Re: Small Annoying Things

[Daniel Jahnel]

I just export my preferences and re-import for a new installation or 
user profile...right click on the preferences and export, I know it 
doesnt really export all preferences like e.g. transform preferences but 
its something



On 20/08/2012 02:27, Alan Fregtman wrote:

Another thing...

How about a goddamn "Save Preferences" button? I know there's a 
command for it.


So many times I've set preferences on a fresh install, worked a few 
hours, crashed, and my preferences had not been saved! :/


On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 9:55 AM, Eugen Sares > wrote:


One more...

- Preference to set the number of decimal places displayed in a PPG.
I know SI remembers the correct floating point number entered, but
it would be cool if it could also display it correctly.
Stumbled across this trying to set VRay shadow bias, which needs
to be rather small here.

Or did I miss something?

Re: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Tim Leydecker]

Hi Sam,

here´s a pretty good download database for all sorts of Apple related tools,
beware it´s in german. Fortunately, lot´s of english teminology anyway:

http://www.heise.de/download/apple-50002505000/

I tend to go there first if I need a misc. tool, as the site belongs to a
german computer magazin and the tools found there can often be assumed save
to start with.

Has linux and windows stuff, too. Even stuff for smartphones.

Cheers,


tim



On 19.08.2012 23:48, Sam Bowling wrote:

One of the big surprises when I started working at this company that uses a lot 
of macs was the complete lack of free utilities available on a mac. You can get 
almost any kind of
converter/utility for windows for free, but EVERYTHING on a mac will cost you 
money and most of them don’t even have demo versions so you can see if it even 
work. Hopefully they
will continue to allow people to downgrade to earlier versions of windows, but 
with the way they are pushing their cell phone OS they probably won’t allow it 
on this version.
*From:* Martin yara 
*Sent:* Saturday, August 18, 2012 11:53 PM
*To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com 
*Subject:* Re: Windows 8 - anyone?
We gained stability directx and some other things with winXP so it was a good 
change from win98 and 2000. It felt like a 98 and 2000 mixed and with the SPs 
blue screens were pretty
rare.
XP 64 and Vista never felt like a finished product so Win7 64 was a huge change 
for designers. 2 or 3Gb per application was just not enough.
This time, I just don't see any reason to upgrade. Not yet at least. It seems 
that the upgrade price will be quite cheap so it may be worth to give it a try, 
specially if there is
a no Metro GUI option.
Linux and OSX are quite limited in software and plugins library so I don't 
think they are a valid option for a designer / generalist.

M.Yara

On 2012/08/19, at 8:22, Andreas Bystrom mailto:andreas.byst...@gmail.com>> wrote:


"You realize that there are still a ton of people that are still running 
windows XP, right? You also seem to be forgetting Vista (which I actually liked, but 
most other people
didn’t)."

ofcourse, there are still people using win2k/nt even.

also i did not forget vista, i ran it myself for years and was quite happy with 
it, win7 is better but overall vista wasn't that terrible either.

also having used Linux for almost 2 years at work I've realized you can get 
used to and be quite happy with anything, its just a matter of using it long 
enough really, even
though I still would never bother using linux at home..

On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 9:42 AM, Sam Bowling mailto:sbowl...@cox.net>> wrote:

You realize that there are still a ton of people that are still running 
windows XP, right? You also seem to be forgetting Vista (which I actually 
liked, but most other people
didn’t).
*From:* Andreas Bystrom 
*Sent:* Saturday, August 18, 2012 1:05 AM
*To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com 

*Subject:* Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?
". So... I've installed Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far I'm 
really impressed with the speed and the response from the system. Softimage works a 
lot smoother on
Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3."

hmm, it's not april did hell just freeze over? actually the day alan 
jones writes something like that will be the day hell truly freezes over..

on a serious note, for every single windows release that's about to come out 
since win2k I've heard the same exact thing "this will be terrible, I'm staying 
with win 
forever" yet those same people somehow upgraded throughout the years and 
found themselves quite happy...



