Getting to grips with SDS

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Getting to grips with SDS // Tech Forum

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Post by Igor K Handel // Aug 5, 2008, 12:13am

Igor K Handel
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Hi guys


This is VERY fundamental stuff i know, but I've checked the manual, and run a search on forum and nothing is coming up to help me.


I've been working on a figure head " bust" type thing as a testbed to get further into TS.


I have come across a snag when I convert to say 1 level of SDS, some odd tearing or holes appear in the mesh if I have done ANY editing in at poly level.


Having done some tests on a basic plane mesh, I have found the following.


If I create a primitive mesh say 16*16. Tweak a few verts and all ok. Now I add 1 layer of SDS looks ok. If I now go back into polys and say decide to rearrange the flow of polys, say deleting some edges and then adding some edges in, as in how modelling a face might be tweaked to get good poly flow.


But now when I re-apply 1 level of sds I get tearing in the mesh.


So then I experiment and go back to a new basic plane. I add one layer SDS and drop back to no sds. I delete 1 poly face. Now I add back in the deleted poly face using say the bridge tool. But the end result is still tearing in the SDS. I recheck the poly layer and all verts are welded so that is'nt he problem.


Basic stuff I know but I'm from a poly/nurbs background and so far can't find a solution or work out how to avoid this even with an almost unedited poly mesh


If someone can point out the error of my ways would be most grateful.


Cheers

IK

Post by Jack Edwards // Aug 5, 2008, 12:17am

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I'd have to see a vid IK.

Form face is the usual tool to add faces, bridge is going to create double sided geometry which might be the cause of your problem.

Post by Igor K Handel // Aug 5, 2008, 12:25am

Igor K Handel
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Cheers Jack I will knock up a quick Vid.


Also forgot to say this is all workspace side in case that has any bearing on things.


PS I only use 6.6 as the most overpowered Obj importer I've ever used... bloatwear extremis. lol

Nah I'm concentrating all my efforts on Workspace side as thats where TS is going.


Cheers


IK

Post by Jack Edwards // Aug 5, 2008, 12:26am

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Yup it's the same for me. Soon as I get my importer/exporter working nice, it'll be time to say good by to Model side for good. :D

Post by Igor K Handel // Aug 5, 2008, 1:23am

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Oh boy if its not one thing it's another ... grrhh


I checked out your from face option, and yes it was that fundamental doh using the right tool helps lol... Thought it might be something fundamental and it sure was;). So thanks for that


BUT CHECK THIS OUT DARN IT


See attached vid for horrendous graphic weirdness that has been crepping into TS over last 2 days more and more often..


Suggestions welcome


Cheers

IK

http://www.4shared.com/file/57850981/48013e93/Graphic_Glitch.html

Post by Igor K Handel // Aug 5, 2008, 1:35am

Igor K Handel
Total Posts: 411
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Further investigation..


yellow colour is dependant on the colour set up in stack for desktop selected colour option. Problem kicks in when in PE when I click on either rectangle select tool or paint select tool. Just clicking these tools without yet having any selection kicks off the custard attack


IK


EDIT argghh theres morehttp://www.4shared.com/file/5785314

Post by Jack Edwards // Aug 5, 2008, 3:22am

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Looks like a stray polygon that's close to the camera. That can happen with a bad import or video driver issue. The color thing is a bit wierd. Only a few things come to mind there, is again either a driver (or hardware) issue or maybe a color blending from the object/scene color settings. Of note, sub objects use yellow outlining, still it's rather odd and you may want to send the scene to Paul to have a look at: service@caligari.com
http://www.caligari.com/Help/ContactUs/defaultnew.asp?Cate=Help&SubCate=Contact

You mention that it's getting worse (as in more frequent) that may point to an imminent hardware failure.... definitely check your video card and system temps. :(

Edit: BTW, the second link you posted doesn't work for me.

Post by seavu // Aug 5, 2008, 6:52am

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Total Posts: 46
If this were a Blender forum I'd say check your normals. ;)

Post by Igor K Handel // Aug 5, 2008, 9:25am

Igor K Handel
Total Posts: 411
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Unfortunately at times I am getting multycoloured banding across the bottom third of the TS workspace window, in addition to large patches of colour, and most recently almost a ghosted shadow shape in multicoloured pixels with the outline shape of the model I work on, very weird.


