Readme for Autodesk VIZ Render EPix plugins           January 2004

The plugins enable VIZ Render to write Extended Pixel format
files (EPix files) and Piranesi panorama files suitable for use 
by Piranesi (TM).

Installation:
============

Run the vizrepix.exe installer. This will attempt to locate VIZ
Render, if the VIZ Render location is not found then you should
select it manually.


Usage:
=====

To save an image as an EPix file:
--------------------------------

1)  Ensure that every object in the image is named or has been 
    assigned a named material.
2)  Select the view to save.
3)  On the Rendering menu, click Render... .
    The Render Scene window is displayed.
5)  Click the Files... button in the Render Output section.
    The Render Output File window is displayed.
6)  Select the folder in which you want the new file to be 
    created and type a name for the new EPix file.
7)  Select 'EPix Image File (*.epx)' from the drop-down list of file 
    types.
8)  Click Save.
9)  Click Render in the Render Scene window.


To save a Piranesi Panorama file:
--------------------------------

1) Ensure that every object in the image is named or has been 
    assigned a named material.
2) Create a camera at the location you wish to view the panorama from.
3) Select "Make EPix Panorama" from the Rendering menu.
4) Choose the camera and resolution, then click Create File.


Known Issues with EPix Generation:
=================================

The Material channel in the EPix file uses the names and diffuse
colours of VIZ Render materials, and uses the names and colours of
objects without materials. If an unnamed object has no material, a 
name of the form "Unnamed 1" is generated.

VIZ Render divides facets into triangles for rendering. In an EPix 
file produced from an anti-aliased rendering, the pixels on the 
edges of these triangles do not have the correct depths for Piranesi.
We therefore recommend generating perspective views without anti-aliasing.

If you want to use an anti-aliased RGB channel:
1) Render the scene with anti-aliasing turned off, and open it in 
   Piranesi. 
2) Render the same scene again with anti-aliasing turned on. 
3) Use File->Import in Piranesi to import the anti-aliased RGB 
   channel. 
4) Use File->Re-Render to replace the first RGB channel with the 
   imported one.


Disclaimer:
==========

The Software is being delivered to you AS IS and Informatix
Software International Limited (Informatix) makes no warranty
as to its use or performance. INFORMATIX AND ITS SUPPLIERS DO
NOT AND CANNOT WARRANT THE PERFORMANCE OR RESULTS YOU MAY
OBTAIN BY USING THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION. INFORMATIX AND
ITS SUPPLIERS MAKE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO
NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, MERCHANTABILITY, OR
FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT WILL
INFORMATIX OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY
CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY
LOST PROFITS OR LOST SAVINGS, EVEN IF AN INFORMATIX
REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY THIRD PARTY.


Contacting us:
=============

You can visit our web site at:

    http://www.informatix.co.uk

Or you can contact us on:

    telephone: +44 (0)1223 246777
    fax:       +44 (0)1223 246778
    email:     info@informatix.co.uk


COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK INFORMATION:
=================================

VIZ Render is a trademark of Autodesk, Inc.

Piranesi is a registered trademark of Informatix Software
International Limited in the United Kingdom, the United States
of America, and other countries. 

Piranesi is the subject of the following patent and patent applications:

US-6226000
EP-A-0870284
JP-A-5-511749