What to do if you don't have POV-Ray

What to do if you don't have POV-Ray
This documentation assumes you already have POV-Ray installed and
running however the POV-Team does distribute this file by itself
in various formats including online on the internet. If you
don't have POV-Ray or aren't sure you have the official version
or the latest version, then the following sections will tell you
what to get and where to get it.

Which Version of POV-Ray should you use?
POV-Ray can be used under MS-Dos, Windows 3.x, Windows for
Workgroups 3.11, Windows 95, Windows NT, Apple Macintosh 68k,
Power PC, Amiga, Linux, UNIX and other platforms. The latest
versions of the necessary files are available over CompuServe,
Internet, and various CD distributions. See section "Where to
Find POV-Ray Files" for more info. If your platform is not
supported and you are proficient in compiling source code
programs written in C then, see section "Compiling POV-Ray" for
more information.

Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT
The Windows version runs under Windows 95, Windows 98, and
Windows NT4 also should run under OS/2 Warp.

Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups are no longer supported
however the MS-Dos version will run as a dos application under
those operating systems.

Required hardware and software:
Minimum - 486/100 with 16mb RAM and Windows 95.
Disk space - 15 megabytes

Required POV-Ray files:
User archive POVWIN3.EXE - a self-extracting archive
containing the program, sample scenes, standard include
files and documentation. This file may be split into smaller
files for easier downloading. Check the directory of your
download or ftp site to see if other files are needed.

Recommended:
Pentium 200 or Pentium II with 32mb and Windows 95 or NT4.
SVGA display preferably with high color or true color ability
and drivers installed. (Note: accelerated graphics hardware
will not improve performance.)

Optional: The source code is not needed to use POV-Ray. It is
provided for the curious and adventurous.
POVWIN_S.ZIP --- The C source code for POV-Ray for Windows.
Contains generic parts and Windows specific parts. It does
not include sample scenes, standard include files and
documentation so you should also get the executable archive
as well. POV-Ray can only be compiled using C compilers
that create 32-bit Windows applications. We support Watcom
10.5a or higher, Borland 4.52/5.0 compilers.

MS-Dos & Windows 3.x
The MS-Dos version runs under MS-Dos or as a DOS application
under Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Although it
also runs under Windows 95/98/NT4 and OS/2 Warp, users of those
systems should use the Windows version..

Required hardware and software:
A 386 or better CPU and at least 8 meg of RAM.
About 6 meg disk space to install and 2-10 meg or more beyond
that for working space.
A text editor capable of editing plain ASCII text files. The
EDIT program that comes with MS-Dos will work for moderate
size files.
Graphic file viewer capable of viewing GIF and perhaps TGA and
PNG formats.

Required POV-Ray files:
POVMSDOS.EXE - a self-extracting archive containing the
program, sample scenes, standard include files and
documentation in plain ASCII text format. This file may be
split into smaller files for easier downloading. Check the
directory of your download or ftp site to see if other files
are needed.

Recommended:
Pentium 200 or Pentium II (faster the better) 32 meg or more
RAM. SVGA display preferably with VESA interface and high
color or true color ability. (Note: accelerated graphics
hardware will not improve performance.)

Optional: The source code is not needed to use POV-Ray. It is
provided for the curious and adventurous.
POVMSD_S.ZIP - The C source code for POV-Ray for MS-Dos.
Contains generic parts and MS-Dos specific parts. It does
not include sample scenes, standard include files and
documentation so you should also get the executable archive
as well. Requires a C compiler that can create 32-bit
protected mode applications. We support Watcom 11, Borland
4.52 with DOS Power Pack and DJGPP 2.

Linux for Intel x86
Required hardware and software:
A 386 or better CPU and at least 8 meg of RAM.
About 6 meg disk space to install and 2-10 meg or more beyond
that for working space.
A text editor capable of editing plain ASCII text files.
Graphic file viewer capable of viewing PPM, TGA or PNG
formats.
Any recent (1994 onwards) Linux kernel and support for ELF
format binaries. POV-Ray for Linux is not in a.out-format.
ELF libraries libc.so.5, libm.so.5 and one or both of
libX11.so.6 or libvga.so.1.

