=============================== README.TXT ================================== Welcome to the Official POV-Ray CDROM! This CDROM is a compilation of images, scene source, program source, utilities, and tips on POV-Ray, the Persistence of Vision Raytracing program. This CDROM represents the culmination of over 1000 hours of effort by the editor. The contents of the CDROM itself represent, in addition, countless thousands of hours of effort by programmers and artists throughout the world. ============================================================================ Here is a list of some important files and directories of the disc. VIEW.EXE MSDOS File Browser/Uncompressor 00global.txt Global index of the disc DOCS\ Documentation regarding these discs DOCS\VIEW.DOC Documentation regarding VIEW.EXE SETUP.EXE Windows Installation Program install.exe MSDOS Image Viewer installation program _BBS\ BBS files ============================================================================ Macintosh Users: For your convenience, this disc is Macintosh ready! All of the JPEG and GIF pictures are ready to be viewed -- just double click on the icons! For the other picture formats, you can use your own image procesing program (Debabelizer, Adobe Photoshop) to view, process, and convert the pictures. We also recommend Graphic Converter, a shareware program located in the MacUtils:Graphics folder. (Please be sure to pay the author of the program if you plan to use it for an extended period of time.) Please take a look in the red Mac_POVray folder on the CDROM for ready-to-run versions programs contained on the disc. In here, you'll find the Macintosh versions of POVRay and other assorted utilities for the Macintosh. We have also included a lot of wonderful shareware and freeware utilities within the MacUtils folder. You'll find Compression/Decompression programs, Graphics utilities, Sound applications, and many, many other utilities to help you use this disc to the fullest. ============================================================================ FILES TO LOOK OUT FOR Here's a quick list of files to have a look at ! POWERVIEW - the powerful new DOS image file viewer, in the \utils\pv directory. PV.EXE has support for Walnut Creek's file description format, which means you can browse the image files on this CD using it and still get the short and long descriptions of each file. PV supports over 150 video cards. If you only want to view image files, you will find browsing using POWERVIEW more convenient. POWERVIEW supports all image formats on this CDROM and will also display the file descriptions (both long and short) ! Simply type pv in the root directory of the CDROM or use the view program for full functionality. NEW USERS - if you run Windows, please copy the file \programs\winpvtut\winpvtut.exe to your hard disk (if you have 12 meg of disk space free) and then run it. If you don't have the space then run it from the CD-ROM. It contains an interactive tutorial on how to use POV-Ray, complete with pictures and animations! The \text\tutorials directory also contains more tutorials. Ready-to-Run versions of POV-Ray are in \programs\povray\unoff\compiles\ BEST OF THE BEST If you're keen to see some nice images, check out the \images\hallfame directory for a selection of images in my Hall of Fame. Run the SLIDES.BAT file in the root directory for a slideshow (using powerview) of the Hall of Fame. WINDOWS USERS Run the setup program in the root directory of this CD-ROM to create a Windows group which will contain at least one viewer. ============================================================================ DOS/UNIX CONSIDERATIONS Many of the files on this CDROM came from the UNIX world. Additionally, a number came from DOS. This poses a problem as DOS and UNIX have incompatible text file formats. Since this CD is targeted at a large audience, comprising of DOS, UNIX and Mac users, the decision was made to use the DOS text file format on all nonarchived files. This is because a Unix formatted file (LF only) is usually unreadable in most DOS file viewers, whereas a DOS formatted text file, when viewed under UNIX merely shows some annoying but harmless ^M characters. NOTE however that file in archives will not, in most cases, have been converted from their native format. If the archive originated on a UNIX system, files will most likely be LF only. A DOS archive will have CR-LF pairs. Please use the provided DOS2UNIX and UNIX2DOS programs to convert the files when needed. ============================================================================ ARCHIVE FORMAT In an attempt to provide a archive format that is useful to all target audiences of this CDROM, I made the decision to use the .ZIP archive method. This is because .ZIP is probably the most widely supported format in popular use today. In most cases, even machine specific files (e.g., UNIX only programs) have been converted from, say, .tar.gz to .zip, simply because people on other systems may want to examine their contents or read/port the source. When rearchiving UNIX files (i.e. any .tar archive), the Info-Zip archiver was used with the DOS compatibility flag turned OFF. This means that all of the original attributes of the files (permissions and long filenames) are preserved. If you unzip one of these archives under DOS, the DOS unzip program should attempt to convert long filenames to DOS compatible 8.3 filenames. If, in this process, two separate files in the same directory are truncated to the same filename, you should be prompted to rename one of them. In this case, don't forget to rename the file in any relevant makefiles that were in the archive. ============================================================================ WHY NOT ROCKRIDGE ? Originally, I intended to make this CDROM ISO-9660 + Rock Ridge extensions. This would have allowed Unix users to see long filenames. However, I discovered that Macintosh computers cannot read any CDROM that has Rock Ridge extensions present. Since POV-Ray is officially supported on the Macintosh, I decided it would not be acceptable to exclude this group of users from being able to use this