3D Canvas 8.0 Preview 4 is available for download: 3D Canvas 8.0 Preview 4

This is a limited function version of 3D Canvas 8.0. Most of the main modelling features are available to be used, but other functions that are not yet ready have been hidden.

There are many additional features since Preview 3. Some are just 7.1.2 features that now work, but there are several improvements to texturing that are completely new to 8.0.

I believe I have fixed all bugs found in Preview 3 and earlier.

Known problems

1) The object library only partially works. You can drag and drop from the library, but not modify or add to a library.
2) Bones are only partially implemented
3) The UVRemap operation does not work
4) The Extrude shape builder does not work

From my experience, this release seems to be quite stable. It could conceivably be used in conjunction with 3D Canvas 7 via import/export (preferably via Direct X).

In this release very few people will receive "automatic" free upgrades. I will have to send new license codes to those who are entitled to a free upgrade. I haven't quite figured out how to go about implementing the free upgrades yet. In the mean time, very few of the Pro features work yet in 8.0 anyhow, so it probably isn't a major issue.

Anyone who purchased 3D Canvas on December 5th, 2007 or later will get a free upgrade to 8.x.

This version shouldn't affect your existing 3D Canvas installation in any way. It should be fully independent of version 7.1 and earlier.

I am anxious to get 3D Canvas 8.0 out and being used. It has been a year and a half of development. So, in order to get it done, I am going to limit the features in 8.0. A number of features from 7.1.2 will not be available. Most of these features will be added in 8.0.1 and later, but a few that need complete re-writes may come much later.

The Unlink operation, Particle operation and Surface Shape Builder will not be available in 8.0.x. They may be available in 8.1, but that will depend on demand.

All of the train simulator related imports/exports etc will be released relatively soon after 8.0 becomes available. They will likely be in version 8.0.1 or 8.0.2. They will be my first priority after getting 8.0 out.

The imports/exports that will be available with 8.0 were easy to implement. Many of the other imports/exports won't be quite so easy. That's why I am delaying them for now.

I have a huge job ahead of me with documentation. I think 8.0 will be an "experienced 3D Canvas user" release until I can get the documentation up to date. I won't be able to get it entirely up to date for 8.0.

I don't have a list of the new features quite yet, but this post has details on everything: 3D Canvas 8.0 Progress

In addition to these feautures, 8.0 Preview 4 includes what might be my favourite new feature...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amabilis Support,

The newest feature for 8.0 is something I have had planned for probably a year or more. But, not until a few days ago was it possible to implement it. (And I was quite worried for a while because I thought I had lost the code-but hadn't-I wrote most of it in November)

In this version the "Highlight selection using preview texture wrap" (which needs to be renamed) does much more than in previous versions. It now gives a complete preview of the material as it would be applied by the Material operation. This means you can for example:

1) enable this mode
2) select a few faces and the current Material pallete will be applied (but not really) to your selection
3) make changes in the material palette, with each change showing immediately on your selection
4) if in "screen mode", you can rotate around so the texture is applied exactly as you would like. There is no guessing anymore about how it will be applied. It will apply exactly as it appears in your view.

For me, this is the best new feature of 8.0.

It's a great work what you do for us! I will thank you a lot!
Something a I have see is: if you don't have a texture selected and you choose the Paint-Tool and click: then 3DC crash. The Apply.. also . it's not serious but ...
But the texture and view/render possibilities I found great!

The unlink operation unfortunately I use often and after I weld the object but possibly I will found an other way for this time with copy and paste...

Maybe if no component is selected and we click on the component-, collective-proberties you can show the information of the whole scene - then no popup is necessary

Thank you ! Jérôme

Thanks for the bug reports.

I'll have another look at the Unlink operation. I had thought it wasn't useful anymore. But if it is actually used, I can try to get it working again.

And, you're welcome!

Jaw,

Unlink will be part of 8.0. It turned out to be easy to do.

I couldn't reproduce the bugs with the paint tool. What exactly do I need to do?

Also, I'm not quite sure I understand your collective properties suggestion.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amabilis Support,

A last minute change to plug-in selection validation.

The new format is:

Public Sub GetValidation(ComponentType As CSGEntityType _
, SelectionType As CSGSelectionType _
, ValidMinComponents As Long _
, ValidMaxComponents As Long _
, ValidMinShapeSubSelection As Long _
, ValidMaxShapeSubSelection As Long)

End Sub

3D Canvas will let you know what type of scene component is selected and the subtype, and you give the minimum and maximum components and shapesubselection elements allowed. This is a bit different than for operations. I ask for the information so that I can give the user feedback as to what is allowed.

