Pro Booleans for subscribers according to CGSociety CGNews!

[rpc212]

Here is a link to CGSociety CGNews that claims 3ds Max subscribers are going to be getting Power Booleans:

http://features.cgsociety.org/story.php?story_id=3327

Nice!

I would like to know when we can expect this tool as the article says, "Northern Winter." Which I take to mean late Winter 2006.

[RErender]

What kind of bullshit date is "northern winter"? are they on crack?
and all the bugs will be fixed in the age of aquarius...

[rpc212]

Maybe only the people that use Max on subscription up at the North Pole get Power Booleans? I guess Santa will be happy!

[dapeter]

I guess 'northern Hemisphere winter' is what they mean. Must be too hard to write 'first quarter 2006' or something.

It looks like it comes with Power Cutter also - finally a way to easily destroy your modesl!

[RErender]

I guess 'northern Hemisphere winter' is what they mean. Must be too hard to write 'first quarter 2006' or something.

It looks like it comes with Power Cutter also - finally a way to easily destroy your modesl!

Heheh yeah, maybe I can help them "Q1 06" see autodesk that's not too hard :P

[TRGraphics]

I already have Npower Booleans. I quit using it a couple weeks after I bought it. It's still just a boolean and makes a mess out of your model unless your working on two cubes, imho.

[RErender]

Incase any one is confused about when 'northern Hemisphere winter' is maybe this will help.

Winter solstice
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the northern hemisphere winter solstice
Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the southern hemisphere winter solsticeIn astronomy, the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is most inclined away from the Sun. This causes the Sun to appear at its farthest below the celestial equator when viewed from the far hemisphere. Solstice is a Latin borrowing and means "sun stand still", referring to the appearance that the Sun's noontime elevation change stops its progress, either northerly or southerly. The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on December 21/December 22, which is the southern hemisphere's summer solstice. At this time, the Sun appears over the Tropic of Capricorn, roughly 23.5 degrees South of the earth's equator. In the southern hemisphere, winter solstice falls on June 21/June 22, which is the northern hemisphere's summer solstice. At this time, the Sun appears over the Tropic of Cancer.

Since the winter solstice, summer solstice, vernal equinox, and autumnal equinox were probably observed for the first time by people in the northern hemisphere, these naming conventions originally corresponded to the northern hemisphere's seasons. In most reckonings, the winter solstice is midwinter.

In Ireland's calendars, the solstices and equinoxes all occur at about midpoint in each season. For example, winter begins on November 1, and ends on January 31. The passage and chamber of Newgrange, a tomb in Ireland, are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December.

In the Chinese calendar, the winter solstice too marks midwinter and is called dōng zhì (冬至, "winter's extreme"). It is traditionally regarded as one of the year's most important jiéqìs (solar terms), comparable to Chinese New Year. Rather confusingly, the character zhì may also mean "arrival" in other contexts, but it is clear that the Chinese consider "winter's arrival" (立冬, lì dōng, literally "establishment of winter") to be a separate jiéqì which falls on or around November 7 instead. Chinese people sometimes celebrate winter solstice as a day of family gathering.

The winter solstice is the time when the Germanic festival of Yule was celebrated; it is celebrated today by Ásatrúar and is recognized by some Neopagan groups as a Neopagan Sabbat. Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice; examples of these include Yalda, Saturnalia, Christmas, Karachun, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Zamenhof Day. The first civilization to celebrate the winter solstice were the Ancient Persians, deriving from their Zoroastrian religion.

See also: List of winter festivals
Through an interesting coincidence in the Earth's orbit, the northern hemisphere's winter occurs roughly when the sun is actually closest to the earth (Perihelion is actually on or about January 4). Conversely, the northern summer is when the sun is farthest from the earth. But the distance from the sun doesn't affect the seasons on Earth to a measurable amount, since Earth's eliptical orbit is almost circular. In general it's the angle of the sun's rays and the number of hours of light per day that actually affects the seasons in most regions on the planet.

[Adam H. Stewart]

Wondering about Power Nurbs

I wonder does this mean that we are going to be getting power Nurbs in 3dsmax 9 ? Same company right ? I have to say that I have been using Power Boolean and Power Solids for some time and never fail to kick myself in the head each time I go back to them. They are truely amazing when they work but only seem to work about 50% of the time. Although when I go to use them it is only only complicated jobs, so I am already looking to do the almost impossible. they really don't like anything not derived from primitives, which leaves you thinking - eh whats the point ?The one that seems really interesting is Power Nurbs - will we be getting that in the autodesk stocking next Christmas I wonder ?

[RErender]

Ok got the official email today, 'northern Hemisphere winter' does indeed mean this January :P

[Adam H. Stewart]

Excellent

Excellent I love new toys !!! Even if they are ones I already have