CD. Hence the decision to go with plain, vanilla ISO-9660. Note that many of the .ZIP archives on this CD contain long filenames. ============================================================================ DUPLICATED FILES You will note that there is some amount of duplication of files on the disk, particularly in the wallpaper subdirectory, which consists solely of images that are present in the images directory, converted to Windows .BMP format. In this and the other cases, I made the decision to increase the usability of the CDROM rather than try to cram the maximum amount of data onto it. This gives you, the purchaser, more value for money. Anyone can cram data onto a CD, but it takes time and effort to lay a CD out 'just so', in what I hope is a very usable manner. ============================================================================ COPYRIGHT Many files on this CDROM did NOT come from publicly-accessible sources such as the internet, Compuserve or BBS's. A number were contributed specifically for this CD, and the right to use some others were purchased by the editor. These files may NOT be redistributed without prior written permission from the author of the work. In almost all cases, work on this CD is protected by the author's own copyright, but redistribution is permitted as the author has granted permission to do so. You are only permitted to redistribute copyrighted files that have such permission granted by comments or information in the archive. The list of subdirectories in the \_bbs directory contains all the subdirectories where all the files are ok. You may mount any of the files in any of these subdirectories on your BBS. You may not mount any subdirectories that are not in this list. The above guidelines should be sufficient to allow you to determine which files may be redistributed. However, I will explicitly point out that the version of QPEG on this CDROM is NOT shareware and may not be redistributed. Also, Dan Farmer's FROSTY image source may not be redistributed. The same applies to the Graphics Gems subdirectory. WHAT IS REDISTRIBUTION ? The term 'redistribution' refers to physically redistributing files or to making them available for distribution, such as on a bulletin board system. Most files on this CDROM may be used on a BBS but you must respect the authors requests in each case. For example, you may not make QPEG or the Frosty source available for downloading, nor may you pass it on to third parties. It is your responsibility to ensure you comply with copyright. The location of a file or its absence of explicit mention in this document does not imply that it is free to redistribute. COLLECTION COPYRIGHT The entire contents of this CD are protected by collection copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or significant part without prior written permission from Walnut Creek CDROM and Christopher J. Cason. POV-Ray COPYRIGHT The POV-Ray copyright places specific conditions on how it may be distributed. Please read POVLEGAL.DOC in the povray/ subdirectory if you intend redistributing POV-Ray. One of the conditions it places on distribution is that no CDROM containing POV-Ray may be sold for more than the equivalent of US$0.10 per megabyte. This means that if you are reselling this CDROM you may not exceed that price without violating copyright. DERIVATIVE WORKS A 'derivative work' is a work that incorporates portions of some other person's work. A good example is a POV-Ray scene file that you create that uses, in full or in part, one of the other scene files on this CDROM. In most cases, you will not be permitted to distribute the scene source OR the image that you create with it, unless the owner of the original file has granted you permission to do so. Most authors state their policy in the scene source itself. Absence of a prohibition does not constitute permission. Please keep this in mind if you modify any scenes here. WINDOWS WALLPAPER Note that despite the above, you ARE permitted to take the images in the windows wallpaper directories and place them on your local area network so that users may choose wallpaper backgrounds from them. ============================================================================ Where to get POVRAY. POV-Ray is a free program and may be obtained from a variety of sources. In particular, many good quality bulletin boards carry it. It can also be found on Compuserve (GO GRAPHDEV), the Internet (ftp.povray.org, ftp.uwa.edu.au, alfred.ccs.carleton.ca) and many other online services. See POVINF.DOC in the povray/ subdirectory for more details. ============================================================================ GENERAL INFORMATION When I started this project, I had no comprehension of the amount of time it would occupy. I wanted to produce a quality product, which deserved the POV-Ray name. To achieve this, it would not be possible to take the 'shovel the files on' attitude taken by some CDROM producers. Each and every file on this CD was individually selected and catalogued. In many cases, the author of the file had to be contacted and permission obtained to use it. This is not a trivial exercise. In addition to the files obtained from the internet and Compuserve, many of the files on this CD were contributed specifically for the CD by the authors. In some cases, non-exclusive rights to use some of the files were purchased by me from a few authors. The purpose of this CD was to provide you, the reader, the means to produce images with POV-Ray, a freeware ray tracer produced by the POV-Team. The POV-Team is a group of programmers (including myself) and artists that spans the world. These people produce and give away free of charge this superb graphic tool. Look in the images/ directory of this CDROM to see what can be done with POV-Ray. To put it simply, it makes it possible for a person with no traditional artistic ability to produce superb images. When you purchased this CD, you did not purchase POV-Ray, which - as I said - is free. In fact, you did not purchase any software. What you purchased is a collection of files that is designed to allow you to achieve maximum leverage in using POV-Ray. Of course, POV itself is here, but so also is a large collection of POV utilities and scene source. I also added a good range of 3d graphic utilities and source code to allow those of you who are programmers to create your OWN utilities. If a file which you use is marked as 'shareware' in the author's documentation or the executable itself, please comply with the author's instructions regarding registration if you continue to use the program. Enjoy! And, if you come up with what you think is a useful utility or a very good image, please share them with the world ! Christopher J. Cason. Perth, Australia. 