Although Alias can handle NURBS, geometry created within Alias using the default construction settings (Rational flags off) are all based on non rational B-splines. Some functions like "Align" does not behave properly when mixed with ration and no-rational geometry.
Is it necessary to use rational geometry? Analytic surfaces and curves, such as circles and surfaces of revolution can be easily defined by rational geometry. If one need such precise geometry one can use rational geometry. But better to use them sparingly and at the last stage of the project .. like small fillets etc.
Pick by typing the names
Naming convention for geometry built within Alias is as follows. Similar names will be appened with #1, #2 ..etc. For example three planes constructed in Alias will have names plane, plane#1, plane#2.
*Note: Alias names cannot have any other characters than A-Z, a-z, 0-9, # and _
Primitives
- Sphere: sphere
- Cube:cube -> faceA, faceB, faceC, faceD, faceE, faceF
- Cylinder: cylinder -> cyl_body, capA, capB
- Torus: Torus
- Cone: cone -> cone_body, capA
- Plane: plane
Other surfaces will have similar names as the method of creation. For example sqaure, rail_surf, extrude etc.
Alias Research
The founders of Alias, Stephen Bingham, Nigel McGrath, Susan McKenna and David Springer wanted to create an easy-to-use software package to produce realistic 3D video animation for the advertising industry and post-production houses. In 1983 they came up with the idea for a software development effort to achieve this goal. Springer was teaching computer programming for designers at Sheridan College. A rare combination of artist and computer programmer, he had been working independently on software which, by coincidence, resembled McKenna's and Bingham's idea. They quickly brought him on board, and he supervised the project that involved 300,000 lines of code written in C.
Bingham was an unlikely high-tech tycoon. Lacking any formal engineering or technical training, he obtained a Master's degree in Canadian studies from Ottawa's Carleton University. He then served as the director of the city's National Film Theatre from 1980 to 1983, which allowed him to indulge in his love for movies and animation. It was a visit to Hollywood director George Lucas's renowned Industrial Light & Magic animation studios in California that inspired Bingham to form his own animation company.
