WCSDemoKit

Short:        Demo pix / info about terrain renderer
Author:       Gary R. Huber,
Uploader:     Xenon Arcticus burner com
Type:         docs/anno
Architecture: generic
Distribution: CD ok

 Christopher Eric "Xenon" Hanson (Xenon@Arcticus.burner.com)

 ** This is a re-issue of the original WCSdemoKit which was
 ** missing a couple of files.
 
Included info from Comp.Sys.Amiga.Announce:

TITLE

  World Construction Set, Demo Kit


VERSION

  Demos from and information about v1.0


AUTHORS

  Gary R. Huber
  Christopher Eric "Xenon" Hanson (Xenon@Arcticus.burner.com)


SHORT

  High-end terrain renderer and animator.


DESCRIPTION

  World Construction Set is a powerful program for rendering photorealistic
  landscapes from USGS DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data or other sources.
  Many types of ground shading and foliage are supported, with spline
  animation, import/export facilities and an elegant non-modal user-
  interface.


FEATURES

General Program Features:
   Task-oriented non-modal user-interface
   Load/Save configurable workspace and user preferences
   Flexible object, image and data file paths
   Uses Magic User Interface -- Amiga User Interface StyleGuide
    compliant
   Provides public screen on user-specified ScreenMode
   Enhanced display board (with Intuition emulation) compatibility
   68000, 68020/68030 and 68040 optimized versions
   Compatible with all Amiga models running OS2.04 or later
   Multimedia, multidimensional and buzzword-compliant!
   Heaps O' Fun to Use!

Import / Export Features:
   IO LightWave motion files
   I  U.S. Geological Survey Digital Line Graphs (USGS DLG)
   I  World Data Bank global vector data
   I  AutoCAD DXF vectors (LINE, POLYLINE, POINT primitives)
   I  USGS 3 arc second ASCII Digital Elevation Models (DEM)
   IO WCS Binary DEM
   IO Future support for Vista binary DEMs
   IO IFF and Sculpt image formats
   IO IFF-ZBUF and raw array Z-Buffer data
   IO Convert between any 2D binary data array and an image/DEM

Mapping Features:
   Extensively configurable algorithmic ecosystem mapping
   Animatable planar color and ecosystem mapping
   Multigradient hypsometric shaded relief mapping
   Multiple ecosystem types: Water, Bare, Rock, Grass, Conifer,
    Deciduous
   Visual sensitivity (ViewShed) analysis and display
   2D/3D vector digitization, editing and mapping/rendering
   Summagraphics tablet support (future generic tablet support)
   2D plan view (overhead) map display by contour or shaded relief

Animation Features:
   Automatic turn banking and lookahead options
   Spline control of all motion, color and ecosystem parameters
   Individual Tension, Continuity and Bias for each spline channel
   Interactive 3D wireframe layout display
   Multiple 3D preview rendering methods
   Batch render preview animation frames to files for external
    playback
   Real-time internal preview of motion (bounding-box) and color
   Timeline (motion graph) editing of all splined parameters

Rendering Features:
   24 bit output with 4 bit (16-color) progress display
   Field Rendering for 60fps video output
   Any aspect and resolution up to 32767 x 32767 (memory permitting)
   Segmented rendering option reduces memory requirements
   Automatic super-sampled pixel antialiasing
   User-definable fractal recursion level
   Detailed 2D trees for realistic vegetation density within
    realistic rendering time-frames
   Curvilinear horizon gradient or animated bitmap image backgrounds
   Supports Z-Buffered background compositing (IFF-ZBUF, Raw array)


REQUIREMENTS

  Amiga OS 2.04 or later. 3-4MB RAM required.
  
  Recommended: 68030/68040, 8-16MB RAM, large hard disk, hires display card.
    
HOST NAME

  All Aminet sites including:
   ftp.luth.se (130.240.18.2)
   wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4)
  
  Also will be available on CompuServe, Genie and other networks and BBSes.
  
DIRECTORY

  biz/demo

FILE NAME

  WCSdemokit.LHA

DISTRIBUTABILITY

  All demo materials are Copyright ©1994-1994 by Questar Productions, but
  may be freely distributed for non-profit uses.
  
  World Construction Set v1.0 is Commercial software, and is not freely
  distributable.


PRICE

  World Construction Set retails for $250.00, but initial v1.0 orders
  before October 30th 1994 will be discounted to $195.


COMPANY

  Questar Productions
  1058 WCR 231/2
  Brighton, CO 80601
  (303) 659-4028
  wcsinfo@arcticus.burner.com


TRADEMARKS

  (All trademarks are the properties of their respective owners)