On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Stefan Andersson mailto:sander...@gmail.com>> wrote:

It's not any better in the Linux Camp. Everyone is moving towards 
tablet use. But what boggles me is that... how can the developers themselves 
stand it?
On a side note.
I've been using Linux for a long time now, but got fed up with crappy 
wacom drivers and the crippled paint applications. So... I've installed 
Windows7 on my workstation
at home. And so far I'm really impressed with the speed and the 
response from the system. Softimage works a lot smoother on Windows7 than on 
CentOS 6.3.
Anyhow, going to take a shower now since I feel quite dirty.
And I think Windows 8 will be as Vista, a "side-note". They are already 
talking about Windows9.
regards
stefan


On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 8:01 PM, Sylvain Lebeau mailto:s...@shedmtl.com>> wrote:

this makes me think about Apple rumour to let go the dev on the mac 
pros...

Seem's everybody is going nuts on the mobile thing. And all 
professional market get's ignored!!

i wont be able to do Arnold render regions on my f-ing iphone!
   

Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Stefan Andersson]

Maybe I spoke too soon :) I felt a bit lost, so I'm back into Linux now.
Trying a bit newer distro (Ubuntu 12.04). I know it can't run Softimage,
but I don't use Softimage at home that much anyhow.
It was a nice try, but it felt there were too many gremlins under the hood
that I had no idea of what they were up to.
Too many reboots and too many processes that started working for no
apparent reason, and popups, my god it felt like using firefox without
a adblocker. But besides that it was a better experience that my last
attempt which was with Vista.

I'm back home now. Hell did not freeze over, it's still warm and cozy.

regards
stefan


On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 10:05 AM, Andreas Bystrom  wrote:

> ". So... I've installed Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far I'm
> really impressed with the speed and the response from the system. Softimage
> works a lot smoother on Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3."
>
> hmm, it's not april did hell just freeze over? actually the day alan
> jones writes something like that will be the day hell truly freezes over..
>
> on a serious note, for every single windows release that's about to come
> out since win2k I've heard the same exact thing "this will be terrible, I'm
> staying with win  forever" yet those same people somehow upgraded
> throughout the years and found themselves quite happy...
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Stefan Andersson wrote:
>
>> It's not any better in the Linux Camp. Everyone is moving towards tablet
>> use. But what boggles me is that... how can the developers themselves stand
>> it?
>>
>> On a side note.
>>
>> I've been using Linux for a long time now, but got fed up with crappy
>> wacom drivers and the crippled paint applications. So... I've installed
>> Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far I'm really impressed with
>> the speed and the response from the system. Softimage works a lot smoother
>> on Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3.
>>
>> Anyhow, going to take a shower now since I feel quite dirty.
>>
>> And I think Windows 8 will be as Vista, a "side-note". They are already
>> talking about Windows9.
>>
>> regards
>> stefan
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 8:01 PM, Sylvain Lebeau  wrote:
>>
>>> this makes me think about Apple rumour to let go the dev on the mac
>>> pros...
>>>
>>> Seem's everybody is going nuts on the mobile thing. And all professional
>>> market get's ignored!!
>>>
>>> i wont be able to do Arnold render regions on my f-ing iphone!
>>> wtf is going on with these guys!?
>>>
>>>
>>> sly
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> *Sylvain Lebeau // SHED**
>>> *V-P/Visual effects supervisor
>>> 1410, RUE STANLEY, 11E ÉTAGE MONTRÉAL (QUÉBEC) H3A 1P8
>>> T 514 849-1555 F 514 849-5025 WWW.SHEDMTL.COM <
>>> http://WWW.SHEDMTL.COM >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>   Paul Griswold 
>>>  Friday, August 17, 2012 12:18 PM
>>> My main Win 7 workstation has been really acting flaky lately.
>>>  Microsoft has just release Windows 8 RTM, so I was wondering if anyone had
>>> tested it out yet?
>>>
>>> I realize there are plenty of opinions on the whole Metro interface, but
>>> I'm just wondering if it's stable and if Softimage will run under it.
>>>
>>> I need to take a weekend and reformat this machine & start over anyway.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Paul
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> stefan andersson - digital janitor - http://sanders3d.wordpress.com
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Andreas Byström
> Lighting TD - Weta Digital
>
>


-- 
stefan andersson - digital janitor - http://sanders3d.wordpress.com
<>

RE: Small Annoying Things

[Juan Brockhaus]

Some time ago (around XSI 7.5 or so) I logged all the settings I did and
saved them out as a script.

 

Now when I have a fresh install, I just run that script.

(the script obviously got some lines added over time and Soft
versions...)