Required POV-Ray files:
POVLINUX.TGZ or POVLINUX.TAR.GZ - archive containing an
official binary for each SVGALib and X-Windows modes. Also
contains sample scenes, standard include files and
documentation in plain ASCII text.

Recommended:
Pentium 200 or Pentium II (faster the better) 32 meg or more
RAM. SVGA display preferably with VESA interface and high
color or true color ability. If you want display, you'll
need either SVGALib or X-Windows. (Note: accelerated
graphics hardware will not improve performance.)

Optional: The source code is not needed to use POV-Ray. It is
provided for the curious and adventurous.
POVUNI_S.TAR.GZ or POVUNI_S.TGZ - The C source code for POV-
Ray for Linux. Contains generic parts and Linux specific
parts. It does not include sample scenes, standard include
files and documentation so you should also get the
executable archive as well. Requires the GNU C compiler and
(optionally) the X include files and libraries.

Apple Macintosh
The MacOS versions run under Apple's MacOS operating system
version 7.1 or newer, on any 68020/030/040-based Macintosh-
compatible computer (with or without a floating point
coprocessor) or any of the PowerPC Macintosh-compatible
computers.

Required hardware and software:
A 68020 or better CPU without a floating point unit (LC or
Performa or Centris series); at least 8 MB RAM or
A 68020 or better CPU *with* a floating point unit (Mac II or
Quadra series); at least 8 MB RAM or
Any PowerPC Macintosh computer and at least 8 MB RAM.
System 7.1 or newer and color QuickDraw (System 6 is no longer
supported).
Appearance Extension is also required now. This comes standard
in MacOS 8, but can be downloaded from Apple's web
site <http://developer.apple.com/sdk/> and installed on any
Mac running 7.1 or newer.
Navigation Services is not required, but will enhance the
open/save dialogs if it is present. It is also a free
extension available from Apple's web site, which can be used
in 7.5.5 or newer.
About 6 MB free disk space to install and an additional 2-10
MB free space for your own creations (scenes and images).
Graphic file viewer utility capable of viewing Mac PICT, GIF
and perhaps TGA and PNG formats (the shareware
GraphicConverter or GIFConverter applications are good.)

Required POV-Ray files:
POVMACNF.SIT or POVMACNF.SIT.HQX - a Stuffit archive
containing the non-FPU 68K Macintosh application, sample
scenes, standard include files and documentation (slower
version for Macs without an FPU) or
POVMAC68.SIT or POVMAC68.SIT.HQX - a Stuffit archive
containing the FPU 68K Macintosh application, sample scenes,
standard include files and documentation (faster version for
Macs WITH an FPU) or
POVPMAC.SIT or POVPMAC.SIT.HQX - a Stuffit archive containing
the native Power Macintosh application, sample scenes,
standard include files and documentation.

Recommended:
68030/33 or faster with FPU, or any Power Macintosh
8 MB or more RAM for 68K Macintosh;
16 MB or more for Power Macintosh systems.
Color monitor preferred, 256 colors OK, but thousands or
millions of colors is even better.

Optional: The source code is not needed to use POV-Ray. It is
provided for the curious and adventurous. POV-Ray can be compiled
using Apple's MPW 3.3, Metrowerks CodeWarrior Pro or Symantec 8.
POVMACS.SIT or POVMACS.SIT.HQX - The full C source code for
POV-Ray for Macintosh. Contains generic parts and Macintosh
specific parts. It does not include sample scenes, standard
include files and documentation so you should also get the
executable archive as well.