So for example:

Public Sub GetValidation(ComponentType As CSGEntityType _
, SelectionType As CSGSelectionType _
, ValidMinComponents As Long _
, ValidMaxComponents As Long _
, ValidMinShapeSubSelection As Long _
, ValidMaxShapeSubSelection As Long)

If ComponentType = CSGShape Then
ValidMinComponents = 1
ValidMaxComponents = 999
If SelectionType = CSGFace Then
ValidMinShapeSubSelection = 1
ValidMinShapeSubSelection = 999
Elseif SelectionType = CSGPoint Then
ValidMinShapeSubSelection = 1
ValidMaxShapeSubSelection = 1
else
ValidMinShapeSubSelection = 0
ValidMinShapeSubSelection = 0
End if
else
ValidMinSceneComponents = 0
ValidMaxSceneComponents = 0
ValidMinShapeSubSelection = 0
ValidMinShapeSubSelection = 0
end if

End Sub


Allows selection of shapes, faces or points. Any number of shapes, 1 to an infinite number of faces (999 means infinite) or a single edge.

I think there are still cases where it will be necessary to write custom validation code, but this will cover most cases.

-1 to -1 means not allowed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amabilis Support,

Today I have been working on plug-ins. All of the plug-ins I wrote, with the exception of the Train Simulator Wizard will be released in 8.0.

The wizard will come, probably in 8.0.1 or 8.0.2, but I am prioritizing the core of 3D Canvas for 8.0.0. I have to get something out there and being used.

Today I finished up the plug-ins and scripts to be included in 8.0.0

I also made progress on Object libraries.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amabilis Support,

As usual, some of my remarks may be pointless since release 8.0 has some missing features.

I noticed that it seems possible to have 3DC 7.1.2 and 8.0 running at the same time.

1) I don’t see the UVmap button (I know UV remap doesn’t work but UVmap is not mentioned). So I could not test this:

quote:

Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
I just finished an improvement that I have had planned for ages.

In the past when you applied a texture to a selection of faces, and oriented it in the face direction, sometimes (or even often) they would be rotated. I have made some improvements in this release that I think will help considerably with this:
http://www.3d-canvas.com/images/FaceOrientedPaint.jpg
This is 7.1.2 vs 8.0 Face-oriented material application.

2) Directional properties (Directional #1 and Directional #2) cannot be changed (important for export to KRS)

3) Comparison between 7.1.2 and 8.0 with the same directional properties (the 8.0 image was created with a DX import):



3a) 8.0 image is darker. It seems that preview1 or preview3 was not that dark.
3b) The Status Bar located at the bottom of the 3D Canvas window is not present. With this remark, I just want to make sure that it will eventually be implemented (the quick display of point coordinates and distance between points are very important).
3c) Left window (construction) is a little larger in 8.0 eating up some space from the scene window. The windows (left and right) can be unpinned but they cannot be easily brought back in front (again, I know this is not the final release… ).

4) Control points in the lathe tool cannot be fixed.

5) The texture library change is not kept when entering again in 3DC 8.0.

6) Texture cropping window is smaller than 7.1.2 (this was a very needed upgrade of 7.x)

7) Richard, you already answered on this but this is a feature I don’t like in 8.0: to move a hierarchy, you need to type A. It is not possible to toggle between the 2 default behaviors: moving an object alone or moving its hierarchy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DOM107,

8) Apply texture with the brush when "edit using object coordinates" is selected:

9) When rotating the scene, the yellow color of a selected face disapears:

10) Delete key does nothing in hierarchy panel.

11)

quote:

Originally posted by DOM107:
3a) 8.0 image is darker. It seems that preview1 or preview3 was not that dark.

About this point, on the left, the blue shape was created with preview3, on the right, with the same material settings, the blue shape created with preview4 is darker.

Thanks a lot. Some I knew about, but a lot a I didn't. I should get all of it working for the next version.

I'll keep thinking about an option for "the old method" of object moving. I just don't know how hard it will be. With the re-write, the new method is "fundamental". It may be hard to put an exception in at this point.

I just finished the opening/exporting of 3D Canvas Object (3do) files. I think some people are not going to be happy about the changes I have made.

The good news is that you can now "import" a 3DO file into your scene. That way you can save an object (or hierarchy) and then import it simply into a scene later.

Also, on the good new side, the loading will be faster, there will be no risk of losing anything due to changes in 3D Canvas, and the files will be smaller.

But, all of this comes at a cost. Like the Object Library, and the clipboard, the 3DO file now no longer saves layers.

I think of layers as "temporary" and only used during construction of objects. Once they are done and go into an object library or object file, the layers are no longer needed.

Fortunately, you can save your objects in individual 3DC files if you want to save the layers.

I finished up the Object Library today, with the exception of bones, which will have to wait a bit longer.

I am very close to having Boolean operations working again.

It's funny... when you change absolutely everything, you have to fix absolutely everything. I won't do that again!

It's now possible to undo boolean operations and previous operations. In the past application of a boolean wiped out the undo list.

The boolean operations are now working. So is the Duplicate function and the "look at" function.

So, on the left toolbar the only outstanding issue is the "Skin Relax" function, which will have to wait until I start working on bones again.

Today my goal is to finish off the main toolbar (excluding snapshot) and get the status bar working again.

Backdrops and fog are working.

Right-click DirectX export is working.

Making more progress. The background image rendering now works. It exposed a few other problems, which had to be fixed.