 

Juan

 

 

 

- - -

Juan Brockhaus | Head of CG Studio

Prime Focus London Commercials

T: +44 (0)20 7565 1000 | M: +44 (0)7944 720 557
A: 37 Dean Street, London, W1D 4PT, UK

www.primefocusgroup.com

 



From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Daniel
Jahnel
Sent: 20 August 2012 09:29
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Small Annoying Things

 

I just export my preferences and re-import for a new installation or
user profile...right click on the preferences and export, I know it
doesnt really export all preferences like e.g. transform preferences but
its something



On 20/08/2012 02:27, Alan Fregtman wrote:

Another thing... 

 

How about a goddamn "Save Preferences" button? I know there's a
command for it.

 

So many times I've set preferences on a fresh install, worked a
few hours, crashed, and my preferences had not been saved! :/

On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 9:55 AM, Eugen Sares
 wrote:

One more...

- Preference to set the number of decimal places displayed in a
PPG.
I know SI remembers the correct floating point number entered,
but it would be cool if it could also display it correctly.
Stumbled across this trying to set VRay shadow bias, which needs
to be rather small here.

Or did I miss something?

 

 

Re: Small Annoying Things

[Chris Marshall]

Is Migrate Preferences a different thing?


On 20 August 2012 01:27, Alan Fregtman  wrote:

> Another thing...
>
> How about a goddamn "Save Preferences" button? I know there's a command
> for it.
>
> So many times I've set preferences on a fresh install, worked a few hours,
> crashed, and my preferences had not been saved! :/
>
>
>

Re: Small Annoying Things

[Alan Fregtman]

Yes. I was referring to how preferences are only saved on a successful
clean quit of SI, not on closing the Preferences window.

Therefore, if you crash, your changes aren't saved. (I do believe there is
a SavePreferences() command or something like that though.)

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Chris Marshall
wrote:

> Is Migrate Preferences a different thing?
>
>
> On 20 August 2012 01:27, Alan Fregtman  wrote:
>
>> Another thing...
>>
>> How about a goddamn "Save Preferences" button? I know there's a command
>> for it.
>>
>> So many times I've set preferences on a fresh install, worked a few
>> hours, crashed, and my preferences had not been saved! :/
>>
>>
>>

undo event??!!

[Ana Gomez]

Hi,

Today I've realized that there is no event for undo :(
I'm writting an interface with pyqt and I need to refresh it when the user
undo something in the scene.

Any ideas?? Thanks,
Ana

RE: Small Annoying Things

[Stephen Blair]

http://xsisupport.com/2011/11/22/adding-a-button-to-save-preference-changes/

From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Alan Fregtman
Sent: August-20-12 10:51 AM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Small Annoying Things

Yes. I was referring to how preferences are only saved on a successful clean 
quit of SI, not on closing the Preferences window.

Therefore, if you crash, your changes aren't saved. (I do believe there is a 
SavePreferences() command or something like that though.)
On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Chris Marshall 
mailto:chrismarshal...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Is Migrate Preferences a different thing?

On 20 August 2012 01:27, Alan Fregtman 
mailto:alan.fregt...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Another thing...

How about a goddamn "Save Preferences" button? I know there's a command for it.

So many times I've set preferences on a fresh install, worked a few hours, 
crashed, and my preferences had not been saved! :/


<>

Re: undo event??!!

[Ciaran Moloney]

perhaps a command event?


On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 3:57 PM, Ana Gomez  wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Today I've realized that there is no event for undo :(
> I'm writting an interface with pyqt and I need to refresh it when the user
> undo something in the scene.
>
> Any ideas?? Thanks,
> Ana
>
>
>
>


-- 
- Ciaran

Re: undo event??!!

[Ana Gomez]

I was thinking of modifying the PyQtForSoftimage addon to register another
event, the onEndCommand. And then, if the command is an undo in the
callback, emit a new pyqt signal.
But I don't like it very much. I wanted to know if someone had had this
problem and his solution.


On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 5:23 PM, Ciaran Moloney wrote:

> perhaps a command event?
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 3:57 PM, Ana Gomez wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Today I've realized that there is no event for undo :(
>> I'm writting an interface with pyqt and I need to refresh it when the
>> user undo something in the scene.
>>
>> Any ideas?? Thanks,
>> Ana
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> - Ciaran
>

Replace a geometry on an existing SI object via CMeshBuilder

[Kamen Lilov]

I am trying to completely replace the geometry on an existing Softimage 
X3DObject node - and do it quickly. This is not at render time but in an 
interactive session. CMeshBuilder seems the best way to construct a 
(relatively) large mesh's geometry from an internal, incompatible 
representation.


