Following DEC’s decision to license three-dimensional visualisation software from Stardent Computer for its Unix-based RISC workstations (CI No 1,388), Sun Microsystems is fighting back with its own visualisation package for its Sparcstations. SunVision, unveiled at the National Computer Graphics Association conference in Anaheim on Monday, gives Sun users image processing, three-dimensional volume rendering and photo-realistic capabilities for the first time. It runs under Sun’s OpenWindows application environment, including X11/NeWS windowing and the Open Look graphical user interface. SunVision is a set of visualisation tools and libraries aimed at software developers working on medical imaging, remote sensing for satellite data interpretation, finite element analysis and architectural and engineering rendering – but according to Sun, sophisticated end-users in the scientific and medical field might also be interested. Included is Sun’s own image processing library and a renderer with an interface compatible with the three-dimensional photo-realistic RenderMan software developed by Pixar Corp. An interactive graphics tool enables images to be generated from geometric data sets for display and manipulation. Three dimensional images are not generated in real-time, but SunVision offers a movie display tool which allows for the sequencing of previously computed frames. The package, priced at UKP2,700, will ship by July and run-time and source licensing are available. Sun also took the opportunity of boosting its two-and three-dimensional graphics performance by launching an accelerated graphics library – XGL, which takes advantage of its existing GX graphics accelerator boards, available across its workstation range (CI No, 1,156). The new software, aimed at mechanical and electronic computer-aided design applications, is said to boost the speed of a Sparcstation 1GX to over 440,000 two- or 220,000 three-dimensional vectors per second (10 pixel transformed, clip checked, rendered), allowing for the display of smooth dynamic motion of two and three dimensional wireframe objects, according to Sun. XGL also includes facilities for shading, depth cueing, multiple light sources and hidden surface removal without the need for 3D solids modelling hardware. Unlike the standard PHIGS and GKS libraries also offered by Sun, which provide data management through pre-defined display lists, XGL enables developers to create their own display list within the application. The package is the first to take advantage of Sun’s Direct Graphics Access display technology, which manages access to the screen between the graphics library and windowing system and is included as part of the OpenWindows environment. Sun claims that over 20 vendors have already begun work on porting applications to XGL, including Cadence, Camax, Excellon Photonics, General Dynamics, Ithaca Software and McDonnell-Douglas Corp. XGL costs UKP1,350 and will ship by June.
