Hi All,

3D Canvas 6.6.5.0 Beta 3 is now available for download: Download 3D Canvas 6.6.5.0 Beta 3

The Readme file provided with 6.6.5.0 has a list of functions that do not work or are untested. It would be helpful to know if you try an untested function and find it working properly. It will save me time testing that function.

I am still without test systems so I haven't been able to test the installation. The most likely cause of installation problems is that 3D Canvas now uses Microsoft's GDI Plus (gdiplus.dll).

Note that I haven't updated the documentation of the plug-in interface or added a couple of requested UV functions.

This version includes improved loading of files from version 6.6.1.0 and earlier. I'm not sure how good the import is, but it works well on the models that I have tried it on. I'll be making further improvements, but the best way to move a model from earlier versions is to choose the "Compact All" function from the File menu, save your file with a new file name and then load it in 3D Canvas 6.6.5.0.

I've added a couple of new functions to this beta that I am quite happy with.

The first is an improvement to importing. There are now consistent import options for all imports (bvh excluded) that I think are very useful for importing a model.

Following is a screen capture of the new import options screen:



The imported model is previewed on the import options window. As you change an option, you can see the changes made to the import. There are options for creasing, centering, resizing etc. In the example above the imported model has it's Y and Z axes reversed. This is a relatively common problem.

In the following screen capture I have made a few changes to the imported model, inluding swapping the Y and Z axes, creasing and resizing.



The following screen capture shows the new "Default Textures" option. When a texture is missing 3D Canvas replaces it with a default texture. This is especially useful for models where there is texture mapping, but no texture associated. It is relatively easy to swap the defualt texture with an appropriate texture.



The second new function in this beta is the improved rendering of concave and severely deformed faces. The following screen capture shows the rendering of a cylinder with a concave face in verson 6.5.1.0 (on the left) and on version 6.6.5.0.



This feature is generally usesful, but is really useful for cross-section modelling since it will now be possible to have a concave cross section that does not need to be triangulated.

This will likely be the final beta of version 6.6.5.0. I'm hoping to release the final version on October 31st.

Richard

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

I noticed after releasing Beta 3 that it was quite a bit slower at rendering then Beta 2. I've fixed it for the release version.

Today I took a bit of a break and wrote something a little different. I've added some new "hover" information to the status bar (at the bottom of the 3D Canvas window).

If you hover over an object, the name, dimensions, number of faces/points and texture is displayed.

As you move the cursor through the scene, the position under the cursor is displayed in world coordinates.

If you select a point on a face, and hover over another point it will tell you the distance between the points.

That's it for today.

Hello,

quote:

Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
I've added some new "hover" information to the status bar (at the bottom of the 3D Canvas window).

Excellent idea !

Here are some feedbacks (I'll make more tests later) :

quote:

Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
I'll look at the delete/right-click scale/SetPoint operations.

Point set position / cancel : Done (thanks Richard); immediate cancel.
At the beginning, I noticed that it takes nearly 3s to view de right clic menu on a point.

Actually it's the same with 6.5. And later, their seems not be such a lag.

I imported one of my models :
doors animation is OK

I noticed 2 differences between the 2 versions :

Display with 6.5.1.0 :

Display with 6.6.5.0 :


1) The model looks transparent in 6.6.5.0
2) Some textures are not positioned in the same way (see arrows).

I have also a question about the white vertical lines. As it is not related to this version, I posted a new topic.
http://amabilis.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2046019974/m/68910808631

Should Paul's plugins from beta2 be working ?

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

beta 2 plugins do not appear - I'll post all the beta 3 plugins on my website very soon...
http://www31.brinkster.com/decapod

3ds import test:
View in 6.5.1.0

View in 6.6.5.0 (scale factor 100)


... there is a little scaling problem (object is 25m wide) : the right size should be x100.

What's nice about the new import is that the smoothing can be recreated with creasing option (correct me if this is not the right way to recreate smoothing for import).

DOM107,

Is it the first time you right-click on a point that it is slow? Or each right-click. Either way I'll have a look. It could be the slow down in the renderer that I mentioned.

It's hard to know what the cause is of the difference in texturing. I'd really need to see the model itself. Can you send it and your textures to support@amabilis.com?

The 100 factor is actually percent, which means don't change the size. I should document that.

Absolutely, crease when importing. That's what I added it for. For some reason creasing doesn't always arrive intact on import. It depends on the format. Hopefully it will get better.

It sounds like things are getting better. I found a few more bugs today. Ones I hadn't expected. I'm confident I can release on October 31st.

Yesterday and today I decided to take a break from fixing things to add a new feature. It isn't done yet, but it look like I'll get it into 6.6.5.0.

The new feature is an enhancement to backdrops that allows images that are not square. It also is enhanced to allow the user to specify the scale of the plan by drawing a line between two points and entering what the actual distance is. Again, this was added to aid users who use cross section modelling.

quote:

Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
The 100 factor is actually percent, which means don't change the size.

Yes, I undestood that.
What I mean is that to have the same result as 6.5.1.0, the import should be scaled 100x, which means a value of 10000 as a scale factor.

I think that the import should scale the object properly with a factor of 100 (default value).

There is another problem : with a 10000 scale factor, the model looks right but it is not centered as with 6.5.1.0 import :

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

The problem is that 3D Canvas does not consitently use the term "Scale Factor". In this particular case it is in percent in other cases it is a ratio such as 1:1. I'm not sure which I prefer, but I should make it consistent.

Is it possible that when you imported the "center" box was not checked? 3D Canvas uses a different technique for importing than previous releases. The result is that it could move your object if "center" is not checked.

I've finished the final features for 6.6.5.0.

I've implemented the last feature requested by users of TrainSim Modeller (other than the TSM import which I hope is coming relatively soon). The feature is an improvement to 3D Canvas' backdrops. Backdrops now retain their proportions and the user can specify the actual dimensions that the backdrop represents.

In the following picture I drew the red line and indicated that this is 20.00 meters long in the real world model. I could have chosen a shorter line starting at any point and ending at any point. This allows users to enter any known distance and 3D Canvas creates the backdrops appropriately.



Here's an example in 3D Canvas:



I've also changed 3D Canvas to properly support textures that are not square.

I the following example I am cropping a non-square texture:



Here is a texture library expanded I:



A poor example, but if you look very closely you can see the textures have retained their proportions.

I'm on to bug fixing and documenting changes. Things look good for my October 31st release date.

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

I have my test systems back so today I'll be able to test the installation process.

I'm a bit concerned about Windows 2000 and Windows Vista. I'm installing Windows 2000 and downloading Windows Vista right now.

I've been busy fixing problems. 3D Canvas is getting much more stable. I haven't had a crash in the main editing window for a while.

I added Paul's requested UV functions to the Plug-in interface.

My list of problems is shrinking rather than growing, which is a good sign that I'm getting close to finishing.

Everything still looks good for release on October 31st. It may be October 31st at 23.59 Pacific Daylight time, but it will be October 31st. :-)

I may have finished building my new PC by then
That'll give it a workout:
AMD64 x2 5200, NV 7900 GTX 2Gb of 800Mhz mem
Win XP pro - 64bit edition

Sounds nice! You shouldn't have to worry about 3D Canvas' performance with that.

Actually, on my fairly basic notebook 3D Canvas runs more than fast enough with relatively complex models.