I am also trying to preserve everything else on the SI object - operator 
stack, the render trees on the individual clusters, etc etc. I would 
rather not try to serialize everything beside the mesh and then 
re-create the entire node.


Has anyone succeeded in replacing an object's mesh using CMeshBuilder 
while keeping everything else intact? Any pitfalls?


K.

Re: undo event??!!

[Steven Caron]

what dont you like about that? i dont see many other ways to handle this
and if i were to implement this tomorrow i would use an event

s

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:41 AM, Ana Gomez  wrote:

> I was thinking of modifying the PyQtForSoftimage addon to register another
> event, the onEndCommand. And then, if the command is an undo in the
> callback, emit a new pyqt signal.
> But I don't like it very much. I wanted to know if someone had had this
> problem and his solution.
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 5:23 PM, Ciaran Moloney 
> wrote:
>
>> perhaps a command event?
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 3:57 PM, Ana Gomez wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Today I've realized that there is no event for undo :(
>>> I'm writting an interface with pyqt and I need to refresh it when the
>>> user undo something in the scene.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?? Thanks,
>>> Ana
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> - Ciaran
>>
>
>

Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Stephen Davidson]

Bottom line, for me, Windows 8 is fine to use on my tablet, but
there is no reason to use it on my workstation, unless they force me to,
by dropping support for Windows 7, like they will, for XP, on April 8th
2014.

I have a laptop/tablet pc that I use for drawing (it has a Wacom
pressure sensitive pen)
that runs on XP, but won't run Windows 7. I guess it will have a limited
life.
It is a shame, because I can't find any new tablets that support pressure
sensitive pens. Most new tablets run on Android, which looks like the model
for Windows 8. Android is great for non-business devices, but that too is
geared for tablets.

I think what the problem is that there is no money in selling to the
professional
video and entertainment market. Look what Apple did with Final Cut Pro.
They turned it into a home user product, and ignored the pro market
completely.

Maybe it is just a big hint, from the universe, for me to start a new
career. ;)





On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 6:56 AM, Stefan Andersson wrote:

> Maybe I spoke too soon :) I felt a bit lost, so I'm back into Linux now.
> Trying a bit newer distro (Ubuntu 12.04). I know it can't run Softimage,
> but I don't use Softimage at home that much anyhow.
> It was a nice try, but it felt there were too many gremlins under the hood
> that I had no idea of what they were up to.
> Too many reboots and too many processes that started working for no
> apparent reason, and popups, my god it felt like using firefox without
> a adblocker. But besides that it was a better experience that my last
> attempt which was with Vista.
>
> I'm back home now. Hell did not freeze over, it's still warm and cozy.
>
> regards
> stefan
>
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 10:05 AM, Andreas Bystrom <
> andreas.byst...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> ". So... I've installed Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far
>> I'm really impressed with the speed and the response from the system.
>> Softimage works a lot smoother on Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3."
>>
>> hmm, it's not april did hell just freeze over? actually the day alan
>> jones writes something like that will be the day hell truly freezes over..
>>
>> on a serious note, for every single windows release that's about to come
>> out since win2k I've heard the same exact thing "this will be terrible, I'm
>> staying with win  forever" yet those same people somehow upgraded
>> throughout the years and found themselves quite happy...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Stefan Andersson wrote:
>>
>>> It's not any better in the Linux Camp. Everyone is moving towards tablet
>>> use. But what boggles me is that... how can the developers themselves stand
>>> it?
>>>
>>> On a side note.
>>>
>>> I've been using Linux for a long time now, but got fed up with crappy
>>> wacom drivers and the crippled paint applications. So... I've installed
>>> Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far I'm really impressed with
>>> the speed and the response from the system. Softimage works a lot smoother
>>> on Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3.
>>>
>>> Anyhow, going to take a shower now since I feel quite dirty.
>>>
>>> And I think Windows 8 will be as Vista, a "side-note". They are already
>>> talking about Windows9.
>>>
>>> regards
>>> stefan
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 8:01 PM, Sylvain Lebeau  wrote:
>>>
 this makes me think about Apple rumour to let go the dev on the mac
 pros...

