Mathematical Applications Group, Inc.

MAGI Synthavision was founded in 1966 by Philip Mittelman company of Computer Technology, headquartered in Elmsford, New York. With the help of newly developed programs where the radioactive decay of uranium and other radioactive materials was simulated what would have been impossible without the use of computers almost. From 1972, they offered to commercial 3D computer graphics, so they were the first company of its kind, the generation of 3D graphics on the computer had been recently described by Edwin Catmull first time.

Method

The images were calculated using a mathematical model individually in the computer with the help of Synthavision. This model calculated the angle and speed. Then frame by frame on 16/35/65 mm film was exposed and this was then developed normally and projected. In this way, there was similar to the cartoon animation.

History

1971 created MAGI test, an animated 3D model of an aircraft of the Boeing Company.

1972 was founded by Robert Goldstein, the department " Synthavision ". One where he developed a program for the generation of image synthesis and CGI (German: Computer generated images ) to create animations with the goal of scientific visualization. Synthavision was one of the first programs ever, with the raytracing supported. In addition, the modeling was not based on polygons but on bodies to which the parameters have been assigned. This newly developed method was called Constructive Solid Geometry. It enabled the authentic representation of organic objects.

MAGI / Synthavision created the first CGI commercial on behalf of IBM. The commercial showed the three-dimensional letters 'IBM', which float from an office computer.

Animations for the film Tron

In 1981 MAGI Synthavision / was commissioned by the Disney Studios to create the first half of the computer-generated scenes for the feature film Tron, the rest took over the company Information International, Inc.. In this 10-minute animation light motorcycles were ( so-called Light Cycle ) and the armor shown and animate. MAGI / Synthavision received 1.2 million U.S. dollars for the contract, which required some amendments Synthavision program, as it could for example not calculate depth of field. These changes were only disturbed in the case visualizations, for which the program was originally developed in the film, however, as dramatic or comic effects could be achieved.

Sale

After MAGI was sold to the Canadian company Bidmax in 1988 and changed many employees to other CGI company, Phillip Mittelman died in 2000.