Complete guide

The DiamCalc appraiser for the AGS system performs the girdle thickness estimation incorrectly. (It was configured to perform girdle thickness estimation similar to GIA data but the AGS has different rules for girdle estimation). The correct data for AGS girdle estimation is included now in the updated appraiser file. If you need quick solution for this problem then please replace the older appraise.txt file in the DiamCalc folder with this new one: Appraise.txt, otherwise you may want to wait until the next DiamCalc release that will include this fix.

Another known issue about the appraisal is that the DiamCalc data for GIA estimation of girdle thickness entered as percentage or mm value is valid only for diamonds of size from 3.80 mm to 8.25 mm, for the diamonds out of this range DiamCalc gives incorrect GIA estimation of the girdle thickness (this issue doesn't apply to girdle thickness entered as word description). This issue will be fixed by the end of the May 2003.

February 25, 2003. DiamCalc version 2.2.1 (build 255) is released.

The DiamCalc 2.2.1 has the following updates:

• The "Emerald" cut has two additional parameters (on the Advanced 2 tab) that define cutting of the rectangle corners: "Corner facets" and "Corner facets ratio";
• Import from TXT file with parameters recognizes additional parameter: second diameter. See SampleImport.txt for example;
• Zoom in/zoom out commands may be invoked by rotating the mouse wheel;
• When the user chooses one of the predefined lightings the photoreal visualization automatically turns on if it wasn't activated already;
• The FAQ section is added to the Diamond Calculator user manual;
• During import from PACOR MMD files all non-convex facets are triangulated to guarantee that all imported facets are convex.

The following bugs were fixed in the DiamCalc 2.2.1

• The position of the observer's head is visualized correctly now in the "multiple rays from eye" mode;
• The "Table diameter" parameter in "Princess" cut works correctly now;
• Consequent Zoom in and Zoom out commands does not change zoom factor now;
• In some cases some facets of the model were not highlighted;
• In some cases some parts of the ray in the raytracing mode were not displayed properly;
• When the model had significant displacement from the origin of coordinates in DXF file, this model was imported incorrectly;
• During import from DXF, MMD, SRN files the orientation of the model is checked and if the table is not at the bottom, the whole model is turned upside-down.
• Hotfix: the DiamCalc 2.2.1.265 (March 7, 2003):
  In the version 2.2.1.255 in the GemCad ASCII files import panel crown, pavilion and girdle parameters were frozen and displayed value "0". It is fixed in the build 265.

The new 2.2.1 version is available from DiamCalc download page.

DiamCalc version 2.2 (build 247) is released.

The DiamCalc 2.2 has the following main new features:

• Export of the generated movie into AVI format using the codec selected by user. This command is available in the movie menu on the toolbar, or in the main menu (Options > Animation > Movie > Export to AVI);
• Non-spatial animation in movies. The movie may be generated by changing diamond parameters (crown and pavilion angles). This feature is available through the path type menu on the toolbar, or through the main menu (Options > Animation > Figure > Reverse Crown vs. Pavilion, Direct Crown vs. Pavilion, Crown variation, Pavilion variation, OctoNus-MSU Crown vs. Pavilion);
• The "Movie recording options" dialog box provides a possibility to set the step of animation figure parameters change when applicable;
• Added "Reset diamond to table-up position at movie start" option to the "Movie recording options" dialog box. It allows to preserve the current diamond orientation and to start the spatial animation from the chosen position or from the "table-up" position;
• Added "Draw diamond wire-frame profile in the corner" option to the "Movie recording options" dialog box. It allows to lay the diamond wire-frame profile on the movie frames during recording to illustrate how the diamond parameters (crown and pavilion) change;
• In the ray-tracing mode the spatial animation takes into consideration options for objects rotation (rays, diamond or both);
• Added the possibility to load JPEG images as background (Options > Background color > Picture > Set picture);
• The background picture is now placed in the center after load by default. The background is easier to move now to match the current diamond model (Options > Background color > Picture > Adjust position);
• The estimation of cut quality may be interrupted (Cut quality tab > Start/Stop estimation button);
• Added 6 informative parameters for the brilliant cut describing details of the crown and pavilion angles. They are useful when dealing with diamonds that have deviations from ideal round girdle shape (Angles details tab);
• Added the possibility to view and save graphical illustration of the map of current light sources to the file (Options > Advanced > Lighting map);
• Added brain picture options to the Head and eyes configuration dialog (Options > Advanced > Lighting configuration > Observer > Head and eyes);
• Added import of 3D models obtained with the PACOR-Oxygen diamond scanner (Cut > Import cut > From PACOR data file);
• Added import of text files containing cut parameters. For the format of these files see SampleImport.txt file (Cut > Import cut > From TXT file with parameters);
• Added help describing some aspects of cut quality estimation (Help > Help Topics, or click on "Explain brilliance" label on the Cut quality tab).

The following bugs were fixed in the DiamCalc 2.2:

• If the selected background color differed from black, then adjusting the position of the background picture caused corruption of the solid background;
• When saving an image of the current model with the background picture set in a high resolution, the background picture was not zoomed accordingly;
• Setting of the standard light or changing the observer parameters corrupted the "Distance between eyes" parameter set by the user.

DiamCalc version 2.1 is released.

The DiamCalc 2.1 has the following main new features:

• Adjust cut parameters with shapes imported from GemCad ASCII file (available only in the registered version).
  A flexibility of the built-in parametric shapes applies now to shapes imported from GemCad ASCII file. With the DiamCalc 2.1 you can now change the crown height, pavilion depth and girdle height along with the size.



• New lighting models "GemCad ISO", "GemCad ISO" + observer head blockage, "GemCad COS", "GemCad COS" + observer head blockage.