 Seem's everybody is going nuts on the mobile thing. And all
 professional market get's ignored!!

 i wont be able to do Arnold render regions on my f-ing iphone!
 wtf is going on with these guys!?


 sly

 --

 *Sylvain Lebeau // SHED**
 *V-P/Visual effects supervisor
 1410, RUE STANLEY, 11E ÉTAGE MONTRÉAL (QUÉBEC) H3A 1P8
 T 514 849-1555 F 514 849-5025 WWW.SHEDMTL.COM <
 http://WWW.SHEDMTL.COM >




   Paul Griswold 
  Friday, August 17, 2012 12:18 PM
 My main Win 7 workstation has been really acting flaky lately.
  Microsoft has just release Windows 8 RTM, so I was wondering if anyone had
 tested it out yet?

 I realize there are plenty of opinions on the whole Metro interface,
 but I'm just wondering if it's stable and if Softimage will run under it.

 I need to take a weekend and reformat this machine & start over anyway.

 Thanks,

 Paul


>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> stefan andersson - digital janitor - http://sanders3d.wordpress.com
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Andreas Byström
>> Lighting TD - Weta Digital
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> stefan andersson - digital janitor - http://sanders3d.wordpress.com
>



-- 

Best Regards,
*  Stephen P. Davidson**
   **(954) 552-7956
*sdavid...@3danimationmagic.com


<>

Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Eugen Sares]

  
  
Am 20.08.2012 19:56, schrieb Stephen
  Davidson:

Bottom line, for me, Windows 8 is fine to use on my
  tablet, but
  there is no reason to use it on my workstation, unless they
force me to,
  by dropping support for Windows 7, like they will, for XP, on
April 8th 2014.
  
  
  I have a laptop/tablet pc that I use for drawing (it has a
Wacom pressure sensitive pen)
  that runs on XP, but won't run Windows 7. I guess it will
have a limited life.
  It is a shame, because I can't find any new tablets that
support pressure
  sensitive pens. Most new tablets run on Android, which looks
like the model
  for Windows 8. Android is great for non-business devices, but
that too is
  geared for tablets.
  
  


Won't Microsoft Surface have a pressure sensitive pen? No idea
though how subtle it will be.
It will come in two versions, one with a lame ARM and one with an
i5, which sounds quite interesting.
And if it's not going to be MS, I expect quite a few other
manufacturers to offer something similar.


  I think what the problem is that there is no money in selling
to the professional
  video and entertainment market. Look what Apple did with
Final Cut Pro.
  They turned it into a home user product, and ignored the pro
market completely.
  
  
  Maybe it is just a big hint, from the universe, for me to
start a new career. ;)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 6:56 AM, Stefan
  Andersson 
  wrote:
  Maybe I
spoke too soon :) I felt a bit lost, so I'm back into Linux
now. Trying a bit newer distro (Ubuntu 12.04). I know it
can't run Softimage, but I don't use Softimage at home that
much anyhow.
It was a nice try, but it felt there were too many gremlins
under the hood that I had no idea of what they were up to. 
Too many reboots and too many processes that started working
for no apparent reason, and popups, my god it felt like
using firefox without a adblocker. But besides that it was a
better experience that my last attempt which was with Vista.

I'm back home now. Hell did not freeze over, it's still warm
and cozy.

regards
stefan

  



  On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 10:05 AM, Andreas Bystrom 
  wrote:
  
". So... I've installed Windows7 on my
  workstation at home. And so far I'm really
  impressed with the speed and the response from the
  system. Softimage works a lot smoother on Windows7
  than on CentOS 6.3."
  

hmm, it's not april did hell just freeze over?
actually the day alan jones writes something like
that will be the day hell truly freezes over..

on a serious note, for every single windows release
that's about to come out since win2k I've heard the
same exact thing "this will be terrible, I'm staying
with win  forever" yet those same people somehow
upgraded throughout the years and found themselves
quite happy...

  



On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at
  6:55 PM, Stefan Andersson 
  wrote:
  
It's not any better in the Linux Camp.
Everyone is moving towards tablet use. But
what boggles me is that... how can the
developers themselves stand it?


On a side note. 


I've been using Linux for a long time
  now, but got fed up with crappy wacom
  drivers and the crippled paint
  applications. So... I've installed
  Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so
  far I'm really impressed with the speed
  and the response from the system.
 

Re: undo event??!!

[Ana Gomez]

Yes, you both are right.
I think I got a shock when I've found out that this event doesn't exist.
And I've entered in an infinite loop of how this is possible XD

Re: undo event??!!

