Good afternoon everyone,

EITG is proud to announce the EIAS 8 User Pack.

1. What is the User Pack?
The User Pack (UP) is one part of the EIAS version 8 development cycle that will be dedicated to features chosen by you, the users. To be clear: this is NOT the EI 8 feature list, this is just ONE part of EI 8.

2. How many features are included in the User Pack?
We are going to promise you 10 ‘Widget features’ and some larger additions that we call ‘Brown features’. ‘Widget features’ are small but ‘Brown features’ require substantially more time. You simply have to choose your favourite widgets, but, for the Brown features, we’re giving you 10 points to spend.

3. Who decided what features should go in the User Pack?
The beta team and development team have been working on this primary list (below) for months. It is up to you to refine it by choosing what features you want to see in EI 8.

4. What do I have to do?
This week, I’m going to list the features for you - I want you to look at them, think about them, and if you want, discuss them (in this thread please). Voting will commence next week. Feel free to ask any questions about the features.

Okay, now for some ground rules.

This forum is for DISCUSSION ONLY, no votes please.

Any vote posts in this thread will be REMOVED. It might sound cruel, but I will be managing this closely so it doesn’t descend into chaos. Voting will take place in another thread.

I’d like to keep the mood jovial, so, people that repeatedly post what I deem to be ‘unhelpful comments’ will be banished to the naughty corner ;o).

My very best to you all, and most importantly, enjoy!
Ian

Widgets
Choose 10, vote here: http://www.eitechnologygroup.com/forums/viewthread/765/

Alt duplication (Animator)
When reordering an object and ALT/OPT is pressed and this duplicates the object.

Job Reordering (Renderama)
Lets users reorder the list of jobs by dragging them to a new location in the list.

File Names (Renderama)
Displays the name of the rendered file next to the job name.

Copy Paste IPs (Renderama)
Adds copy and paste functionality to the Renderama slaves setup dialog.

Center with C-click improvement (Animator)
The “C Click” to center command could be improved by zooming to fill the widow with the selected object through the use of an Option-C.

Remember Window Position (Renderama)
Renderama, Renderama Slave, and Camera remember their window positions, so that after they are shut down they come back to the same location.

Remove From Set (Animator)
As an addition to “add to selection set” - “remove from selection set”.

Label color in Camera and Light selection lists (Animator)
Right click on the world view title bar to reveal the list of cameras: this list would show the camera/light label colour.

Green Triangle to “off” by default (Animator)
Default of all channels should be to “off” - not only for the object, but also for the animation channels. Added as a preference or toggle.

Direct Shader Opening (Animator)
A keyboard/mouse click combo option when clicking on a shader in a texture list to go straight to the shader interface,

Adding Object (Animator)
Make a double click in an empty space in the project list open an “add object” dialog

Normal Mapping (Camera)
Allow normal mapping via Camera Mapping

Remote Folders (Camera)
Makes Camera (on remote rendering) Subfolder aware, so that one can use folders of shaders and sockets inside of the EI sockets and EI shaders folders.

Re-import on export (Animator)
A ‘re-import on export’ Fact check box. Useful for Encage, Dicer, Antiqua, Bebel etc., etc.

Sort by Name option (Animator)
Adds an option to sort the group list by name.

Quit confirm dialog. (Renderama)
Adds a dialogue box to confirm the quitting of camera and renderama

Gamma Correction (Animator)
Image Gamma. The gamma value for the image viewer (cmd-b) would default to 1.0.

Shift drag deselect Objects
The ability to shift drag deselect objects in the Project window.

Improved aspect lock for textures (Animator)
Utilise “Aspect Lock” popup menu (Texture Dialogue) for auto-scale purposes as well - it would work in a similar way to Auto YZ in the Group info window.

Brown Features
Spend 10 points, vote here: http://www.eitechnologygroup.com/forums/viewthread/765/

Auto Scale Textures (plug-in)
You select it from plug-ins menu, a modal interface is opened and shows a list with all groups actually selected. Second list shows all textures belong to a group from first list. Type “scale factor” and press Ok – all (or some) textures in selected groups are scaled. Plug-in is NOT added to prj window. Scaling can be undone with Cmd-Z

Additional options: a lot are possible. “Procedural only”. “All textures” or “selected in list”, “By kind” (diffuse, bump etc.)

Scaling rules: only “procedural” (xyz), “flat” (xy) and “cubic” (xyz) are affected.

NOTE: plug-in requires same features as “Align Tool”, implementing both saves 1 point.
4 Points

Flipbook
Basically, the current Image Viewer will be enhanced to show more than one file in the same window. By the use of the Flipbook, users can flip through the different files, back and forth in a linear fashion (no direct access of a specific file in this list).
3-4 Points

Label colours to animation bar
Self explanatory. Here’s a mock up.
3 Points
http://homepage.mac.com/cake_or_death/up/projectwindow.png

More colour labels
Customisable labels that can be a horizontal gradient between 2 colors. By this way even hundreds of labels are easy to distinguish.
3 Points

Multi-rename (plug-in)
A plug-in that’s called from the menu, opens its interface and does renaming if Ok is pressed. The plug is not added to prj when closed. Options like:
Basic name (string)
Added suffix/prefix (string)
2 Points

QT Preview to disk (make modal)
When Quicktime previews are written to disc you can’t switch to the Finder or do anything else - frames will be skipped. This feature is designed to correct this problem.
3 Points

Search Paths
We see a new tab in “Preferences” with search paths listbox with add/del/repl buttons.
6 Points