10 December 1994. Internet: Chris.Cason@povray.org Compuserve: INTERNET:Chris.Cason@povray.org --------------------------------- THANKS --------------------------- This CDROM could not have happened without the efforts and belief of many people worldwide. Thanks go to (in no particular order): David K. Buck David is the author of the DKBTrace raytracer. David contributed the DKBTrace code, which formed the basis of POV-Ray. Chris Young Chris is the POV-Team leader. He coordinates and also works on the development of POV and has authored several books on the subject. Chris devotes a large amount of his time and tremendous energy to the project. David Combes. Dave virtually camped over at my office the last few weeks of the project. He lugged his 10-ton tower over and hooked it into my network, where he helped with on the final indexing and arrangements of the files most evenings and several weekends. Matthew Kaustinen. For invaluable logistical support and help with my email. (When I was accepting contributions from the internet I was receiving an almost-unmanageable 40 to 50 email messages a day, most of which required replies). Matt also contributed the desktop scene on the back of this CD, which was made especially for the purpose. Check out his superb ELWOOD animation on the CD, too. Linus Torvalds. Linus is the author of what has become the Linux operating system. Linux is a Un*x compatible operating system which aims towards POSIX compliance. Most of the work done for this CD was done on a 486 running Linux. Like POV-Ray, Linux is free. Also like POV, it is (in my ever so humble opinion ) as good as or better than many commercial offerings. Linus also impressed me as one of the few people I've met who can walk into a Mexican restaurant, order extra- hot food, and then not choke when he eats it. Matt Drury. Of the Go Graphics Group (see the featured/ggg subdirectory.) His assistance with obtaining permission for the use of many files from Compuserve is appreciated. The POV-Team For moral support and permission to include their copyrighted program. All contributors and persons whose work is featured. For permission to use their work too ! And uncountable other people ... I can't possibly name you all. You know who you are ... thanks ! ---------------------------- About the Editor ---------------------- I'm calling myself an 'editor' rather than an 'author' since my work was mainly in pulling together all the work that you see here. It was not a simple task. It has occupied almost all of my spare time the past four to five months. More than 1000 hours of my time went into this project, 75% of which was probably administrivia. I also manage two Internet FTP sites for POV-Ray, ftp.povray.org and ftp.uwa.edu.au. If you have internet access I suggest you check out povray.org, it's full of POV goodies. By the time this CD comes out we hope that our World Wide Web page will be operational. If you use the WWW check out http://www.povray.org. I can be contacted via any of the following addresses - Internet : Chris.Cason@povray.org Postal : GPO Box 2270, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2601. ========================================================================== Disclaimer: This CDROM comes with a full money back guarantee. If you are dissatisfied for any reason, you can return it for a full refund. Walnut Creek CDROM makes no warranty about any file on this CDROM, including any written by Walnut Creek. You, not Walnut Creek CDROM, assume all risk of using any of the files on this CDROM. We reserve the right to limit any effort on our part to rectify problems with any file on this CDROM. ========================================================================== You also need to be aware that we cannot accept any responsibility, or liability in the event that using the software on this disk causes you grief, malfunction, data loss or thinning of the hair. As with any new software, make sure that you back up your system regularly so that you can recover from unforeseen crashes. Although we have made every attempt to examine every program on this disc, some non-shareware or public domain programs may have slipped by. If you find such a program on this disc, please notify us immediately so we can rectify the situation. Thanks. ========================================================================== Walnut Creek CDROM is an approved vendor and associate member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. ========================================================================== All trademarks belong to their respective trademark holders. Third-Party applications/software/information are copyrighted by their respective owners. ========================================================================== This CDROM copyright (c) 1995 Walnut Creek CDROM. All rights reserved. ========================================================================== This CDROM is unconditionally guaranteed. If you are dissatisfied for any reason, simply return it with a short note and your contact information for a full refund. Walnut Creek CDROM Suite 260 1547 Palos Verdes Mall Walnut Creek CA 94596 USA 1 800 786-9907 (Toll Free Sales) 1 800 731-7177 (Toll Free Tech Support) +1 510 674-0783 (Sales) +1 510 603-1234 (Tech Support) +1 510 674-0821 FAX Email: orders@cdrom.com (Orders) Email: info@cdrom.com (Information) Email: support@cdrom.com (Tech Support) WWW: http://www.cdrom.com/ FTP: ftp.cdrom.com =============================== README.TXT ==================================