Dear Dexter, When COVID hit in 2020 and I was faced with the problem of teaching labs online, in which we use wooden crystal models, I worked with Bill Tislar, who already had a program to render crystal shape drawings (called Euhedra), to create a student viewer (Euhedra light) and a library of crystal models. All of this is available, along with video tutorials for teachers and students, on the MSA website at: http://www.minsocam.org/msa/Euhedra.html Cheers, John > I have for years used Eric’s Dowty’s Shape when I teach the > crystallography part of mineralogy. It is great. But now I am tasked with > trying to teach the class online. And the distance students do not have > access to Shape and do not want to buy it. Does anyone know of some > alternative program (free or inexpensive) that does some of the same things > as Erics’ app? Just being able to look at a variety of 3d geometric shapes > and spin them would be a good start. > > > > I suppose I should ask the same question about Atoms? All the programs I > know that make 3d atomic drawings cost too much for students to buy for one > course. Is there something that I have overlooked? > > > > Dexter Perkins > Dept. Geology and Geological Engineering > University of North Dakota > Grand Forks ND 58202 > (701)777-2991o; (701)757-0579h > dexter.perkins@engr.und.edu > _______________________________________________ > MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org > To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org > > > -- > *John Rakovan* > Mineralogist & Senior Mineral Museum Curator, > New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. > <https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/index.html> > Adjunct Professor, > Department of Geology & Environmental Earth Science > <http://www.units.miamioh.edu/geology/>, Miami University > Executive Editor of *Rocks & Minerals* > <http://www.rocksandminerals.org/About%20Us/aboutrocksandminerals.html> > Personal Webpage <http://www.cas.muohio.edu/~rakovajf/> > > > -- *Dr. John Rakovan <https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff/detail.cfml?name=rakovan>* *Mineralogist & Senior Mineral Museum <https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/museum/home.cfml> Curator* *New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources * *801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801* *Phone: 575-835-7625* *Executive Editor of Rocks & Minerals <https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/vram20/current>Adjunct Professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University <http://www.cas.miamioh.edu/~rakovajf/>*

Hi what is the acceptable cost of a textbook compared to something that is online? I know that textbooks have become expensive. Problem is, the online programs do very little compared to what is in a textbook - it is usually only a small part, even though they are great as an additional contribution. Kurt Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________ From: Rakovan, John via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 10:23:41 AM To: MSA_List <msa-talk@minlists.org> Subject: [MSA-talk] Re: graphics and crystals Dear Dexter, When COVID hit in 2020 and I was faced with the problem of teaching labs online, in which we use wooden crystal models, I worked with Bill Tislar, who already had a program to render crystal shape drawings (called Euhedra), to create a student viewer (Euhedra light) and a library of crystal models. All of this is available, along with video tutorials for teachers and students, on the MSA website at: http://www.minsocam.org/msa/Euhedra.html<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.minsocam.org/msa/Euhedra.html__;!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWPa04eXu$> Cheers, John I have for years used Eric’s Dowty’s Shape when I teach the crystallography part of mineralogy. It is great. But now I am tasked with trying to teach the class online. And the distance students do not have access to Shape and do not want to buy it. Does anyone know of some alternative program (free or inexpensive) that does some of the same things as Erics’ app? Just being able to look at a variety of 3d geometric shapes and spin them would be a good start. I suppose I should ask the same question about Atoms? All the programs I know that make 3d atomic drawings cost too much for students to buy for one course. Is there something that I have overlooked? Dexter Perkins Dept. Geology and Geological Engineering University of North Dakota Grand Forks ND 58202 (701)777-2991o; (701)757-0579h dexter.perkins@engr.und.edu<mailto:dexter.perkins@engr.und.edu> _______________________________________________ MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org<mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org> To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org<mailto:msa-talk-leave@minlists.org> -- John Rakovan Mineralogist & Senior Mineral Museum Curator, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/index.html__;!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWP0AAbah$> Adjunct Professor, Department of Geology & Environmental Earth Science<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.units.miamioh.edu/geology/__;!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWLc05rKt$>, Miami University Executive Editor of Rocks & Minerals<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.rocksandminerals.org/About*20Us/aboutrocksandminerals.html__;JQ!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWNNKz39w$> Personal Webpage<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.cas.muohio.edu/*rakovajf/__;fg!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWPoCFnxG$> -- Dr. John Rakovan<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff/detail.cfml?name=rakovan__;!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWN38U0Lg$> Mineralogist & Senior Mineral Museum<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/museum/home.cfml__;!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWK1tuk8-$> Curator New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 Phone: 575-835-7625 Executive Editor of Rocks & Minerals<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/vram20/current__;!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWOI3k1pV$> Adjunct Professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.cas.miamioh.edu/*rakovajf/__;fg!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!eJ6LxfN41F-A3NuvbFtB7wZn8A2bTExcateMQbUChJOD5NlquiVAjQYOCGTva4A-AHJMG0fbWH0mz6e3$>