Readme file for RenderDotC for Windows '95, version 1.02

Quick installation instructions
-------------------------------

If downloading from the internet:

- Download rendc102.zip into a temporary directory.
- Unzip rendc102.zip using PKUNZIP version 2 or higher or compatible program.
- Run install.exe and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Test the installation:
    - Run wrendrdc.exe
    - Pull down the "File" menu.
    - Select "Render".
    - Select teapot.rdc
    - If the colors don't look good while rendering, wait for it to finish!
      Then point to the picture and click.
    - If the colors still don't look very good, see doc\rdcfaq.txt.

If installing from floppy disk:

- Run install.exe on the floppy disk and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Test the installation:
    - Run wrendrdc.exe
    - Pull down the "File" menu.
    - Select "Render".
    - Select teapot.rdc
    - If the colors don't look good while rendering, wait for it to finish!
      Then point to the picture and click.
    - If the colors still don't look very good, see doc\rdcfaq.txt.


Becoming a RenderDotC power user
--------------------------------

- Read the frequently asked questions and answers in doc\rdcfaq.txt
- Go through the online reference manual under functions by category.
- Run the examples and study the source.
- Order the full version of RenderDotC by printing out order.wri


What RenderDotC is
------------------

RenderDotC (RDC) is a photorealistic 3D rendering toolkit.  Version 1.02
includes the following features:

    - RDC bytestream (ASCII text file) interface.
    - ANSI C/C++ programmer's interface.
    - Hierarchical graphics state including matrix and attribute stacks.
    - Orthographic and perspective viewing transformations.
    - Automatic and manual hidden surface removal.
    - Antialiasing through supersampling, jitter sampling, and filtering.
    - Gamma correction and color jittering (to reduce Mach bands).
    - Output of any combination of RGB, alpha, and depth samples (*).
    - Output quantization from 1 to 160 bits per pixel (*).
    - Arbitrary image resolution.
    - The following geometric primitives:
        Quadrics:
            Sphere, cylinder, cone, disk, torus, paraboloid, hyperboloid
        Patches:
            Bilinear patches and meshes
            Bicubic patches and meshes with built-in or custom basis matrix
            NURB patches and meshes
        Polygons:
            Convex polygons and meshes
            General (concave and/or holes) polygons and meshes
        Procedural models
	User defined objects (command lists)
    - Constant, matte, metal, and plastic surface models.
    - Ambient, distant, point, and spot light source models.
    - Depth-cue, and fog atmospheric models.
* The demo version is incapable of saving rendered image files to disk.

Version 2.0 is already under development and is expected to include the
following features:

    - Programmable shading in C++
    - Texture mapping
    - Bump mapping
    - Shadows
    - Environment mapping (reflections)

RenderDotC for Windows '95 is distributed as binaries which run on both
Windows '95 and Windows NT.  An MS-DOS version which runs in protected mode
using the GO32 DOS extender is also available to paying customers.  RenderDotC
may be ported to other platforms in the future depending on demand.

The source code for RenderDotC is not available.  However, Dot C Software,
Inc. is open to licensing agreements whereby RenderDotC would be used as a
rendering back end to another application, such as a modeler.

RenderDotC is:
    Copyright (c) 1996 by Dot C Software, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.


What RenderDotC isn't
---------------------

RenderDotC is not a modeler.  Scenes are described either in RDC bytestream
(ASCII text files) or by C/C++ programs which use the RDC interface.  Users
who wish to design scenes interactively should use a good modeling program,
save the model, convert it to RDC bytestream format, and render it.

RenderDotC is not a ray tracer.  It uses high quality scanline techniques
to achieve results comparable to what you would expect (but not always get)
from a ray tracing renderer without sacrificing performance.

RenderDotC is not a polygon based renderer.  It renders curved surfaces
precisely by adaptively subdividing them until they meet certain criteria
imposed by the user such as maximum area in pixels.  Only then are they
rendered as polygonal facets which are usually smaller than 1 pixel!  For best
results, modelers which describe curved surfaces as polygonal meshes should not
be used in conjunction with RenderDotC.

RenderDotC does not conform to Pixar's RenderMan Interface Standard.  Both
the RDC bytestream and RDC interface are proprietary.  Conversion tools are
provided to convert RIB files and RenderMan programs to RDC bytestreams.
The conversion tools in Version 1.02 support every required feature of the
RenderMan Interface but none of the optional features.

Note:
    The RenderMan (R) Interface Procedures and RIB Protocol are:
        Copyright 1988, 1989, Pixar.  All rights reserved.
    RenderMan (R) is a registered trademark of Pixar.


Package Contents
----------------

.                       Root RenderDotC directory.
	readme.txt      This file.
	license.txt     License agreement, limited warranty, and disclaimer.
	order.wri       Order form to purchase full RDC licenses.

.\doc                   RenderDotC documentation
	rdcfaq.txt      Frequently asked questions and answers
	versions.txt    Revision history of the package
	rdcref.hlp      Online user's guide and reference manual
	rdcref.ico      Icon for online reference manual

.\bin                   RenderDotC executable and dynamic link libraries.
	wrendrdc.exe    Program for rendering RDC bytestream files.
	wrib2rdc.exe    Program for converting RIB to RDC bytestream files.
	rendc.dll       RDC interface library for rendering.
	rdc.dll         RDC interface library for RDC bytestream output.
	rdccomm.dll     Actual rendering/state library shared by rendc and rdc.
	bids45f.dll     Borland run time libraries.
	cw3215.dll      (Redistributed in accordance with the terms of
	owl252f.dll      Borland's No-Nonsense License Statement)

\windows\system         DLL's updated only if RDC's version is newer
	bwcc32.dll      Borland Custom Controls library

.\include               Header files to be included by ANSI C/C++ programs
	rdc.h           Definition of RDC programmer's interface
	ri.h            Definition of RenderMan interface

.\lib                   RenderDotC static link libraries.
	rdc.lib         Import library for rdc.dll.
	rendc.lib       Import library for rendc.dll.
	rdccomm.lib     Import library for rdccomm.dll.
	ri2rdc.lib      RenderMan Interface library for RDC bytestream output.

.\examples              Example RDC bytestreams and RDC interface programs.
	teapot.rdc      RDC bytestream of Bezier patch Utah Teapot model.
	morph.rdc       Another RDC bytestream example using polygons.
	bulb.rib        RIB file to demonstrate conversion.
	teapot.c        RDC interface program used to create teapot.rdc.
	showquad.c      RenderMan interface program to demonstrate conversion.
	makefile        Borland makefile for teapot.c and showquad.c.


Contacting Dot C Software, Inc.
-------------------------------

Please send comments, questions, bug reports, etc. to:
    lamont@lava.net

Visit our Web page to read announcements and download the latest demo version:
    http://www.lava.net/dotc

Other inquiries may be directed to:
    Dot C Software, Inc.
    148 Kuukama St.
    Kailua, HI 96734
    U.S.A.
    (808) 262-6715 (Monday-Friday; 9AM - 5PM Hawaii Standard Time!)
