RE: FLASH: 3D in Flash - Hopefully an enticing proposition

[Jefferis]

On Fri, 19 May 2000 14:01:34 -0400,

bhallfigleaf [dot] com

 (Branden Hall) 

wrote:


Branden,


In light of your comments, and I'm guessing, your knowledge of 

Director... I am wondering about where the limitations in online design 

really are - i.e., are they inherent limitations merely of Flash's output 

or are they inherent limitations of bandwidth and computer processor's 

speeds. 


For example, can you produce a fast and efficient 3D system like what you 

describe below in Director and output it for the Web in Shockwave? Or 

would the same project suffer the same limitations when converted web 

presentation regardless of the creator program? 


Is there something inherently too processor heavy in even the mathematics 

of design that would slow down the local computers or make it too hard to 

calculate and send over the web? 


The reason I ask this is that I am wondering if all 3D objects [simple 

shaded items with motion, e.g.] are stretching the limits of web 

playability or merely the processor engine of the flash player... 


I noticed when looking at Metacreations 3d streaming program, e.g., that 

no matter what their claims, the items suffered from an inherent 

bandwidth problem. At 56k, their objects were just too large, to slow, 

and too painful to wait for.  I guess I am asking if we are near a 

barrier with Flash production potential for average web work [not cable 

modems] or if with improvements to the mathematics engines we might be 

able to see realistic 3d from Flash projects in realistic file sizes. 


Other than that, If I'm going to wait on a 4 meg download, Quicktime 

seems more robust when it finally plays than Flash does. 


Thanks,


Jeff

>I created the first 3D point engine in Flash back in June of this year:

>www.labyrinth.cx/gumball7.swf

>

>Given how flash is now, a lot of what you speak about is simply not possible

>or not practical.

>I made a 3D triangle engine a while back, but despite all of my attempts at

>optimization, it was just too slow. Flash's scripting language is simply not

>robust enough to support much more than points and lines (and even doing

>backface removal with lines is too much!)

>

>1) Change RGB settings for an instance of a symbol

>You can't do this. Sorry

>

>2) Rotate, skew and scale (in independant axes) an instance of a symbol

>Rotate and scale yes, skew, no.

>

>3) Display and hide instances as required.

>Yes, but it can be a royal bitch to do, especially if it involves change

>z-ordering of objects.

>

>- -= Branden J. Hall

>- -= Multimedia Developer/Instructor

>- -= Fig Leaf Software - "We've got you covered!"



Jefferis Peterson, Pres.

Flash and Web Design

http://www.PetersonSales.net

Tel & Fax. 724-458-7169


ICQ 19112253



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