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Author Topic: Feature Request: Segment Timing Operator  (Read 2106 times)

mindmedicine

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Feature Request: Segment Timing Operator
« on: May 28, 2015, 12:25:18 PM »
Would it be possible/ hard to implement a (new) Operator which exposes the segments animation-timing? A bit similar to Forest Pro.

This would make it possible to have control over incremental and/or random animation offset on the clones with the existing Arithmetic operator (expression).
Creating procedural Delay or other timing based effects would be a breeze, and in combination with RC's Instancing engine prove very powerfull and unique in 3ds Max.

Cheers,

Tim


iToo

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Re: Feature Request: Segment Timing Operator
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2015, 02:47:33 PM »
This feature is already in our wishlist, but unfortunately animation support is more difficult than it seems at first glance.

For the instancing engine, an animated object is seen as different geometries (one for each time sample). So, to keep an optimal render performance, these geometries must be generated and handled properly before render starts.
Forest already does this process (using several mesh caches and other tricks), but RailClone not. In short, it can be done but requires important changes in the plugin core.
Carlos Quintero
iToo Software

mindmedicine

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Re: Feature Request: Segment Timing Operator
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2015, 06:59:29 PM »
Thanks for the reply.

Would including a time variable in the Arithmetic operator (expression) to control internal transformation-timings be hard to do?
I've included a simple test scene with some offset based-animation with the SegmentXCounter.

I'm looking forward to any advancements made in this area. It would open up a lot of new possibilities towards animation and motion graphics.

Cheers,
Tim

iToo

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Re: Feature Request: Segment Timing Operator
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2015, 10:01:23 AM »
Yes, we would add functions to get the current time, similar to the F NT S T variables of the Max expression controller.
Although it can be simulated with an animated parameter, obviously that requires an extra step. I just added it to the to-do list.

Thanks for your suggestion, and very cool scene by the way. :)
Carlos Quintero
iToo Software