[Stefan Kubicek]

There's quita a couple of really useful events missing in Soft. Undo being one 
of them, onMouseButtonPressed, onMouseButtonreleased events (up, down) and an 
onDeformerChanged (when painting skin weights and clicking on another deformer 
to paint weights for) some more.

The missing Undo event can be worked around by using onCommandBegin and - End, 
the others...not so much :-(



--
---
Stefan Kubicek   Co-founder
---
  keyvis digital imagery
 Wehrgasse 9 - Grüner Hof
   1050 Vienna  Austria
Phone:+43/699/12614231
--- www.keyvis.at  ste...@keyvis.at ---
--  This email and its attachments are
--confidential and for the recipient only--

Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Rob Wuijster]

  
  
Asus EP121?
  

Rob

\/-\/\/
  On 20-8-2012 20:11, Eugen Sares wrote:


  
  Am 20.08.2012 19:56, schrieb Stephen
Davidson:
  
  Bottom line, for me, Windows 8 is fine to use on my
tablet, but
there is no reason to use it on my workstation, unless they
  force me to,
by dropping support for Windows 7, like they will, for XP,
  on April 8th 2014.


I have a laptop/tablet pc that I use for drawing (it has a
  Wacom pressure sensitive pen)
that runs on XP, but won't run Windows 7. I guess it will
  have a limited life.
It is a shame, because I can't find any new tablets that
  support pressure
sensitive pens. Most new tablets run on Android, which
  looks like the model
for Windows 8. Android is great for non-business devices,
  but that too is
geared for tablets.


  
  
  Won't Microsoft Surface have a pressure sensitive pen? No idea
  though how subtle it will be.
  It will come in two versions, one with a lame ARM and one with an
  i5, which sounds quite interesting.
  And if it's not going to be MS, I expect quite a few other
  manufacturers to offer something similar.
  
  
I think what the problem is that there is no money in
  selling to the professional
video and entertainment market. Look what Apple did with
  Final Cut Pro.
They turned it into a home user product, and ignored the
  pro market completely.


Maybe it is just a big hint, from the universe, for me to
  start a new career. ;)







  
  On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 6:56 AM,
Stefan Andersson 
wrote:
Maybe I
  spoke too soon :) I felt a bit lost, so I'm back into
  Linux now. Trying a bit newer distro (Ubuntu 12.04). I
  know it can't run Softimage, but I don't use Softimage at
  home that much anyhow.
  It was a nice try, but it felt there were too many
  gremlins under the hood that I had no idea of what they
  were up to. 
  Too many reboots and too many processes that started
  working for no apparent reason, and popups, my god it
  felt like using firefox without a adblocker. But besides
  that it was a better experience that my last attempt which
  was with Vista.
  
  I'm back home now. Hell did not freeze over, it's still
  warm and cozy.
  
  regards
  stefan
  

  
  
   On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at
10:05 AM, Andreas Bystrom 
wrote:

  ". So... I've installed Windows7 on my
workstation at home. And so far I'm really
impressed with the speed and the response from
the system. Softimage works a lot smoother on
Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3."

  
  hmm, it's not april did hell just freeze over?
  actually the day alan jones writes something like
  that will be the day hell truly freezes over..
  
  on a serious note, for every single windows
  release that's about to come out since win2k I've
  heard the same exact thing "this will be terrible,
  I'm staying with win  forever" yet those same
  people somehow upgraded throughout the years and
  found themselves quite happy...
  

  
  
  
  On Sat, Aug 18, 2012
at 6:55 PM, Stefan Andersson 
wrote:
 It's not any
  better in the Linux Camp. Everyone is
  moving towards tablet use. But what
  boggles me is that... how can the
  developers themselves stand it?
  
  
  On a side note. 
  
  
  I've been using Linux for a long time
now

RE: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Matt Lind]

We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the computers 
we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we try to make 
them work, they just don't.  Crashes, glitches, overheating, etc...   We always 
have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get stability.

Framerate isn't everything, stability often matters more.

Matt





From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Mirko Jankovic
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing gtx580 
with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport and no 
problems at all as well :)
It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to push 
overpriced quadros.
But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side (usually  
huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.

Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Meng-Yang Lu]

Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of
building a system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.

