Hi everyone! Was wondering if anyone can tell me whether POSER "3" can be used for implementing images on programs. I'm trying to get a Virtual Storytelling program implemented for my project and thought I would use Poser 3 as the images are brilliant but I can't find a way that I might be able to do this using the above programming languages.

Can anyone help?!?

Thanks
Marisa

Could you explain a little more of the details? Are you trying to tie Poser into the Program? Or just the pictures it renders? If you are programming a storybook and you want renders to pop up. Then all you need is the images. If you are trying to have the storybook somehow open Poser. Then I think all you can do is implement a standard execute function in the VB code to launch Poser's .exe file. ScottA

if i understood you correctly: in vc++ you can impliment directx to view images inside your program. VERY STEEP learning curve. if you know c++ dx takes about a month to learn so you can use it (but is anyone its master?) it will at least show bmps and if you export into 3ds format objects can be viewed as x files (there's a 3ds2x file converter in the dx sdk .)(i use the book from SAMS but there are many good refs) vrml ( me no like.) however from my observations the format seems similar to wavefront obj. i know you didn't mention html but html is so simple i forget it if i dont use it(i just got the idiots guide. html takes about a day to master.) you might want to export your poser images in jpg or gif for html. you should be able to use VRML2 with HTML for your objects. if you are trying to get Poser to do your work for you: (showing the file onscreen.) ScottA has it right. you can probably get your app to open poser but i haven't tried any commands like <"joe.jpg" or "joe.obj"> be aware that if a command like does work, you will see the Poser logo,related delays etc. good luck and -o.k. BYE

I do know some C++ but I know that I should know a lot more at this stage of my degree... but I won't get into that! I was rather hoping to use Poser 3 to run my story and then only in where I prompt the user to interact, do I then want to implement some C++ coding. I must admit I like the idea of making this as simple as possible but it looks like the few months that I have are in no way ample time for this. Thanks David for sending my that file... very good :-) if the coding for it is just that little-tiny bit beyond me! But I'll have a more in-depth look at it and try and figure it out before I disturb you again. So, to go back to query... I would like to use Poser 3 as a sort of scene going through telling my story and then for certain scenes to be interactive... and from what everyone is saying is that I would not be able to make Poser3 interactive?! Back to drawing board with C++. Can anyone recommend any good books on C++ and games/virtual environments? I know there's loads on the net but I wanted someone's personal recommendation as there's too many to choose from. Thanks all for your help again Byeeeeeeee

most of my books are out of date. publishers for C: Sams; http://www.samspublishing.com for poser and other software: New Riders; (sorry don't know that one) authors: Loren Heiny,Andre LeMoth,Dave Roberts.they all do graphics in C.all these guys have been around for a while and their older stuff is for dos.of the three i think LeMoth is the only one who kept up with the migration to windows. -o.k. BYE

colgate_girl: I'm not sure I can give any advice about implementing this project within the constraints (especially time) that you have. But I have some suggestions should you decide to revisit the project in the future. - Poser 4 with the Pro Pack supports Python scripting. I seems like there might be potential for controlling Poser from an external program using Python scripts with C++ extensions. (I haven't tried it, though.) But Pro Pack is the only version of Poser that supports Python. - If you do decide to do your own DirectX coding, you might check out the game institute, at http://www.gameinstitute.com . They have six-week, online, courses in all aspects of game programming, including OpenGL, DirectX, and that sort of thing. The classes cost about $100 each. I'm taking a C++ class there now, and am very happy with the course. Lynn Grant Castle Development Group

I've studied programming languages a bit. Delphi Perl C++ VB I've found that VisualBasic was the easiest to learn. It's the easiest programn to get an actual program written. As a complete newbie. I can create a simple Program where you click a button to change the picture. And I don't know squat about programing. And there are tons of web sites and book that can give you help on it. C++ is something that I've found only serious programers use. It's great if you can learn it. But try one of the other languages if you can't get it. Not everyone can wrap their heads around C++. I know I sure can't. :-) ScottA

that reminds me: i just got a book from my bookclub that addresses games in vb with dx8. the dx8 sdk is included. i cant use it yet as i have to upgrade to vb6. it seems to have some bang for the buck though and the lessons are of Andre LeMoth quality. its called "Windows game programming with visual basic and directx" about $40.00. http://www.quepublishing.com/ not that i'm recommending it or anything... -o.k. BYE

OK, I dont really know what I am talking about here, but there is a technology called KISS, for doing inter active graphics, I have never used it, but here are some links in case it may be useful in implementing your project. Chad Randall's KISS viewer (Get version .83b): http://www.msen.com/~crandall/playkiss.html Get it. Its free and is my choice for an IBM. Only 716K Link archive to everything in the KISS world: http://www.antagonia.net/IKL.html The center of the KISS world - Otakuworld: http://otakuworld.com/kiss/free.htm

KISS (the KIsekae Set System) might be kind of limited for storytelling. It is kind of like the Colorforms toys that were around when I was a kid, where there were people printed on a cardboard background, and clothes made of a flat, clingly plastic that could be stuck on the people to dress them. A typical KISS set consists of a 2D image of a girl, with several layers (cels) on top of it, with a piece of clothing on each layer. By sliding the layers back and forth, you can dress the girl. The layers on top hide the layers below, so underwear would be on a layer below outerwear. By splitting a piece of clothing into two layers, it is possible to see the front and the front part of the back when it is off the model, then when it is slid on the model the back part is hidden. It is possible to have clothes snap into place when they are moved towards the model. FKISS (French KISS) adds a bunch of special effects...sound effects can be triggered when spots on the board are clicked, timers can trigger blinking and such, parts can move by themselves. There is a built-in scripting language that controls what goes on in the scene. The cels can be made in Photoshop. There is a plug-in available that saves images in the .CEL format used by KISS. I ran into a guy on the 'net the other day who was using Poser to make renders of characters, that he then turned into KISS cels in Photoshop. KISS is a very interesting package. I'm not sure how you'd use if for storytelling, especially since I don't know of any external interface between the scripts and C or VB or any other programming language. Lynn Grant Castle Development Group

You could try Macromedia Director - see http://www.macromedia.com/software/director/special/inspiration/tech/maidmarian/ Linda

Thanks again everyone! I'm going to try using poser and macromedia director as I think that might just do the job... I'll let u know but it won't be till next month now. Honestly, if I weren't so IT literate I'd think u were talking about something else when u talk about KISS and FrenchKISS! :-D I think that's brilliant. Some IT people really like to put their sense of humour all over the place :-) Thanks again... and keep them coming. The suggestions about books and courses are brilliant but being a student I'm really struggling cash-wise and can't afford a thing especially on line courses :-( Thanks though... Doing some Java programming just now which is doing my head!