[K3d-development] CVs release notes - K-3D 0.3.0.66

[Timothy M. S. <ts...@k-...>]

* Added bicubic Bezier patch support (Romain) and bilinear patch support 
(Tim) to k3d::mesh.  Patches are rendered properly in both OpenGL and 
RenderMan, and support all the existing  k3d::mesh features such as 
instancing.  Romain plans to slip in NURBS patches when I'm asleep and 
can't meddle ;)

* Created experimental Newell object that generates the definitive 
teapot, teacup, and teaspoon using Bezier patches - Romain.  Updated the 
mesh_test.k3d project in k3d-media, so you can see Newell working with 
the same Instance1D objects to produce two rows of teapots.  As usual, 
you can change any parameters manually or via properties and channels, 
and get the expected feedback.

* Began working on integration of k3d::mesh with selection.  Selection 
of all the new geometric primitives, polyhedra, patches, etc. works a 
charm.  Rendering for selection has been moved into a separate interface 
method call for performance.  Note: selection of "old fashioned" objects 
hasn't been upgraded yet.

* Began working on arbitrary output variables for geometric data.  For 
those unfamiliar, RenderMan allows you to associate arbitrary data 
variables with the geometry that you pass to the render engine at render 
time.  This data can then be used either by the render engine or (more 
likely) by the shaders you write.  A good example of this would be a 
scientific visualization application that passes a floating-point 
variable named "temperature" with each vertex of a scanned-in model of 
an object being heat-tested.  The value of "temperature" at each vertex 
would be your actual, unmodified experimental data.  You could then 
write a surface shader that would map the "temperature" value to 
different color ranges to suit.  As part of our "we do RenderMan better 
than the rest of you punks" philosophy, we will support the complete set 
of arbitrary output variables for all geometry.  Note that this 
mechanism is also commonly-used to handle per-vertex color ("Cs"), 
per-vertex opacity ("Os"), texture-mapping coordinates ("s" and "t"), 
and games with normals, typically for smooth-shading polygons ("N").  I 
have tested Cs and Os with patches, and it works a charm (you'll have to 
look at newell_primitives.cpp to see the sample code, which is 
commented-out, if you want to see what it looks like).

* Created experimental AnimationScript object, which executes an 
arbitrary JavaScript script whenever the document time changes.  I've 
added a dumb sample in k3d-media/projects/animation_script_test.k3d, 
which moves a sphere around randomly.  Here's looking at you, Sam.

Cheers,
Tim