Welcome to Animator Beta Testers

[fredo6]

Welcome to all Beta Testers!

Animator is still work in progress. I am currently focusing the development on the core framework, that is:
- the Animation hierarchical model, similar to Sketchup Component model
- The workflow via the user interface
- the generation of video and interfacing to rendering software.
Then, I will add more animation methods, for objects and for cameras.

In the current version, Animator supports basic transformations for objects, essentially:
- translation
- spin
- rotation and orbiting
- screw (combination of translation and spin)
- explosion (for objects with sub-objects)

For cameras, Animator supports a few categories:
- Still views (captured from current view)
- Scenes (i.e. camera defined from a scene)
- Camera Tracking, which follows an object when it moves

Visual Effects can be inserted in the Animation to control styles, layer visibility, shadows, as well as Zoom and Zoom Extents

There is some form of Easing and Oscillation for objects movement and cameras interpolation.

You can generate video files in various formats at specified dimensions and frame rate. You will need first to download and install a free open-source program, called FFmpeg. There are instructions in a PDF file, also available from within Animator.

Animator supports rendering for:
- TheaRender 1.5
- AmbientOcclusionEx 1.9.5
- SketchFX Ex v1.0.6
- Twilight Render Pro v2.5.5
Others might come.

Indeed, I already have a long list of features, more object transformations, more camera movements and a concept of constrained kinematics to relate the movements of objects, support skeleton animation and other physical mechanisms, even if Animator does not embed physics. I hope this will come in due time.

The beta testing site is organized in 3 top threads:
- this Welcome message
- a thread for rbz files, documentation and release notes
- a thread for Tutorials. I quickly made some videos for the basic features
- a thread for tips and tricks. I put some of them and will continue. But beta testers may have their own
- a Gallery where beta users can post (almost) finished animations

In order to have a manageable beta forum, Beta testers are kindly requested to open a new thread
- for a new problem or bug
- for discussion of individual features
- for posting models and videos

Thanks to all in advance for your patience.

Fredo

[JQL]

Yikes! I got honestly spooked when I saw a new post called: Animator Gallery and found this hidden forum... I'm baffled and honored! Thank you!

[pilou]

Me too!
Keep the good work!

Bugs must be to hide on the box!

[ntxdave]

Although I am not one of the heavy weights, I also was invited. I did some testing/work with the pre-beta version. I just posted a couple of demos in the Gallery.

[pilou]

Sorry but what is exactly "AmbientOcclusionEx" ?
A standalone render, a plugin, a part of a render existing..

[Rich O Brien]

http://www.fluidinteractive.com/product ... occlusion/

[fredo6]

Sorry but what is exactly "AmbientOcclusionEx" ?
A standalone render, a plugin, a part of a render existing..

You have an example in the Gallery.

Fredo

[jiminy-billy-bob]

Thanks for the invitation! I'll test it ASAP

[tomasz]

I will make 1.5 with the support for Animator public soon. The version is currently available to Thea beta testers only.

[pilou]

@ Fredo : OK!
That what was this http://www.fluidinteractive.com/product ... xtensions/
that I searching and want to know!

Ps Does a Transformation "Scale" alone or with other transformation(s) will be in a future project ?
(I see empty Tabs

[solo]

Whoohoo!

Animation baby!!

Thanks for the invite, cannot wait to play, just gotta figure out the instal and I'm off to the races.

[Pixero]

Just wanted to say thanks for the invitation.
I'll be back with some requests after testing....

[CadFather]

Same here, grateful for the invite.

[solo]

I will make 1.5 with the support for Animator public soon. The version is currently available to Thea beta testers only.

Tomasz

I have the latest version of Thea (beta), how does this work?

I'd like to render an animation.

[otb designworks]

Thanks for the invite guys! I have a nasty deadline due Friday, so hopefully, on Sat, I can jump into the deep end of animating in SU. How nice to even get to type that sentence!

[Rich O Brien]

I will make 1.5 with the support for Animator public soon. The version is currently available to Thea beta testers only.

Tomasz

I have the latest version of Thea (beta), how does this work?

I'd like to render an animation.

Under the parameters for making an animation there's a Thea Render button...

animator-options.png

So when you're timeline is full is saved translations you can batch render them with Thea.

I didn't try it out though. Nor do I have Thea Beta access.

[solo]

Oh, thanks, I see in the new thea there is a Fredo animator option, I was trying it that way and having no success. So where do the image sequences get saved doing it the way you suggested?

[solo]

Oh, thanks, I see in the new thea there is a Fredo animator option, I was trying it that way and having no success. So where do the image sequences get saved doing it the way you suggested?

Nevermind, It shows root directory.

[Oxer]

Hi to all, and thanks for the invitation!!
It's time to play, I'll test the render animation with Thea.

[solo]

Fredo,

What level of confidentiality do you require?

Can we post animations online? obviously crediting the plugin and generating interest and anticipation?

[JQL]

Fredo,

What level of confidentiality do you require?

Can we post animations online? obviously crediting the plugin and generating interest and anticipation?

That is a nice question!

[fredo6]

Fredo,

What level of confidentiality do you require?

Can we post animations online? obviously crediting the plugin and generating interest and anticipation?

Solo,

No special confidentiality. Animator is a know plugin on SCF public and most videos are on YouTube, in the public domain. That's more the date for a release which is unknown.

The private beta forum is a way to have motivated users (thank you all) and keeps things under control. As you can see, there are many features and functions still missing for Animator to be a decent animation module. At this stage, I need to validate the hierarchical framework and the basic workflow, which for me is the base to go further and add more transformations and animation methods.

So you can freely talk and publish about Animator.

Fredo

[solo]

Fredo,

Will you be attending basecamp?

[ntxdave]

Hope someone is going there that can show off this product. Even though it is still in beta and Fredo has much more planned for the future, it deserves for the world to see it.

Wish I could attend.

[fredo6]

Fredo,

Will you be attending basecamp?

No plan to attend, I am afraid.

Fredo

[solo]

Fredo,

Will you be attending basecamp?

No plan to attend, I am afraid.

Fredo

Nothing to fear besides the Irish and Aussie party animals.

[EarthMover]

Thanks Gents for the invitation and Fredo for all the hard work. I envision putting the coffee on late tonight!

[Patrick]

Hello,
thank you for this invitation. I'll do my tests and would not fail to tell you.
cordially
Patrick

Bonjour,
merci pour cette invitation. Je vais faire mes essais et ne manquerais pas de vous en parler.
Cordialement
Patrick

[chri]

Hi Fredo6
Can you provide us the files about the animation witch was published by PILOU on the french forum ?
and here :
viewtopic.php?f=401&t=64742

Thanks
Chri
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonjour Fredo6
T'es t-il possible de nous fournir les fichiers correspondants a l'animation publiée par PILOU sur le forum francais ?
et ici :
viewtopic.php?f=401&t=64742

Merci
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chri

[fredo6]

Here is the file.

There are several animations in this model. The one corresponding to the video shown is "Film 10 - simple rotation"