Ray-tracing

[Darrell R. Davis]

I have been using a ray tracing program called RASTER3D on my 4D/20
for molecular modeling.  The quality of the images are better than any
of the commercial packages that I have seen for this purpose.
Although this is a specialized application, there may be something
useful for your purpose.  Here is some information that I pulled out of
the README file that is part of the package and also a part of the man
page for "render" which may be of interest.  I do know that as of
last fall (1989), David Bacon was at CARB in Maryland, the addresses
below may give you a lead.


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     RENDER(1G)      UNIX System V (RASTER3D commands)      RENDER(1G)

     NAME
          render - make an image file from some 3D objects

     SYNOPSIS
          render [ file ]

     DESCRIPTION
          Render accepts a file (standard input by default) containing
          some control information and parameters describing a set of
          coloured spheres and triangles in 3-space, and produces an
          image file on the standard output acceptable to dither(1G).
          Normally, render is invoked implicitly by orb(1G) or
          scene(1G), and the image is piped to dither automatically.

          The algorithm used by render is described in Bacon, D.J. &
          Anderson, W.F., "A Fast Algorithm for Rendering Images of
          Solid Objects with Shadows, and Its Application in Making
          Pictures of Molecules," manuscript in preparation (probably
          to be submitted to J. Comp. Chem. or to J. Mol. Graphics),
          1988.

        Input file format
          The input layout for render is the same as that accepted by
          scene(1G


*  Tell everyone about RASTER3D!
 
* The rendering algorithm used by the program "render.f" is
* described in the following paper:
*
 If you have any questions, problems, comments, complaints,
 or suggestions, please do not hesitate to call or write me.
 
   David Bacon
   Department of Biochemistry
   Medical Sciences Building
   University of Alberta
   Edmonton, AB  T6G 2H7
     CANADA
   Phone:  403-432-4575
   Bitnet:  USERGORA at UALTAMTS
  
 I will be moving to the Washington, DC area sometime in
 August, 1988.  Here is a temporary intermediate contact:

   c/o John Moult
   Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology
   9600 Gudelsky Drive
   Rockville, MD 20850
     USA
   Phone:  301-975-2593
   Bitnet:  JOHN at MSMFVM


 Mark Israel and Stephen Samuel made significant contributions
 to this package, and may be reached at the Edmonton address
 above or as follows:

   Phone:  403-432-2422
   Bitnet:  USERLNDS at UALTAMTS

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Hope this is of some general interest.

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                           *                                  
Darrell R. Davis       *   *   *    "Faster, faster, until the
Assistant Professor      * * *       thrill of speed overcomes
Medicinal Chemistry   *A**L**T**A*   the fear of death."
University of Utah       * * *       
                       *   *   *       --H.S. Thompson 
                           *
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