[vtkusers] List of specific queries:

[James C. Robinson]

Dear All,

Here are some queries - all in relation to displaying and probing output
from a finite element analysis:

Lighting:
I am trying to display the element material information for a finite element
mesh. I am denoting each material with a (slightly) different colour. I have
an automatic colour generation method that I implemented before when using
the RenderWare (games) graphics library. However, in many instances some of
the colours are indistinguishable. I believe that this is a lighting issue.
I am using vtkLight s as I tried to use a LightKit and it didn't work. Any
suggestions?

StreamLines:
I am using the vtkStreamLine object (along with a vtkTubeFilter) to create a
streamline emanating from a user-defined point. Because the flow magnitude
can sometimes be extremely low, the program "locks up" or hangs trying to
generate the streamline. Are there any simple settings or checks that I can
do to predict that this will happen so as to avoid the hang?

Quadratic Hexahedra:
I am dealing with quadratic hexahedra (20 noded) finite elements. When I
originally wrote the program VTK did not cater for these element types (I
currently implement v4.0). However, I see now that v4.2 does have these
element (cell) types. Are there any related or unrelated changes in VTK that
could cause me problems if I convert to v4.2?  I assume that all the other
probes (vtkCutter etc.) colour contouring will not be affected by this
change (i.e. all I have to do is change the libraries and generate the new
data required for the Quadratic Hexahedra elements and all the other
functionality that I have written should work)?

Vtk v4.5
I see the latest build of VTK is being called 4.5. DO 4.3 & 4.4 exist. Is
there any upside or downside to going straight to this version (rather than
v4.2) besides the fact that it is not "signed off"?

Many thanks in advance.

Jim

______________________

James C. Robinson, PhD,
Chartered Engineer,
42 Rivergrove,
Glanmire, Co. Cork,
Eire

Tel:         +353-21-4822028
Tel:         +353-87-2393010
Fax:        +353-21-4822721
E-mail:     jrobinson at eircom.net
______________________