Thanks,

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind wrote:

> We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the
> computers we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we
> try to make them work, they just don’t.  Crashes, glitches, overheating,
> etc…   We always have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get
> stability.
>
> ** **
>
> Framerate isn’t everything, stability often matters more.
>
> ** **
>
> Matt
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:
> softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] *On Behalf Of *Mirko Jankovic
> *Sent:* Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM
>
> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> *Subject:* Re: Graphic card for a workstation again
>
> ** **
>
> Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing
> gtx580 with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport
> and no problems at all as well :)
>
> It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to
> push overpriced quadros. 
>
> But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side
> (usually  huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.
>

Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Leoung O'Young]

This  graphic is certified for XSI and it is only
$199. CAN
NVIDIA Quadro 600 by PNY 1.0GB DDR3 PCI-E16 DVI Display Port Fermi 
Workstation Video Card [VCQ600-PB]
But  I was thinking of getting the Nvidia GTX 550Ti for a similar price 
but can someone confirm
the Nvidia ha been crippled since the 200 series. We are using an old 
GTX 260 and it works fine for what we are doing.


L.




On 8/20/2012 2:36 PM, Meng-Yang Lu wrote:
Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of 
building a system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.


Thanks,

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind > wrote:


We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of
the computers we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter
how much we try to make them work, they just don’t.  Crashes,
glitches, overheating, etc…   We always have to swap them out for
Nvidia GeForce cards to get stability.

Framerate isn’t everything, stability often matters more.

Matt

*From:*softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com

[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
] *On Behalf Of
*Mirko Jankovic
*Sent:* Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM


*To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com

*Subject:* Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after
replacing gtx580 with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame
rates in viewport and no problems at all as well :)

It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an
effort to push overpriced quadros.

But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one
side (usually  huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and
freelancers.

Re: Small Annoying Things

[Len Krenzler]

One more that's extremely annoying.  No color management in the viewport 
modes except for HQVP.  If we have it on HQ why not the others?  Can't 
be that hard.


--
_

Len Krenzler - Creative Control Media Productions

Phone: 780.463.3126

www.creativecontrol.ca - l...@creativecontrol.ca

RE: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Matt Lind]

Anybody using Softimage in our building only use Nvidia GeForce.  We have many 
models and found some better than others.  The 200 series is very stable, the 
400 series should be avoided at all costs, the 500 series is a mixed bag (560 
good, 580 tempermental).  We just got a few computers with the 670 and breaking 
them in as we speak.  I'm the only person in the company using a Quadro as I 
have to determine if bugs experienced in production are due to hardware or 
software before filing a bug report.

On the few occasions we experience problems, it's usually an OpenGL crash to 
blue screen or overheating - both are driver issues.  We also discovered mixing 
and matching consumer and professional components in the same box is a bad 
idea.  Either buy a consumer level computer with a consumer level graphics 
card, or buy a professional workstation with a professional graphics card.  
When you mix and match you run into driver related issues as the consumer lines 
like GeForce don't go through the same level of QA and certification as the 
Quadro line - GeForces seem to be tested on a much narrower band of hardware 
configurations.  Although Nvidia releases driver updates more frequently for 
the GeForce product line, you'll be waiting much longer for patches to fix 
things in Softimage than with the Quadro line.  About 6 months in my 
unscientific observations.

As much as people complain here about Quadros being crappy, crash prone, and 
over priced, I will say I have significantly fewer problems than my colleagues 
here at the studio.


Matt



From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Meng-Yang Lu
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:37 AM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of building a 
system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.

Thanks,

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind 
mailto:ml...@carbinestudios.com>> wrote:
We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the computers 
we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we try to make 
them work, they just don't.  Crashes, glitches, overheating, etc...   We always 
have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get stability.

Framerate isn't everything, stability often matters more.

Matt





From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com]
 On Behalf Of Mirko Jankovic
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing gtx580 
with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport and no 
problems at all as well :)
It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to push 
overpriced quadros.
But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side (usually  
huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.

Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Meng-Yang Lu]

So glad I asked.  Hahaha.  I knew your thorough personality yields the best
answers.  Thanks much!