Amiga
The Amiga version comes in several flavors, 68000/68020 without
FPU, (not recommended, very slow) 68020/68030 with fpu, 68040 and
68060. There's two way to use Pov: Shell only and using the
provided GUI interface which requires MUI 3.8. All versions run
under OS3.x and up. Support exists for pensharing and window
display under OS3.x with 256 color palettes, plus CyberGraphics
and Picasso 96 24-bit display.

Required:
At least 4 meg of RAM.
At least 2 meg of hard disk space for the necessities, 5-20
more recommended for workspace.
An ASCII text editor, GUI configurable to launch the editor of
your choice.
Graphic file viewer - POV-Ray outputs to PNG, Targa (TGA), and
PPM formats. POV-Ray Amiga can load any image format with
Picture.Datatype V43 and the appropriate datatype.

Required POV-Ray files:
POVAMIx0.LHA -- a LHA archive containing executable, sample
scenes, standard include files, and documentation for the
680x0 version of POV-Ray (i.e.: POVAMI60.LHA stands for
68060 version); 68020 version needs FPU.

Recommended:
8 meg or more of RAM.
68030 & 68882 or higher processor.
24bit display card (CyberGFX and Picasso 96 library supported)

Amiga PowerPC version of POV-Ray is now in beta testing. Watch
the CompuServe forum or www.povray.org for further news.

Optional: The source code is not needed to use POV-Ray. It is
provided for the curious and adventurous.
POVAMI_S.LHA --- The C source code for POV-Ray for Amiga.
Contains generic parts and Amiga specific parts. It does not
include sample scenes, standard include files, and
documentation so you should also get the executable archive
as well.

SunOS
Required hardware and software:
A Sun SPARC processor and at least 4 meg of RAM.
About 6 meg disk space to install and 2-10 meg or more beyond
that for working space.
Graphic file viewer capable of viewing PPM, TGA or PNG
formats.
A text editor capable of editing plain ASCII text files.
SunOS 4.1.3 or other operating system capable of running such
a binary (Solaris or possibly Linux for Sparc).

Required POV-Ray files:
POVSUNOS.TGZ or POVSUNOS.TAR.GZ - archive containing an
official binary for each text-only and X-Windows modes. Also
contains sample scenes, standard include files and
documentation.

Recommended:
8 meg or more RAM.
If you want display, you'll need X-Windows or an X-Term.-
preferably 24-bit TrueColor display ability, although the X
display code is known to work with ANY combination of visual
and color depth.
Graphic file viewer capable of viewing PPM, TGA or PNG
formats.

Optional: The source code is not needed to use POV-Ray. It is
provided for the curious and adventurous.
POVUNI_S.TGZ or POVUNI_S.TAR.GZ - The C source code for POV-
Ray for UNIX. Contains generic parts and Unix/Linux
specific parts. It does not include sample scenes, standard
include files and documentation so you should also get the
executable archive as well. You will need a C compiler and
(optionally) the X include files and libraries and knowledge
of how to use it. Although we provide source code for
generic Unix systems, we do not provide technical support on
how to compile the program.

Generic Unix
Because Unix runs on a wide variety of hardware and CPUs, the POV-
Team cannot provide executable versions for every type of Unix.
We distribute generic Unix source code in portable ANSI C source
code. You will need a C compiler and (optionally) the X include
files and libraries and knowledge of how to use it. Although we
provide source code for generic Unix systems, we do not provide
technical support on how to compile the program.

Required:
POVUNI_S.TGZ or POVUNI_S.TAR.GZ - The C source code for POV-
Ray for UNIX. Contains generic parts and Unix/Linux
specific parts. It does not include sample scenes, standard
include files and documentation so you should also get an
executable archive for another platform or get
POVUNI_D.TGZ or POVUNI_D.TAR.GZ which contains the sample
scenes, standard include files and documentation.
A C compiler for your computer and KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO USE IT.
Graphic file viewer capable of viewing PPM, TGA or PNG
formats.
A text editor capable of editing plain ASCII text files.

Recommended:
Math co-processor.
8 meg or more RAM.