World texture
Replace the “World Coordinate” checkbox with “Space” popup, a choice is like:
Model
World Aligned
World Absolute
3 Points

gNome
A major feature addition. Gnome would allow you to “bake” animation to disk and gives a series of playback options. Here is a doc to read if you’re interested.
http://homepage.mac.com/cake_or_death/up/Gnome.rtfd.sit
Ian’s note: I worked out that using Gnome would allow me to remove 2400 objects from my current project (bones, nulls etc.).
10 Points

Align Tool (plug-in)
Download the alpha of Aligh Tool here. It requires EIAS 7 UB only (sorry). A document is included.
http://homepage.mac.com/cake_or_death/up/aligntool.zip
Our options here are:
Only polish the existing Plug-in and add “array” - 3 Points
If “locate on surface” and/or “on path” are required - 7 Points
NOTE: plug-in requires same features as “Auto Scale”, implementing both saves 1 point.

Strength map tool
Ability to load, save and re-apply wmap, combine wmaps together
4 Points

Strength map blur/contrast tool
Self explanatory, effectively clicking blur ‘n’ times would give you a smooth gradient.
4 Points

Strength map mirror tool
Self explanatory.
4 Points

Strength map unfold tool
Save the Wmap as a grayscale img, UV coordinates required)
3 Points

Note: if all 4 Strength map tools are accepted, sum = 10 ("discount") instead
of 4 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 13

“Reveal in Finder” (new menu option)
Select a texture in the Material window and you can reveal it in the Finder.
4 Points

Just to quickly point out that clarity on the weight map issue should be fully established first before voting. Weight map tools that do not address or improve the functionality of the existing system, but rather uses the existing paradigm should be avoided. Thus when you list “Wmap Tool” we need to know exactly what you’re proposing.

I’ve given my position here. It may or may not be fully correct, but if the Wmap tool addresses these issues, then I’m for it.

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=186&t=664153

Can additional mirroring functions also be implemented with the align tool?

Hi Brian

The Strength map tools do not change the functionality of the current system, only make it easier to paint maps.

The proposed additions to the Align Tool are in the list, adding mirroring abilities would be for geometry only unfortunately, bone mirroring is a highly specialised task that’s too big for the UP.

Best,
Ian

Just a quick question....is this the complete list of possible added features for V8?

If yes, does that mean no MP Camera/auto Renderama for tests, no .ai import, etc. That sort of thing?

Hi Paul,

1. What is the User Pack?
The User Pack (UP) is one part of the EIAS version 8 development cycle that will be dedicated to features chosen by you, the users.

It is one part of version 8 that will be programmed after voting is completed.
Version 8 itself has been in development since the version 7 release.

Ian

Edit: I’ve edited the main post for clarity here.

gNome technology should also be fully explained.

The gNome caching technology developed for Simcloth is proprietary. The data it saves to disk is compatible only with EI right now. It will not allow vertex data exchange between applications, unless those applications write gNome importers/exporters. Other vertex caching solutions have been examined by the Igors and they have found MDD inappropriate for EI. However, Maya/Max’s caching format should be considered for exchange between platforms if its compatible with EI’s way of handling vertices.

I suppose that could be an option for a v2 of gNome. (adding the Maya/Max cache format if its compatible)

v1 could be a great way to streamline one’s projects and bake solutions to reduce computational overhead.

Search Paths
We see a new tab in “Preferences” with search paths listbox with add/del/repl buttons.
6 Points

I thought this needed some more explanation as I think this is a much needed feature.

I have a massive library of models, textures, and projects (that I import using the “merge” command). This constitutes 7.5 GB of data.
If I move a project from one computer to another, or upgrade to a new computer the links inside of my library will be broken.

With Search Paths the user can define a number of default locations for Animator to look for missing textures, models, etc. when opening a project. If you have a central library of models and textures this would mean that Animator would AUTOMATICALLY load the missing items from your library. For studios with multiple users sharing similar libraries, this could really help collaboration and project sharing.

Thanks,
Dave [Beta Tester]

Ian - 14 August 2008 04:39 PM

Normal Mapping (Camera)
Allow normal mapping via Camera Mapping

Could you please explain an example of the use of such functionality?

lol, now i can’t remember the question that made me log on to the forum in the first place...this is awesome, can’t wait to see democracy in action!!!

does cinema4d allow this kind of input?

(kidding)

¨Our options here are:
Only polish the existing Plug-in and add “array” - 3 Points ¨

Can you elaborate on this topic a bit more.

Thanks,
Edgard

Ian - 14 August 2008 11:39 AM
Normal Mapping (Camera)
Allow normal mapping via Camera Mapping

Could you please explain an example of the use of such functionality?

Ola,

Normal mapping is a improved way to add details in your low-res models.. simulating Hi-res models.
Allow Normal mapping via Camera Mapping its even a faster way to do the trick, because its only seeing by camera.

Here, a normal map tutorial:

http://www.bencloward.com/tutorials_normal_maps1.shtml

Thanks

Tomas

Hi Edgard,

If you’re using a Mac with EIAS version 7 UB, you can download the plug-in (the link is above). Test it, and if you think all it needs is the bugs fixing (they are noted in the readme file included with the plug-in) and an array feature adding (for organising groups into, say, grids), then it will only cost three points.

Best,
Ian

Hi Ian,
I thought you were gonna polished the existing plug ns say Mr.Nitro , Mr. Blobby, Particle Generators. These is what i was talking about sorry for the misunderstanding. 
It just simply adding the align and array tool to the existent plugins?

Thanks,Edgard

Downloading