Are triangle strips working in 0.90 ?
by Todd "zaz" Koeckeritz · in Artist Corner · 02/18/2006 (4:09 pm) · 5 replies
Triangle strips have always worked for me prior to moving to 0.90. Since the have appeared to provide a noticeable frame rate improvement for me in the past, I'd like to continue to use them.
With 0.90 of the exporter now, I'm exporting fine, i.e. no exceptions, no python or blender errors, however when triangle strips are enabled, only about 10% of the triangles are actually rendered in TGE. The triangles not rendered appear to be missing completely as the model is virtually transparent. UV mapping of the texture also appears to be missing or horribly messed up. Exporting the same mesh with triangle stripping disabled works fine though.
I believe the version of VTK I have installed is 4.2.2. I haven't looked into the error too much, just checking here if I should expect triangle stripping to work before I expend too much effort of looking into why it isn't working.
With 0.90 of the exporter now, I'm exporting fine, i.e. no exceptions, no python or blender errors, however when triangle strips are enabled, only about 10% of the triangles are actually rendered in TGE. The triangles not rendered appear to be missing completely as the model is virtually transparent. UV mapping of the texture also appears to be missing or horribly messed up. Exporting the same mesh with triangle stripping disabled works fine though.
I believe the version of VTK I have installed is 4.2.2. I haven't looked into the error too much, just checking here if I should expect triangle stripping to work before I expend too much effort of looking into why it isn't working.
About the author
#2
If you're running linux I think I can pretty easily tar up the compiled and installed vtk code and send it your way.
I'm not sure that its really worth building it though as it takes forever to build that package. I assume this is the case because I don't think many people are using the triangle stripper because of the issue of building VTK. In fact, I only had it built and installed on my system prior to the existance of the DTSExporter because I needed some other features of it.
When I have time I'll try to take a look at why the VTK stripper isn't working, but I don't think its really worth spending a lot of time on, unless I know for sure others are using it. Its likely that if I'm going to spend much time working on this that it would make more sense for me to work on the NV_TriStrip.py stuff (I have no idea of the state of this though) as that should be more likely to help more people and would make it easier for everyone in the long run.
Towards the beginning of the year, James gave me CVS access to the project at projects.blender.org as I've helped him with other issues in the past and had some 2.40 changes I had intended to check in. At this time, it appears you (Joseph) are the point man on this. If I do make changes, would you like me to check them into CVS or send them your way ? Either works for me, whatever is easier for you and whoever else is active on this project.
02/19/2006 (8:12 am)
Well, I flipped the double sided flag on and off and while it does make a difference, in that I see more triangles with it on than off, it isn't the real issue here. We're dealing with something deeper.If you're running linux I think I can pretty easily tar up the compiled and installed vtk code and send it your way.
I'm not sure that its really worth building it though as it takes forever to build that package. I assume this is the case because I don't think many people are using the triangle stripper because of the issue of building VTK. In fact, I only had it built and installed on my system prior to the existance of the DTSExporter because I needed some other features of it.
When I have time I'll try to take a look at why the VTK stripper isn't working, but I don't think its really worth spending a lot of time on, unless I know for sure others are using it. Its likely that if I'm going to spend much time working on this that it would make more sense for me to work on the NV_TriStrip.py stuff (I have no idea of the state of this though) as that should be more likely to help more people and would make it easier for everyone in the long run.
Towards the beginning of the year, James gave me CVS access to the project at projects.blender.org as I've helped him with other issues in the past and had some 2.40 changes I had intended to check in. At this time, it appears you (Joseph) are the point man on this. If I do make changes, would you like me to check them into CVS or send them your way ? Either works for me, whatever is easier for you and whoever else is active on this project.
#4
I did look at this a bit yesterday and what I saw was inconclusive. It almost appears to me that the VTK triangle strips are being generated after they are used. I'm not 100% sure about this right now as I was trying to track down the sequence of events on this when I got interrupted, so this is a preliminary result at best. It does sort of make sense though with what I'm seeing if something like this was happening.
I'll spend a little more time on the VTK implementation since it isn't too hard for me to test it and it might as well work. If that gets the VTK strips working, great. If it doesn't or after it does, I'll look at trying to get the NV strip stuff working.
02/20/2006 (6:22 am)
Ok, I've got a bunch of real work on my plate and some stuff from a few OSS projects I'm balancing with my torque work. I may have to be out of town for a bit too this week, so its unclear when I will be able to find a significant about of time to work on this.I did look at this a bit yesterday and what I saw was inconclusive. It almost appears to me that the VTK triangle strips are being generated after they are used. I'm not 100% sure about this right now as I was trying to track down the sequence of events on this when I got interrupted, so this is a preliminary result at best. It does sort of make sense though with what I'm seeing if something like this was happening.
I'll spend a little more time on the VTK implementation since it isn't too hard for me to test it and it might as well work. If that gets the VTK strips working, great. If it doesn't or after it does, I'll look at trying to get the NV strip stuff working.
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