P3D Re: 3-D CD project

[Dan Shelley <dshelley@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dana Nibby wrote:
> 
> 30 clams? Ouch. I thought this was a not-for-profit project. Is it or
> isn't it? I'm assuming it is if a large number of people are
> contributing material to it.

It's a non-commercial project, not a non-profit project. There is a HUGE
difference. I have invested 1,000's of hours in it's development, and
many months ago, the group agreed that $30 was a fair price for that
development. The contributors understand that the material will not be
distributed beyond the scope of 3D photographers associated in one way
or another with P3D. I (specifically) will not be marketing this project
beyond that scope. As I said before, when this project is done, I am
done.

FYI - After spending 9 months on the project, I now know that our
original cost projection was extremely low. This CD would be a bargain
at $100 for what's included, and the time it took to get it all in
place. I can only say that so much... I am sure that once people have
the final version in their hands, and see all the extra stuff that's in
there, they will post back to this list validating that statememnt. This
is the best $30 ANYONE COULD EVER SPEND for 3D information and images
IMO. There are things all through this project that people have not seen
before.

> Is there a web page for the CD detailing its contents? 

No, since it's a one time shot, there would be no purpose. Disseminating
the contents beyond the scope of P3D does not make sense since I am not
marketing to the rest of the world.

> It'd be fun to
> see a price break-down as well; hours of labor - although as evidenced
> here and on the net, many people donate their time for the art for free;
> and that's to be lauded. 

Have you seen the 3D site I maintain? It's nothing but a service to the
world RE 3D, and I have been doing it for several years. Alomst 100,000
individual visitors have taken advantage of it during that time.
Maintatining it's links section was part of what helped start the idea
of the 3D-CD...

> Where does the
> other $26-$27 bucks go? I'll assume that if it's for profit, you're
> paying contributors a percentage of the profits.

There is no paying of contributors directly. However, if they contribute
content, they can get the CD for $25. Also, anyone who supported the
idea from the get go, and sent in $10 for materials back then will get
their final package (CD, 2 or 3 pair of glasses, a lenticular image, and
whatever else ends up in there) for no additional shipping costs. So,
contributors could have as much as $8 or so off their CD.

The remaining cost goes back to my company for the time spent developing
the project, and to cover all aspects of the production - ie - materials
& postage.

> I'd love to have the text archives of P3D off-line; the glimpse search
> engine, as implemented on the calcite server, is slow as molasses; Don't
> get me wrong, though - I appreciate the efforts of Bob Weir in keeping
> it on-line.

The files from the archives are on the CD, and have been converted to
siple TXT files. Bob wier has been a tremendous help with this part of
the project. The Glimpse engine does not work off-line, so I have
included instructions for using WIN95's search features which allow for
a search of one word in the entire archives in about a minute. (I am
sure this will depend on your computer a bit...) There are also two
shareware programs included (one Mac and one "DOS") that do a good job,
but that people would have to buy from that particular developer to use
on a regular basis.

> How do stereo pairs look on a monitor if you don't have a 20" trinitron
> monitor?

I have a 15" monitor, and they look great. There are no monitor size
requirements for this project.

> Sounds like an interesting project, but it's too expensive for my
> tastes.
>
> 10 bucks postpaid sounds a lot better. Or 15 tops.

I am sorry to hear that, and am sad for you that you will miss out on
it. I hope the extra information was beneficial, both to you Dana, and
to the group as a whole! =)

Dan Shelley
dshelley@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.dddesign.com/3dbydan


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