes

This is the second general release of Tesseract.  The major difference between this version and version 0.90 is the addition of 3D postscript fonts.  There have also ben many small bug fixes and improvements.

Personal licenses from version 0.90 will work with this version without change.  Network licensees will have to reinstall the license, since it brands the binary.  Once again, it's still beta, so save early, and happy animating........

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			Tesseract 0.90 Release Notes

This is the first general release of Tesseract, a 3D Modelling and animation package for the NeXT computer.  It is reasonably stable, and quite functional, but it is still beta, and may crash.  Save early, save often......

There are a few things that I would have liked to get into this early release, but they are not yet stable enough for general release, so they are not included here.  The major missing pieces are the ability to create 3D fonts from postscript fonts, and the ability to do general polygonal, patch, and NURB modelling.  You can expect to see these sometime around the end of the year.  Also, you will then be able to animate more than just the scalar parameters of shaders.

Many of the niceties of a polished app are not yet present.  Some of our icons are either UGLY, or just missing.  Occasionally, parts of the UI aren't aligned as well as they could be.  The menus don't update dynamically yet.  We still don't support object linking, and the undo code isn't done yet.   All these will be fixed/written before the final release.

There are a few known bugs that you should be warned about:  Don't try to delete more than one camera at the same time.  You can't delete objects from a palette.  The spotlight doesn't always animate correctly.  I'm sure there are others, but those are the major oustanding ones at present.

This program uses the 3DKit (Naturally), and so requires that you have 3.0.

·  To obtain your license code call Versatile DevelopMent between 9-3 Pacific Time at 
	(206) 531-7525.

·  For customers in foreign countries that we cannot export programs using encryption codes to, 	please send e-mail to grubb@show10.csc.wsu.edu or contact Monte Grubb(208) 882-7146. 

·  Limited e-mail support is provided free of charge.  If you would like more intensive or 	specialized support, please inquirer about our inexpensive Additional Support Contracts.

To Display Animations
	Currently, we have not implemented the code required to display(play) animations which are created by using Tesseract.  To do this, you must obtain "Movie2.51" from your local archive site(sonata.cc.purdue.edu).  Movie plays all files with an " .anim " extension which is the file format for all Tesseract animations.  Movie2.51 was written by Dr. Patrick Flynn(thanks Pat!).
NOTE : If you do not have access to the internet or for any reason at all can not obtain a copy of Movie 2.51, Versatile DevelopMent will gladly send you a copy.

BUG CONTEST
	The top three bug reporters will receive a free copy of Tesseract Pro.  For instructions, rules and requirements send e-mail to grubb@show10.csc.wsu.edu or call Monte Grubb at (208) 882-7146.

About Tesseract
	Tesseract is a 3D Modeling and Animation program developed for the NeXT platform.  Tesseract is built around the newly incorporated RenderManä objects which have become the industry standard in three dimensional modeling and animation.

All comments, criticisms and suggestions are welcome.  Your input will only help us meet your needs and requirements and we encourage you to do so.  Please send all comments and suggestions via e-mail to grubb@show10.csc.wsu.edu or call Monte Grubb at (208) 882-7146.

For more information, contact Versatile DevelopMent at (206) 531-7525.

						Thank you for your support,
								Monte Grubb
								Chief Operations Officer  -  Versatile DevelopMent
								grubb@show10.csc.wsu.edu




Tesseract is a Trademark of Relief Consulting and Development, NeXTSTEP is a trademark of NeXT Computer Inc. , RenderMan, RIB, Photorealistic are trademarks of PIXAR. 

These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.