Optional:
X Windows if you want to be able to display as you render.
You will need the X-Windows include files as well. If you're
not familiar with compiling programs for X-Windows you may
need some help from someone who is knowledgeable at your
installation because the X include files and libraries are
not always in a standard place.

All Versions
Each executable archive includes full documentation for POV-Ray
itself as well as specific instructions for using POV-Ray with
your type of platform. All versions of the program share the same
ray-tracing features like shapes, lighting and textures. In other
words, an MS-Dos-PC can create the same pictures as a Cray
supercomputer as long as it has enough memory. The user will want
to get the executable that best matches their computer hardware.

In addition to the files listed above, the POV-Team also
distributes the user documentation in two alternate forms. Note
this is the same documentation distributed in other archives but
in a different format. This may be especially useful for MS-Dos
or Unix users because their documentation is plain ASCII text
only.
POVUSER.PDF - Tutorial and Reference documentation in Adobe
Acrobat PDF format. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader available
for Windows 3.x, Windows 95/98/NT, Mac and some Unix
systems. Go to
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html to get
the reader for free.
POVHTML.ZIP - Archive containing Tutorial and Reference
documentation in html for viewing with any internet browser.
POV31W97.ZIP - Archive containing Tutorial and Reference
documentation in Microsoft Word 97 format.

See the section "Where to Find POV-Ray Files" for where to find
these files. You can contact those sources to find out what the
best version is for you and your computer.

Where to Find POV-Ray Files
The latest versions of the POV-Ray software are available from
the following sources.

POV-Ray Forum on CompuServe
The headquarters of POV-Ray are on CompuServe in the GO POVRAY
forum, that is managed by some of the team members. We meet there
to share information, useful programs and utilities and graphics
created by POV-Ray. Members of our CompuServe Forum also get
early access to beta versions and first hand support from POV-
Team members. Everyone is welcome to join in on the action on
CIS:POVRAY. Hope to see you there! You can get information on
joining CompuServe by calling (800)848-8990 or visit the
CompuServe home page http://www.compuserve.com. Direct CompuServe
access is also available in Japan, Europe and many other
countries.

World Wide Website www.povray.org
The internet home of POV-Ray is reachable on the World Wide Web
via the address http://www.povray.org and via ftp as
ftp.povray.org. Please stop by often for the latest files,
utilities, news and images from the official POV-Ray internet
site.

The comp.graphics.rendering.raytracing newsgroup has many
competent POV-Ray users that are very willing to share their
knowledge. They generally ask that you first browse a few files
to see if someone has already answered the same question, and of
course, that you follow proper "netiquette". If you have any
doubts about the qualifications of the folks that frequent the
group, a few minutes spend at the Ray Tracing Competition pages
at www.povray.org will quickly convince you!

Also the POV-Team operates its own news server on the internet
with several news groups related to POV-Ray and other interesting
programs. For more information about the server
see http://www.povray.org/groups.html.

Books, Magazines and CD-ROMs
Unfortunately all English language books on POV-Ray are out of
print and there are no plans to reprint them. However there
is now a POV-Ray 3.02 book and CD-ROM available in Japanese.
It talks about the Windows and Mac versions of POV-Ray, and
various utilities. The CD-ROM is dual format, Windows/Mac.
It was written in Japan by Hideki Komuro-san, and published
by ASCII Corp. in June 1998, ISBN 4-7561-1831-3.

Many popular computer magazines have been authorized to
distribute POV-Ray on cover CDs. Note that such distributions
of the official version of POV-Ray is permitted under the terms
of the General License in the file POVLEGAL.DOC. The POV-Team
does not endorse the distributor or its products. The POV-Team
receives no compensation for this distribution.

The POV-Team does endorse some CD-ROMs containing POV-Ray which
are prepared by team members. A portion of the proceeds from
these CDs support our internet sites and other team activities.
You can always find the latest information on what is available
at our web site www.povray.org.