[Plugin Beta] Animator - v2.8a - 17 Sep 20

[ntxdave]

I remember for sure that it also supports Twilight Pro and Ambient Occlusion. Not sure which others.

Yes, I thought that is what you did (clicked). I guess I was "grasping at a straw" for an explanation but I know you are much more of a sage that that. Dumb remark/question on my pattern.

Hope you get this sorted out.

[fredo6]

Solo,

Did you generate the rendered animation from within Animator, or from Thea animation ?

I guess the best to understand what could be going on is to send me the model.

Fredo

[solo]

Solo,

Did you generate the rendered animation from within Animator, or from Thea animation ?

I guess the best to understand what could be going on is to send me the model.

Fredo

I tried with Animator but for some reason that failed to do anything, I interrupted after 10 minutes only to find an empty folder, no images were saved so I then rendered within the Thea window and got the messed up result.

Here is the basic model with animation set up.

sorril t.skp

[ntxdave]

It has been a while since I tried anything with Thea but so far all I am getting is a black screen. No content!!

I am rendering it with Twilight though. I will share that when I am done rendering it (going pretty fast).

[solo]

It has been a while since I tried anything with Thea but so far all I am getting is a black screen. No content!!

I am rendering it with Twilight though. I will share that when I am done rendering it (going pretty fast).

You are getting a black screen because you do not have an HDRi in the illumination slot, the sun is switched off.

[ntxdave]

Still working on it Pete. Creating an MP4 with Thea did not work correctly and I had a problem trying to create a GIF. In the process again.........

[ntxdave]

I did not do a good job but at least you can see that both of these render engines will work correctly with Animator (if you know how to user the renderers).

Thea

Video

Twilight

Video

[solo]

I did not do a good job but at least you can see that both of these render engines will work correctly with Animator (if you know how to user the renderers).

Interesting, I had someone on the Thea forums test it out and they also got an abnormal result, now I'm more confused.

[ntxdave]

Interesting, I had someone on the Thea forums test it out and they also got an abnormal result, now I'm more confused.

Maybe it has something to do with versions:

• Your skp file: SU Version 8.0.1
• I used SU: Version 2017 Pro
• I used Thea: Version TheaForSketchUpBundle_v1.5.07.480.1447
• I used Animator: Version 1.8a
• I used Fredo LibFredo6: Version 8.0a

Do not know if that will shed any light on things but maybe I have something in versions might make a difference. If there is anything else I can do to help (other than a nice clean render), just let me know.

[solo]

Interesting, I had someone on the Thea forums test it out and they also got an abnormal result, now I'm more confused.

Maybe it has something to do with versions:

• Your skp file: SU Version 8.0.1
• I used SU: Version 2017 Pro
• I used Thea: Version TheaForSketchUpBundle_v1.5.07.480.1447
• I used Animator: Version 1.8a
• I used Fredo LibFredo6: Version 8.0a

Do not know if that will shed any light on things but maybe I have something in versions might make a difference. If there is anything else I can do to help (other than a nice clean render), just let me know.

I have the most recent version as well as new LibFredo v8
I am using SU 2018 pro and Windows 10, I just saved model as V8 for those that do not have new SU versions.

[ntxdave]

I have the most recent version as well as new LibFredo v8
I am using SU 2018 pro and Windows 10, I just saved model as V8 for those that do not have new SU versions.

I am installing a new version of SimLab Composer right now. When it is done, I will update Animator to the latest version and try in 2018 to see if I see any differences.

[solo]

I give up, not working for me, this was just a basic test, the whole model has tens of animated sequences including furniture and multiple camera views, it should have been simple as it works so well with SU animation, for some reason Thea has failed me. Can Simlab do this kind of animation? how good is the render quality?

[ntxdave]

I downloaded the trial version and it does no give me the option to install it for SketchUp 2018. Was going to give it a try for you...........

Is there something I need to do differently to get a trial version to work with 2018?

[solo]

I downloaded the trial version and it does no give me the option to install it for SketchUp 2018. Was going to give it a try for you...........

Is there something I need to do differently to get a trial version to work with 2018?

Maybe they do not have a version compatible with SU 2018 yet, or an installer, try SU 2017

[Rich O Brien]

Sim lab can do it. Not as real as Thea but still pretty acceptable.

Blender would do this also. But we know where that discussion goes!

I didn’t try your file yet on my 2018 and Thea. Will do so later.

[ntxdave]

I didn’t try your file yet on my 2018 and Thea. Will do so later.

When I downloaded the trial, it would not give me the option to install for 2018.

With some of the latest stuff for SimLab composer, you can do what he is trying to do here with Animator. Especially with the VR version plus it has a lot of interactive capabilities.

Animator also works well with Twilight Render Pro.

[solo]

Okay, all fixed, it is indeed a Thea bug and I do have a fix thanks to Tomasz (the Thea plugin author)

[fredo6]

Okay, all fixed, it is indeed a Thea bug and I do have a fix thanks to Tomasz (the Thea plugin author)

What was the fix ?

