James R. Sydnor on fri 9 jan 98
Is anyone out there using computerized glaze programs to formulate or
reformulate glazes. I am thinking about getting one for Windows, if your
are now using one and are satisfied with it let me know.
Thanks Jim Sydnor
Ray Carlton on sat 10 jan 98
Get INSIGHT, Magic of Fire at
the best
At 10:50 09/01/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Is anyone out there using computerized glaze programs to formulate or
>reformulate glazes. I am thinking about getting one for Windows, if your
>are now using one and are satisfied with it let me know.
>
>
>Thanks Jim Sydnor
>
>
cheers :)
Ray Carlton
Paul Lewing on sat 10 jan 98
Jim,
Periodically, someone (usually Rick Malmgren) writes an article for
some ceramic publication ratng and describing all the glaze
calculation programs currently available, with news on their updates.
The most recent one I know about is from last summer, in Ceramics
Technical, No. 3, 1996, by Rick. If you really can't find it, let me
know and I'll make a copy off the copy I have. This should help you
decide.
Personally, I have both Insight and HyperGlaze (but then I have a Mac)
and I have a strong preference for Insight. But that is just what it
is, my preference. One of the main reasons for my preference is that
I like to compare one glaze with another, or change a glaze and
compare it to the original. Insight will do this, and HyperGlaze will
not. I have seen GlazeChem running for a few minutes and it looked
really good, and it runs in Windows.
One thing to keep in mind when looking at these programs is how you
intend to use them. One program may be very easy to use to manipulate
the chemistry, one may be a better recipe storage system, one may be
better for a beginning glaze chemist or beginning computer user, one
may give you facts about glazes that you find helpful that others
might not. Remember that these programs are written by people, each
of whom thinks about glazes and thinks about computers differently.
So one program may be much more helpful and easier to use for you than
another. If at all possible, try to see the product running before
you buy it. There is always a demonstration of Insight at NCECA.
Look for that if you're going.
But I would really advise you to get one of these programs if you're
at all computer-literate and interested in glazes. There is so much
more information to be gleaned from the empirical formula for a glaze
than there is from the recipe. I feel like I hardly knew anything
about glazes till I got one, and I'd been seriously studying glazes
for about 25 years then.
Good luck,
Paul Lewing, Seattle
David Cowdrill on sun 11 jan 98
At 10:50 AM 1/9/98 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Is anyone out there using computerized glaze programs to formulate or
>reformulate glazes.
>
I have used the GlazeChem program and am very pleased with it. Shareware;
$25. It's available to download from: http://www.tiac.net/users/rjw/library.htm
David Cowdrill in Great Falls, VA (703) 430-2692
Rick Malmgren on mon 12 jan 98
Jim Sydnor asked about computer glaze programs, and it just so happens
that I am working on the latest update to a series of articles that I
have written reviewing such programs. Paul Lewing gave sage advice in
his reply. Each program has its own particular angle or outstanding
feature, so it is best to look at the programs, if at all possible,
before you buy one.
Here is a list of the latest updated programs, where to download trial
versions, and how you can contact the authors.
For Windows:
GlazeChem
very highly recommended - an outstanding program - fast & very easy to
use - extensive list of features (it does just about everything you could
want a glaze calc/database program to do) - and it is shareware so you
can try it before you buy it - registration cost - $25;
web address - http://www.tiac.net/users/rjw/
email the author - Bob Wilt - rjw@tiac.net
--------------------
GlazeSimulator
a brand new program - compares analyses to limit formulas and
coefficients for surface tension, viscosity and thermal expansion to
predict melting range and glaze quality - good use of graphs - you can
try a copy by downloading it from the web site - registration cost -
$49.95US - (69.95 Canadian)
web page - www.golden.net/~fraserf
email the author - Fraser Forsythe - fraserf@golden.net
============================================
Programs with versions for Windows or the Macintosh
Matrix
a very useful program - good use of graphs - good database for storing
recipes - simplified triaxial blends - brand new version for Windows -
cost - $199 NZ (New Zealand dollars)
a web page will be coming soon
email the author - Lawrence Ewing - lewing@clear.net.nz
-------------
Insight
a long-time leader and favorite of many - new Windows version is fast,
easy and intuitive - good for quick comparison of two recipes & analyses
- you can download a trial version from the impressive web site - cost -
$99 for serial number to validate trial version to continue using it. -
also look at the companion book - The Magic of Fire ($19 to download from
the web site) - well written introduction to clay and glazes.
web page - http://www.ceramicsoftware.com or http://digitalfire.com
email - sales@digitalfire.com
========================
For the Macintosh
HyperGlaze
the best program overall, in my opinion - extremely intuitive and
powerful program - broadest array of features - an easy program to begin
learning about glazes and glaze chemistry - a terrific program for
storing and retrieving recipes and notes - tremendously useful graphs -
new PowerPC version is very fast. Look at the web site to get a sense of
the program, or give the vastly scaled back GlazeBase version a try -
download a copy for free
(http://apple.sdsu.edu/ceramicsweb/glazesoftware.html) you ll get a sense
of the look and feel of the program.
Price $60 including postage in U.S. -
web page - http://members.aol.com/hyperglaze/
email the author Richard Burkett - HyperGlaze@aol.com
=============================================
MS-DOS Freeware
Richard Zakin s Ceramic Utilities & Christopher Hogg s Glaze Calculation
Program
two free programs - run on MS-DOS computers - perform quick recipe to
analysis calculations - Richard Zakin s program offers a verbal
description of the likely appearance of the fired glaze based on the
recipe - Christopher Hogg s program can calculate from a target analysis
of a fired glaze, back to the recipe that would be required to produce
that analysis.
Web address - http://apple.sdsu.edu/ceramicsweb/glazesoftware.html
If anyone knows of programs that are not covered, I would greatly
appreciate it if you would send me information about how to contact the
authors. I would also be interested in your personal experiences in
using any of the programs. Your thoughts would be very helpful to me in
finishing up the reviews.
Rick Malmgren
Lothian, Maryland
RMalmgren@juno.com
| |
|
