| Better plots with object graphics ? [message #41599] |
Tue, 09 November 2004 03:13  |
Klemens Barfus
Messages: 45
Registered: December 2002
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Member |
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Dear list members,
When I started with IDL, I did that because I was not satisfied with
three dimensional plots of other programms.
The motivation was to generate plots of simulated cloud fields like you
can see on the following page:
http://de.geocities.com/klemensbarfus/
This graphic has been produced by direct graphics of IDL.
When I talked to an employee of Creaso - the german distributor of IDL
on a conference, he told me to use object graphics to get better
results. After this I bought the recommended book Power Graphics with
IDL, hoping, that I would get sometime as nice visualisations as the IDL
examples.
The question is now: before I start with object graphics, will I get
better cloud visualisations with for example changing illumination etc ?
Or are object graphics in this case just useful for animations, when I
want to turn the cloud field etc ?
What would be the basic object for these visualisations ? Cube objects ?
Or are there other predefined objects, which are more useful for such
kind of volume visualisations ?
I would like to get a kind of starting point for working with object
graphics though I know, that it would perhaps be better not to start
with 3D stuff :-)
Thanks for your help and comments in advance !
Klemens
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| Re: Better plots with object graphics ? [message #41695 is a reply to message #41599] |
Tue, 09 November 2004 05:51  |
David Fanning
Messages: 11724
Registered: August 2001
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Senior Member |
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David Fanning writes:
> Well, the minute you method the word "object graphics" you
> are ensnared in 3D stuff.
Whoops! Just typing the word "objects" gets the
fingers going in all the wrong directions. Of course,
I meant "mention", not "method". :-)
Cheers,
David
--
David W. Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http:/www.dfanning.com/
Phone: 970-221-0438, IDL Book Orders: 1-888-461-0155
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| Re: Better plots with object graphics ? [message #41696 is a reply to message #41599] |
Tue, 09 November 2004 05:47 |
David Fanning
Messages: 11724
Registered: August 2001
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Senior Member |
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Klemens Barfus writes:
> When I started with IDL, I did that because I was not satisfied with
> three dimensional plots of other programms.
> The motivation was to generate plots of simulated cloud fields like you
> can see on the following page:
> http://de.geocities.com/klemensbarfus/
> This graphic has been produced by direct graphics of IDL.
> When I talked to an employee of Creaso - the german distributor of IDL
> on a conference, he told me to use object graphics to get better
> results. After this I bought the recommended book Power Graphics with
> IDL, hoping, that I would get sometime as nice visualisations as the IDL
> examples.
> The question is now: before I start with object graphics, will I get
> better cloud visualisations with for example changing illumination etc ?
Well, it will depend to some extent on what kind
of programmer you are and whether or not you can
learn to use IDL object graphics. I would say, in
general, that the *potential* for getting better
visualizations is much higher with object graphics
than with direct graphics. Whether you can actually
create them or not is beyond our knowing.
> Or are object graphics in this case just useful for animations, when I
> want to turn the cloud field etc ?
No, they can be useful in many other ways, as well.
> What would be the basic object for these visualisations ? Cube objects ?
Possibly, if you are happy with what you had before.
But you might want to experiment with polygon objects and
texture mapping for something that more closely resembles a cloud.
> Or are there other predefined objects, which are more useful for such
> kind of volume visualisations ?
I think you might have to think about building an appropriate
object for your purposes. The object library supplies the starting
materials, but you are limited only by your imagination.
> I would like to get a kind of starting point for working with object
> graphics though I know, that it would perhaps be better not to start
> with 3D stuff :-)
Well, the minute you method the word "object graphics" you
are ensnared in 3D stuff. Just relax and enjoy it. It can be
fun if your deadlines are far enough out. :-)
Cheers,
David
--
David W. Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http:/www.dfanning.com/
Phone: 970-221-0438, IDL Book Orders: 1-888-461-0155
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