Fredo

[solo]

Okay, all fixed, it is indeed a Thea bug and I do have a fix thanks to Tomasz (the Thea plugin author)

What was the fix ?

Fredo

I was given a new .rbs file, it's a temporary fix, Tomasz will get that sorted soon, he is very busy with Thea v 2.0 at moment.

[ntxdave]

Good to hear the situation is being addressed. I had reached out for a trial for 2018 so I could try you model and see what happened on my machine. They did send me a link but I will back off and let you guys get it resolved.

[fredo6]

Solo,

Thanks. I don't know what the fix can be, as it worked fine on my side.

I had to tweak the sunlight setting to remove the black background (not perfect as shadows are projected in the empty space), but I do get a normal movement for the different parts.

Film 1.gif

Fredo

[Mike598601]

Is Vray 3.6 installed in SU2018?

I will investigate on my side

Fredo

Hi Fredo,

Did you check on this? I have just done a completely fresh install of everything onto a new PC, so SU 2018 Pro, Animator 1.8b, LibFredo6 8.0b and V-Ray 3.6 and it still doesn't appear as an option to Render.

Kind regards

Mike

[fredo6]

Did you check on this? I have just done a completely fresh install of everything onto a new PC, so SU 2018 Pro, Animator 1.8b, LibFredo6 8.0b and V-Ray 3.6 and it still doesn't appear as an option to Render.

I installed VRay 3.6 and found the same results as you.

Actually, the API has changed and at least one method has disappeared.

I contacted Chaos Group to inquire about this.

In the meantime, I am afraid that Animator won't support VRay 3.6, as I cannot do anything on my side (note that the VRay API is not documented, and thus the integration in Sketchup was more in a beta stage).

Sorry for that. I hope it won't take too long.

Fredo

[fredo6]

I just published LibFredo6 8.0c, which includes a fix for compatibility with VRay 3.6.

However, I noticed that VRay 3.6 may freeze after rendering a number of frames. Please report if you have this case.

Thanks

Fredo

[liam887]

Wow cant wait to take this for a spin!

[Mike598601]

Possible issue with v1.8g - tried to change layer visibility and animator just crashed on saving. Couldn't get out of animator back to sketchup.

[fredo6]

Possible issue with v1.8g - tried to change layer visibility and animator just crashed on saving. Couldn't get out of animator back to sketchup.

Do you mean bugsplat?

Fredo

[fredo6]

New Release: Animator - v1.8h - 15 Mar 18

Requirement: LibFredo6 v8.1e

Minor release
- bug fixing of a problem in v1.8g related to cameras and visual effects
- Extension of validity


See main post for RBZ files

[nuddles]

when I render an animation by vray,it always stop at 2′17″or 2′18″,and continue rendering next frame，however,the last image was not rendered completely. I used Sketchup 2017 pro and VFS 3.40.04

[fredo6]

New Release: Animator - v2.0a - 07 May 18

Requirement: LibFredo6 v8.3a

Major release

Animator 2.0 toolbar.png

1) Revamping of the user interface, with a dark theme, based on constructive, artistic advice from derei.

Animator Dark Theme.png

2) Major functional evolutions in the Timeline

• Contextual menu, with many options available about the navigation in the timeline and the manipulation of selected elements
  
  
  Animator 2.0 - contextual menu.png
  
  
• Move and resize of several elements by dragging. You can also specify a shift for moving the start time and end time of elements, as well as align elements. When moving or resizing elements, there now inferences in the timeline to better align elements
  
  
  Animator - timeline moving.png
  
  
• Insertion (as well as removal) of empty space in the timeline (via contextual menu), and also at the beginning and at the end (via white arrows).
  
  
  Animator Insert before Beg.png
  
  
  Animator Insert at End.png
  
  
• Advanced Selection panel, filtering by category and position versus the current time
  
  
  Animator Advanced Selection Panel.png
  
  
• Change of the time scale by Alt+mousewheel. You can reset to automatic time scaling by Alt + Click in the time track.
  
• Name of elements displayed in the rectangles in the timeline (optional). There is an option in the Default Parameters to display names when the timeline is Horizontal or Vertical or both, or not to display name.
  
  
  Animator Display Names.png

3) New Positioner dialog box (with single icon in toolbar) allowing to load, save, delete, rename and replace positioners

Animator - Positioner Dialog.png

4) Constant acceleration, based on 2 speeds, one for start one for end, for movements: Translation, Screw, Rotate, Spin and AlongPath

Animator - Acceleration.png

5) SaveNext button in the Movement Editor, allowing to save the current sequence and then go directly to the edition of a new one with the same selected object

Animator - Save Next.png

6) The visitor mode has been disabled, as it does not work.


_______________________________________________________________________________________

See plugin home page of Animator for Download of RBZ from the PluginStore.

See Main Post of the Animator thread for more information.