Hello, my name is Paul Rybarczyk, and I am president of Vista Systems and the designer, author, and owner of RenderBoy. This document contains some general information about RenderBoy which answers the following questions:
• What is RenderBoy all about?
• What is in this folder?
• What does it cost and how do I register?
• Do I have the latest and greatest version?
• How do I get the RenderBoy extras?
• Where can I get feedback or more info?
• Can I give RenderBoy away to others?
• What is the revision history of RenderBoy?
What is RenderBoy all about?
RenderBoy is an integrated solids based 3D modeler and photo-realistic "ray-tracing" renderer. What does that mean? Well, using RenderBoy's simple graphic user interface, you can design a 3D model in a truly what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) point&click fashion. You can specify how your models should look (dull, shiny, mirrored, color, texture, etc) and add working light sources to illuminate your design. Then, in one step, you tell RenderBoy to "render" it, which means create a photo-realistic image (or even an animation!) by mathematically tracing the rays of light around your design. You will get shading, shadows, refelections, refractions, glinty spots, even fog, and all of this is 100% automatic.
To see an example, start the RenderBoy application and choose "About RenderBoy" from the Apple menu. The image you seen in the about box (pool balls on green felt) was created by RenderBoy. This is not a photograph! This image was ray-traced, exactly as you see it, by RenderBoy!
What is in this folder?
Five things (not counting this read-me doc) are in this folder:
1) The RenderBoy application (two for 68K Macs).
2) A "Register RenderBoy" application so you can register it.
3) Some documentation to help you figure things out.
4) Some sample files to help get you started.
5) A "Read Me" doc on how to register.
How do I register and what does it cost?
The registration fee for RenderBoy is just $25. Please refer to the "Register - READ ME" document for more information.
Do I have the latest and greatest version?
As I type this, it is early September, 1997. Depending on what your calendar says, it is possible that you are not using the latest and greatest version of RenderBoy. If that's the case, please check out my web site, as the latest and greatest version will be there, just waiting to be downloaded.
http://members.aol.com/luv2render
My web site also has some links to shareware and freeware utilities which work great with RenderBoy. Want to create some QuickTime movies or animated GIF files for your web site? Then be sure to check it out!
How do I get the RenderBoy extras?
If you don't already have it, you should go to my web site and download the RenderBoy Extras, which include the following:
1) Some freeware utilities which work great with RenderBoy.
2) Some great looking sample designs to help you get started.
3) A textures and design library that you can use with RenderBoy.
4) Some documentation to help you figure things out.
Where can I get feedback or more info?
The documentation included in this package describes everything there is to know about using RenderBoy. Please read this first if you have functionality questions. If you have other questions or want to report a bug, you can drop me an email at "PRybarczyk@aol.com". Or if you like paper mail, you can send a post-card to:
Paul Rybarczyk - Vista Systems
3009 W. Greenbrier Lane
Peoria, IL 61614
USA
Can I give RenderBoy away to others?
You bet! That's what shareware is for. The more people that use it and register it, the happier I am. And the more likely I will be to enhance it and make it lots better. All I ask is that you don't break it apart. That is, distribute it in it's original compressed form which includes the five pieces mentioned above, and this READ ME file.
Also feel free to post RenderBoy on public bulletin boards, ftp sites, or web sites where other people can get free access to it. But please tell me, so I know where it is. That way I can refer others to it. And of course, keep it all in one piece, just as if you were giving it to a friend.
If you wish to put RenderBoy on a commercial shareware CD-ROM, that can also be arranged, but please ask for my approval first. If we agree that you are selling the CD and not a license to the shareware on the CD, I'll probably say yes.
What is the revision history of RenderBoy?
Version 1.0 (Jan, 1997)
• Initial release for Power Macintosh.
Version 1.0.1 (Mar, 1997)
• Fixed an initialization glitch which had the potential of making RenderBoy 1.0 crash upon launch when run with certain system extensions.
Version 1.1 (Mar, 1997)
• Added UNDO functionality.
• Added "Create Group" feature to the design menu.
• Added support for 68K Macs.
Version 1.2 (Sept, 1997)
• Index of refraction can vary independently object to object.
• Light sources and objects can selectively cast shadows. For lights, this allows you to create something which looks and acts like a light, but doesn't generate shadows. For glass (prismatic) objects, this allows light to pass through without generating a shadow. The elimination of un-needed shadows can also speed up rendering time.
• Light sources can "glow" as if they are radiating energy. Makes them look more realistic.
• Regular objects can appear "bright" like a light, making them suitable for simulating beams of light.
• New object shape: Pryamid (positive and negative).
• Surface dialog box has been simplified and improved.
• Eye view can be manipulated using arrow keys. More intuitive.
• Objects in front/side/top views can be positioned using arrow keys.
• Tested under MacOS 8 to correctly utilize new color selection features, window behavior, window appearance, etc.
