jfyeNG - Newtek LightWave replayer
Copyright (C) 2003 Arnaud STORQ
This document contain the following sections :
presentation
platforms
newtek lightwave compatibility
constraints & general rules
newtek lightwave content directory
texture scrolling
archive management
precaching
replaying
snapshot
package
credits
contributors
todo
license
contact & website
All users of jfyeNG should read this documentation before any use.
PRESENTATION
jfyeNG allows to render scenes and objects created using LightWave 6.X and 7.X
from Newtek (visit www.newtek.com for more informations about).
PLATFORMS
jfyeNG works on every Win32 platforms (95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP) (OpenGL, Software),
Linux (X11) (Mesa) and Sony PlayStation 2 (EE-GS only).
Its architecture is robust, modulable and portable.
NEWTEK LIGHTWAVE COMPATIBILITY
Don't forget that jfyeNG is designed to render real-time scenes.
So don't make use of advanced features of LightWave.
Here is a list a supported features :
SCENE
objects
motion
dissolve
parent
null
deformation
morph mixer (endomorph)
pivot point
lights (hardware accelerated versions only)
distant ONLY
intensity
motion
color
camera
motion
parent
zoom factor
scene
size
backdrop color
OBJECT
n-surfaces
scrolling
gouraud*
mapping*
planar
UV
cubic
cylindrical
spherical
environment (faked)
additive*
double-sided
n-edges
IMAGE
JPG
TGA
8,16,24,32 bits (raw, packed)
*=can be combined. Ex: both gouraud+planar mapping for a surface.
CONSTRAINTS & GENERAL RULES
Morphing works only with Planar and Environment mapped objects.
Use Planar or Environment mapping with endomorph.
You can only use textures in JPG and TGA formats.
An object can't have multiple layers.
PS2 and Software version do not manage lights.
You can use Size and Center parameters when texturing.
NEWTEK LIGHTWAVE CONTENT DIRECTORY (Windows only)
Pushing the "set LW path" button on the user interface allow to set
the Content directory, working exactly like Newtek LightWave does.
TEXTURE SCROLLING
jfyeNG can manage up scrolling (SCUP), down scrolling (SCDN),
left scrolling (SCLT) and right scrolling (SCRT).
In order to use this feature, name your texture with the keyword SCUP
inside (for up scrolling). Example: TEXTURE_SCUP.TGA
ARCHIVE MANAGEMENT
jfyeNG can manage full path (Ex: "C:\LW\LWS\SCENE.LWS") or browse
files from an archive file ("filename.JNG").
It consists to link scenes into a one-and-only compressed .JNG file.
This way is safer to distribute your work, because the user does not have
to use the scenes with their local path.
You can create archive files using jfyeNGArchiver.
PRECACHING
jfyeNG can improve frame-rate performances when rendering a scene
by using precaching. It allows to display only what is necessary
(Ex: if an object is recovered by an another one, it won't be displayed).
It produces a .PRK file located into the same directory than the scene file
(Ex: "C:\LW\LWS\SCENE.PRK").
You can create .PRK precaching files using jfyeNGPrecacher.
REPLAYING (Windows and Linux only)
"Space bar" allow to skip the current scene to the next one.
When the end of a scene is reached, then the next one is replayed.
When there are no more scenes to replay, the playlist restart
from the beginning.
"L" key allow to switch to Lines mode.
"S" key allow to make a snapshot (see next section).
If a scene has failed while loading, then a red empty screen will be displayed
instead of replaying it.
SNAPSHOT (Windows and Linux only)
The "S" key allow to save snapshot of the current replayed scene ;
"jfyeNG.TGA" will be created into the current directory of jfyeNG.
PACKAGE
jfyeNG package contain the executable of jfyeNG (Windows, Linux
and Sony PlayStation 2 platforms), jfyeNGArchiver (Windows only),
jfyeNGPrecacher (Windows only) and this documentation.
CREDITS
All code by Arnaud STORQ (http://norecess.planet-d.net)
"LWSINTERP.C" file based on implementation of Ernie Wright (http://www.newtek.com)
JpegLib (IJG JPEG LIBRARY) (ftp://ftp.uu.net/graphics/jpeg)
FMOD (Firelight Technologies) (http://www.fmod.org)
CONTRIBUTORS
Win32 splash-screen and icons by Yoyo (yoyo@planet-d.net)
Linux X11 beta-testing by Jylam (jylam@lnxscene.org)
beta-testing by Med (medcg@hotmail.com)
beta-testing by f0st (@ ?)
beta-testing by Yoz, LightWave test-scenes (ANDRE.Jose@wanadoo.fr)
LightWave test-scenes by Xbarr (@ ?)
LightWave test-scenes by Fraa (@ ?)
TODO
the following features should be implemented in future versions of jfyeNG,
ordered by priorities (kind of brainstorming) :
bones management
correct lights management
bitmap 2D displayer (billboard)
particles management
triangles stripping
correct dissolve implementation, using a sort algorythm for blended faces
add LZW and RLE compression to .JNG files
running jfyeNG as a screen saver
object removal (using bounding boxes)
lwo packer (unused chunk removing)
LICENSE
jfyeNG is FREE for non-commercial purposes ONLY.
If you want to use it for an another use, please contact me.
CONTACT & WEBSITE
Arnaud STORQ at norecess@planet-d.net
Visit http://norecess.planet-d.net