Hardware seems unlikely as confined to only the workspace window. I hope so cos I sure can't afford another graphics card at the min.


Not sure about the normals suggestion as this seems to be ruled out by the multycoloured banding like a horizontal rainbow bottom 1/3 of workspace... only seen that once though.


Have rebooted etc and all ok at the min, will await further gremlins.


cheers for the responses


IK

Post by W!ZARD // Aug 5, 2008, 12:19pm

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Hardware seems unlikely as confined to only the workspace window. I hope so cos I sure can't afford another graphics card at the min.


IK


Hi Igor - it's my understanding that workspace 3d view is very dependent on your graphics card and unless you do a lot of power gaming it's unlikely you'll have any other software on your system that works the graphics processor as hard as the tS WorkSpace window.


T reduce the load on your GPU try sizing your workspace window smaller - also I understand there is an option to set the compatibility mode so it's not so GPU intensive but I don't recall off hand where it is.


Hope this helps

Post by Heidi // Aug 5, 2008, 8:42pm

Heidi
Total Posts: 335
Uh...one more thing to check....


If everything starts out ok and you start seeing things go awry as you work longer on your project... check the temperatures on your computer.

Post by Igor K Handel // Aug 5, 2008, 11:14pm

Igor K Handel
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Cheers Heidi and Wiz.


Wiz.. the card is Nvidia 7600 with 256meg onboard graphics ram. I'm not up on the techy end of hardware these days so I don't know if thats reasonable or potential for problems or not, what do ya reckon? Incidently the PC came with 2 of these cards for SLI, but quite frankly I found SLI to be pants with little speed improvement and loads of compatability issues with non games apps. Gave up in the end and took one card out. Processor is AthlonFX 64 if thats got any potential relevance?


Heidi. I cleaned the furball off my processor's cooling fins a few weeks back lol. The Hamster loves it :p


Might be a possible heat issue although the last few days have been a typical UK summer.. raining, reasonably windy and 14C... :( not much risk of a Californian tan happening here at the minute:D On the other hand I AM spending many hours everyday getting to grips with TS at the minute, so maybe you are right to suspect overheating.. Will monitor.


Best wishes

IK

Post by Jack Edwards // Aug 5, 2008, 11:19pm

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Other than driver issues, the nVidia 7600 should be a very solid performer with TS. I'm using a 7900GS myself. ;)

Post by brotherx // Aug 5, 2008, 11:21pm

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Unfortunately at times I am getting multycoloured banding across the bottom third of the TS workspace window, in addition to large patches of colour, and most recently almost a ghosted shadow shape in multicoloured pixels with the outline shape of the model I work on, very weird.


My brother got this on his PC and about a month later his video card packed in. It only showed when using intense 3D stuff (games in his case) and not always at first but slowly spread to the whole screen.

Post by TomG // Aug 6, 2008, 4:10am

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Total Posts: 3397
A few simple utilities exist for monitoring temp, there's even one from NVIDIA (its not installed automatically but you can go get it). Some just let you watch, some let you over or underclock the card and adjust fan speed etc (I think you said yours was passively cooled though).


I use Rivatuner on the Quadro, and EVGA's little utility on my 8800 (with Fanspeed running for the case and CPU fans). I do overclock with Rivatuner on the Quadro, but I don't with the EVGA card (though it does offer the option).


HTH!

Tom

Post by Igor K Handel // Aug 7, 2008, 2:37am

Igor K Handel
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Cheers Tom I will check that out..


BrotherX Thanks for cheering me up :rolleyes: I better check in advance the spelling for pes pesam pessamyst.... nah too hard to spell I will stay optomist! or is that optomatrist... positive:D


IK

Post by Jack Edwards // Aug 7, 2008, 2:45am

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Gotta admit, I was thinking along BrotherX's lines. A lot of times these things work fine until we actually use them. ;)

Definitely get some kind of airflow going in your case and start saving up for a new card... :(
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