Updated DiamCalc 2 version 2.0.1 is released.

The DiamCalc 2.0.1 has the following main new features:

• Spread indication (available only in the registered version).
  The spread is parameter showing the difference between the weight of the given diamond and the weight of the "standard diamond". The "standard diamond" has the same area as the given diamond but Tolkowsky proportions with the medium girdle thickness. The spread parameter tells you if your diamond looks more or less massive than it really is.
  The spread parameter also works with fancy shapes comparing them with round "standard diamond".

The DiamCalc 2.0.1 has the following bug fixes:

• Incorrect picture saving with resolutions 72, 300 & 600 dpi - now is fixed;
• Multiple raytracing mode with imported cuts showed the only one ray - now is fixed.

The DiamCalc 2.0 has the following main new features:

• Quantitative estimation of some features of the round diamond cut: Light Return, Light Leakage, Fish Eye and Contrast, based on a diamond 3D model (registered version only).
• Export to GemAdviser software format. The DiamCalc 2.0 has a possibility to save the certain diamond in the GemAdviser .gem format. You can send this file to your customers by e-mail, put on your website or deliver by any other means allowing your customer or partner to open this file with a free GemAdviser software. With the GemAdviser software your customer can get an idea of the diamond appearance ("photo realistic" rendering mode and animated picture with diamond tilting in different directions) and to make a preliminary conclusion about the cut quality.
• Import of the real diamond 3D models generated with the Sarin machines (Sarin Web Viewer files). This allows you to work with the 3D-model of REAL DIAMONDS. As opposed to the parametrical models based only on the angles and other cut parameters obtained from diamond report, this feature gives you the REAL 3D-model of certain diamond based on the information about EVERY FACET of this diamond. A number of diamonds with attached .srn data is available for RapNet users (registered version only).
  You can look at two examples of a diamond imported from sarin file. The models were imported from sarin files with the DiamCalc 2.0 and then saved with GemAdviser format.
  Click on any picture below to download the corresponding GemAdviser model of the diamond (you need to install the GemAdviser to read them).

• Support of the DXF format.
  DXF Import: this feature allows you to use cut designs saved with this format. You can find a couple of free cut designs saved with this format at http://www.3dlapidary.com.
  DXF Export: this allows you to export any diamond you have in the DiamCalc (including all kind imported cut) to AutoDesk drawing exchange format (DXF) supported by many 3D software packages including AutoCad, 3D Studio MAX etc. (registered version only).
• Working with different types of gemstones. This allow you to work not only with diamonds, but with different gemstone types including colored gems.
• Advanced options for ray tracing view: multiple rays from eye including scaled view showing an observer, intensity and power display for the partial rays.

• "Multiple rays from eye" raytracing mode. - Different presentations of the girdle thickness, crown height and pavilion depth corresponding to different places of measurements (girdle valley or bezel facets).
• Indication of information about a facet (slope and azimuth) when move cursor over it.
• Different presentations of the girdle thickness, crown height and pavilion depth corresponding to different places of measurements (girdle valley or bezel facets).

• Raytracing.
  This feature allows users to see how the ray of light travels through the diamond. With the menu Options > Model type > Ray trace you can activate raytracing mode (full description).
  • Lighting model is modified to represent light sources with the physical dimensions and location.
  • Added material dissipation and additional modes for photorealistic image simulation (See "Lighting configuration" panel, "Simulation parameters").
• Additional capabilities:
  • Record movies with 8-bit color depth (this allows to decrease a movie size by 3 times);
  • Zoom of the diamond image.
• Version 1.7.4 has the following updates:
  • Corrected Firescope simulation;
  • New algorithm of color conversion from XYZ to RGB (monitor colors). The new pictures are more saturated and realistic;
  • New lighting configuration "Disco" added.
• Changes of demo restrictions:
  • In the DiamCalc 1.7 all save/load functions are disabled in demo version.

Import diamond shapes.

This feature allows the registered users to import diamond shapes from GemCad ASCII files and see its appearance. With the DataVue2 library you can see over 3700 unique faceting designs.
Go to File > Import diamond menu to begin using this feature.
Here you can find examples of ASCII files with faceting designs: download example1 (1K), example2 (1K) or both examples in zip-file: asc_samp.zip (1K).

Record and play a movie.

This is a major improvement in diamond display as it features a moving image of the diamond allowing a dramatic view of the diamond's scintillation and sparkle. This new feature and several other new additions to DiamCalc capabilities enhance its use in both research in diamond cut design and use in displaying to a customer the brilliance, fire, and sparkle of well cut diamonds. This movie feature is fully integrated into the other advanced features of DiamCalc, so that the moving diamond image may be observed under all the varied and special lighting conditions supplied with the program.
Go to Options > Animation menu or just click on the "camera" button to begin using this feature.

• Added interface for learning and customizing lighting environment that allows users to create their own configurations suitable for modeling almost all real life lighting environments.
• Save and load customized lighting configurations and extra simulation parameters.
• New "office" lighting.

• High resolution simulated diamond pictures.
• New view modes with specific structured lighting: Diascope, Firescope, Al Gilbertson (color rings), etc.

Take a look at the diamond images created with different lightings.

• AGS appraising.
• Corrected "overall" grade determination in AGA appraising.
• MS Word 2000 support.
• Saving picture in JPEG format.
• New "fixed cuts" for round brilliant shape.

• Aautomatic diamond report generation with MS Word 95/97.
• "Fixed cuts" - some standard proportions, including Tolkowsky, Parker cuts etc.

• Fixes in price list and appraising.
• Registration via Internet.
• On-line documentation.