OctoNus Products : 3DCalc : GemCalc

If I were to reinstall GemCalc on the new OS, would that change the Registration key?
If you don't format HDD and install new OS on the same drive, you don’t need new Registration key.

I downloaded setup.exe of GemCalc but I can't run it.
a. Please check that the digital signature of the file you downloaded is valid. You may find instructions on how to check the signature on our web-site. If the digital signature is absent or not valid, download the file once again, try different download location.
b. Put the downloaded files into a separate empty folder.
c. Check that there is enough free space on your hard disk (at least 25 Mb).
d. Run the installation under administrator's account.

When I run setup.exe of GemCalc (or GemAdviser), it begins installation, then says "please insert disk two" and is searching for the file "layout.bin".
There is some bug in the installation part of the program that reveals on your computer. Please see the article on web-site of InstallShield that describes this problem.

What is the difference between GemCalc and DiamCalc?
Main additional possibilities of DiamCalc (in comparison with GemCalc) are:

There is Cut Quality estimation (Light return, Contrast, Fish eye);
There are standard Appraisers (AGS, AGA, GIA, HRD, Russian);
There is function "Cut / Load proportions", which is loading some standard proportions;
There exists import from MMD, SRN files;
It is possible convertation SRN -> GEM for full directory.

Can GemCalc work with different gemstone, such as Sapphire, Quartz, Topaz etc.?
GemCalc can work with any isotropic minerals. You can read about this in chapter 9 of GemCalc "User manual" or find the same description here.

I registered with RapNet and have downloaded their RapNet99 application. I tried opening the DBFCONV application, but got a "Cannot load DBC libraries...need full version" error. How can I load their prices into GemCalc?
If you tried the small version then please try the full version of DBFCONV. Here you will find the related links how to use Rapaport price list in 3DCalc.

What is orientation (X, Y, Z) of the model in GemCalc relatively to the model in GemCad?
The orientation of the model differs in GemCalc and GemCad because the X, Y and Z axes are directed in different ways. This behavior can't be changed. You may rotate the model in the GemCalc after import by 90 degrees in the anticlockwise direction to get the same orientation as in the GemCad.

What quality of images we are able to print from GemCalc?
You can choose resolution up to 600 dpi.

How I can work in GemCalc with arbitrary cut?
GemCalc allows working with several predefined cuts with parameters and import arbitrary cuts in several formats: AutoDesk DXF, GemCad ASCII, Sarin SRN files. It is assumed that the model in these files is convex. GemCalc allows creating a photoreal image of any imported cut using various lightings. The current version of GemCalc allows modifying only cuts imported from GemCad ASCII files. The next version will be able modifying any convex imported cut and export it to DXF and ASCII formats. Also GemCalc allows exporting the model to our GEM file format which may be viewed with our free GemAdviser program. The GemAdviser allows viewing the photoreal image of the model using several predefined lightings.

Can I work in GemCalc with cut which has not table?
You can import arbitrary cut to GemCalc. During import GemCalc tries to find a table to properly orientate the model. If the model does not have a table, it may be imported upside-down, but the photoreal image and many other features will still be available.

Is it possible to receive a scan taken with the Helium device which I can import into the GemCalc?
The installation kit of the GemCalc 2.3 contains two sample DMC files created by Helium. They are installed in the same folder where the GemCalc.exe is installed ("...\Program Files\OctoNus Software\Diamond Calculator 2.3.1\"). Their names are: SampleHelium037.dmc and SampleHelium055.dmc. You may open them as usual in the GemCalc, using "File"-"Open" menu. As these files were originally created by Helium and not GemCalc, so along with the diamond model they contain a set of diamond parameters. Major parameters may be seen on the "Advanced" and "Advanced2" tabs. GemCalc also can generate the detailed reports with diamond parameters. Use "File" - "View Scanned Diamond Report"/"Print Scanned Diamond Report" menus. There are several templates of reports provided with the GemCalc in the "Reports" folder. You may customize them or even create your own. You need MS Word 97 or later installed on the computer to view or print these reports. You may convert these DMC files to GEM files in the GemCalc and open them in GemAdviser 1.3.0. The GemAdviser will also display major diamond parameters.

The current input screen of GemCalc assumes that I have the Crown and Pavilion percentages. It's often the case that the stones I want to model come from RapNet and only have the overall table and depth percentages. Is there a way I can still use GemCalc to model the stones?
You may enter the total depth at first. The GemCalc will change the heights of crown, girdle and pavilion proportionally and try to fit the stone into the given total height. Then you may enter the table diameter. It changes only crown angle, but leaves crown height intact. Thus you may get a model with your parameters. But you should understand that this information is not enough to describe the stone precisely, because the relation between crown, pavilion and girdle heights is still unknown. You will get only some approximation of the stone. If you have some other information about the stone, you may try to use it. For example, one way to find parameters that cannot be measured directly is to examine the diamond image produced by GemCalc, adjusting parameters until the computer image looks similar to the real stone.

RapNet now offers Princess prices as a separate table. However, when I import the dbf files, the price conversion utility doesn't seem to capture the princess price. Will you be able to address that?
Unfortunately the price conversion utility recognizes only Brilliant, Pear, Marquise and Emerald cuts at the moment.

Should I enter the actual measurements of the stone and adjust the proportions?
Yes, you should enter all available actual measurements of the stone. But if you want to model the stone correctly, you should use the scanned 3D model. If you use only parameters, then you always get inaccurate model. The less parameter you use the more probable deviations from the real stone you get. The correctness of this problem depends on your requirements to precision and additional information that you possess about the stone. We recommend to seek for advice of other experienced users on Pricescope web-forum.

Can we save all parameters of diamond in particular file and to make customize report?
The current version of GemCalc 2.3 does not have such possibility. It may generate only MS Word reports. We will try to implement it into the next version.

What is the use of view distance if we have the head distance?
The head distance and head size determine the position and size of the head as it shadows the light sources. The view distance is the distance from the eyes to the virtual object seen through the optical system. It was added to help model the optical system. If there is no optical system, the view distance and head distance are the same.

Is it possible to measure the light coming out of crown and value it in a number?
Can it be computable with cultured diamonds?
The GemCalc can estimate the value of "Light Return mono" parameter. This feature is not available in demo version, it becomes available only after registration. This parameter describes the amount of light returned by a diamond in a specific lighting environment ("Office") relative to a diamond with "ideal Modern Tolkowsky" proportions. Our software also takes into account the features of human perception. You can read the details on implemented approaches on our web-site.
The GemCalc may estimate these parameters only for colorless diamonds. As the cultured diamonds have the same density and refraction index as natural diamonds, the calculated values will be correct.

I am trying to import DXF made with 3D MAX and it fails to import the file. What do I do wrong?
There are quite a lot of variations of the DXF format. Only limited support of the DXF format is implemented in the GemCalc (only "Mesh" type data is supported). GemCalc requires "3DFACE" elements in the DXF file that describe sides. Also, the file should be ASCII, not binary. And it is assumed that the model in DXF file is convex. If the model is not convex, some of its parts may be cut off.

Can I import concave designs?
At present the only way to get a concave design is to import the concave model from the MMD file created by OctoNus Pacor/Helium software. On the whole support of concave models is very limited. Even if you get such a model in the GemCalc you will not be able to adjust its parameters as you can for an arbitrary convex model.

Do you have a Web Viewer that I can scan my diamonds and show them to my customers over the internet (some kind of ActiveX)?
We have a free product accompanying GemCalc specially for these purposes. It is called GemAdviser. You may import model into GemCalc, set the required lighting, save it as a tiny GEM file and pass this GEM file to your customer. Menu command "File" - "Export for GemAdviser".
Your customers do not need GemCalc to view the stone in GEM files. They may use the free GemAdviser to view your stone under your customized lighting or choose from several predefined lightings. Please note, that GemAdviser is a read-only software and it may read only files created in GemCalc. So, you'll have to use GemCalc to convert your models into GEM files. You may find the following command useful: "Cut" - "Batch processing" - "Convert from SRN to GEM". This command is available only after registration.

I downloaded GemAdviser and imported marquise file from the GemCalc. GemCalc says "The data format stored in this file is not supported by this version. You probably need to upgrade your program". What does it mean?
GemAdviser shows this message when you try to load GEM file created in unregistered GemCalc. It loads the model correctly, just displays this message. If the GEM file is created in the registered GemCalc, then GemAdviser opens it without any messages.

What do colors mean in "Parameters quality" and "Proportions" section?
Each color corresponds to parameter quality and total appraising of the stone in different appraisers. You can see how each parameter influences to the appraising of the diamond. Note that AGA appraiser is more complicated than others and total appraising of the stone is not always corresponding to the worst parameter.
You can see color correspondence table for different appraisers below:

System appraisers

AGA AGS GIA HRD Russian

1A 0 E-VG К

1B 1 Excellent*

2A 2 G Very good А

2B 3

4

3A 5 F Good Б

3B 6

7

4A 8 В

9

4B 10 -- -- --

*Excellent is not an official HRD data. It is provided here for possibility to check its suitability for your purposes.

System appraisers in GemCalc: AGA, GIA, HRD.

How to record a movie in GemCalc?

Choose the appropriate path for moving diamond from the menu Options - Animation - Figure.
Record movie in GemCalc. Menu Options - Animation - Movie - Record. The dialog box will appear with recording options. Adjust them if you wish and press OK button. Most probably the default settings will suit you. The recording will start. You will see how program renders movie frames. There will be red sign of recording in the top left corner. When the recording is over the sign in the top left corner will change to the green sign of playback. And you will see the movie loop.
Stop the movie playback. Menu Options - Animation - Movie - Stop. Also make sure that the green Play button is not pressed on the vertical toolbar on the left.
When you have a recorded movie and it is not playing, you may save it to DMV or GEM or export it to AVI.
Save to DMV or GEM
- When the movie is completely generated and stopped save it as a DMV or GEM file. Menu Options - Animation - Movie - Save. Choose necessary file type in the standard Save As dialog.
- If you saved movie in GEM file you (and other people) may use the free GemAdviser to load and watch it. Open the GEM file in GemAdviser (Menu File - Open) and launch movie by pressing the green Run button on the toolbar. GemAdviser is a free software of OctoNus. You may download it from our web-site.
- If you saved movie in DMV file one needs DiamCalc to watch it. Open the DMV file in DiamCalc using menu Options - Animation - Movie - Load.
Export to AVI
- When the movie is completely generated and stopped export it into AVI format. Menu Options - Animation - Movie - Export to AVI. Choose the necessary codec for compressing the movie data by pressing the Codec button in the Save As dialog and choose from the list of installed codecs. This list should have all codecs installed on your computer. There is a great variety of free and commercial codecs available and each has its advantages, limitations and own collection of settings. Please, refer to the documentation of the specific codec. If you compress the movie with some codec, usually you should have the same codec installed on the computer where you plan to watch the movie.
- Please note, that most of the codecs require that the movie is a true-color one. So, make sure you choose the "true-color" Color Depth option when recording the movie in the DiamCalc.
- Also, a lot of codecs have limitations on the size of the movie frame. It should be divisible by at least 16 (sometimes more). Please, check the frame size of the recorded movie in the status bar of the DiamCalc.
- After you created an AVI file you may watch it in any suitable application, such as standard Windows Media Player. Please, refer to the documentation of the application you use.