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM, Matt Lind wrote:

> Anybody using Softimage in our building only use Nvidia GeForce.  We have
> many models and found some better than others.  The 200 series is very
> stable, the 400 series should be avoided at all costs, the 500 series is a
> mixed bag (560 good, 580 tempermental).  We just got a few computers with
> the 670 and breaking them in as we speak.  I’m the only person in the
> company using a Quadro as I have to determine if bugs experienced in
> production are due to hardware or software before filing a bug report.
>
> ** **
>
> On the few occasions we experience problems, it’s usually an OpenGL crash
> to blue screen or overheating – both are driver issues.  We also discovered
> mixing and matching consumer and professional components in the same box is
> a bad idea.  Either buy a consumer level computer with a consumer level
> graphics card, or buy a professional workstation with a professional
> graphics card.  When you mix and match you run into driver related issues
> as the consumer lines like GeForce don’t go through the same level of QA
> and certification as the Quadro line – GeForces seem to be tested on a much
> narrower band of hardware configurations.  Although Nvidia releases driver
> updates more frequently for the GeForce product line, you’ll be waiting
> much longer for patches to fix things in Softimage than with the Quadro
> line.  About 6 months in my unscientific observations.
>
> ** **
>
> As much as people complain here about Quadros being crappy, crash prone,
> and over priced, I will say I have significantly fewer problems than my
> colleagues here at the studio.
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Matt
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:
> softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] *On Behalf Of *Meng-Yang Lu
> *Sent:* Monday, August 20, 2012 11:37 AM
>
> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> *Subject:* Re: Graphic card for a workstation again
>
> ** **
>
> Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of
> building a system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.  *
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks,
>
> ** **
>
> -Lu
>
> ** **
>
> On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind 
> wrote:
>
> We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the
> computers we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we
> try to make them work, they just don’t.  Crashes, glitches, overheating,
> etc…   We always have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get
> stability.
>
>  
>
> Framerate isn’t everything, stability often matters more.
>
>  
>
> Matt
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
> *From:* softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:
> softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] *On Behalf Of *Mirko Jankovic
> *Sent:* Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM
>
>
> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> *Subject:* Re: Graphic card for a workstation again
>
>  
>
> Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing
> gtx580 with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport
> and no problems at all as well :)
>
> It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to
> push overpriced quadros. 
>
> But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side
> (usually  huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.
>
> ** **
>

RE: Small Annoying Things

[Matt Lind]

I forgot one very important annoying thing:

51) ICE Trees should show up in a PPG just like other operators when using ALT 
+ Enter to inspect object(s).

Since an ICE Tree can have arbitrary composition of nodes, I would clarify this 
as displaying the top level node of an ICE Tree if it's an ICE Compound with 
custom UI.

The main purpose of being able to make an ICE compound is to encapsulate your 
work in an easy to manage package.  If that package has a UI for the user to 
interact with (sliders, checkboxes, ...), it's important for it to be just as 
easily accessible as the PPG to other operators when inspecting via ALT + 
Enter.  A custom ICE modeling tool should not require a user to dig 10 levels 
deep into an ICE tree or scene explorer to access a parameter to tweak.

Matt






From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Eugen Sares
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 12:52 AM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Small Annoying Things

Impressive!

Generally, for my part, I would love to see SI first and foremost evolve in 
this directions:
- extensibility
- customizability
- consolidation (general bugfixing, SDK fixes/cleanups, UI fixes/cleanups)


Am 18.08.2012 05:05, schrieb Matt Lind:
Here's my short list, some dating back to v1.x:



1) Inspecting a mixer source or mixer clip via the RMB context menu displays a 
collapsed PPG that must be manually resized via dragging the mouse to see it's 
contents.

2) Transfer / Merge Attributes editor found in the Poly.Mesh merge tool, GATOR, 
and a host of other tools only shows top two rows in the upper pane of the 
dialog and is NOT resizeable.

3) Transfer / Merge Attributes editor defaults to pairing up cluster properties 
(UVs, vertex color, user normals) by chronological order of creation instead of 
by name.

4) Updating a mixer source does not update mixer clips pointing to it from the 
mixer timeline.

5) No easily accessible UI for looking at image sources/clips on a mixer 
timeline.  Must navigate to the image clip folder in the scene explorer and 
know to select the image clip(s) to see anything at all.  Images should be an 
available option from the mixer.

6) No SDK access to Spreadsheet view.

7) No  option for scaling objects on axes other than local (such as global, 
object, or COG)

8) Cannot adjust explorer view filter to only show custom properties or other 
property type data without showing the rest of the object's structure.

9) Deleting selected object from the scene when in an explorer set to 
"selection" scope causes scene explorer to go blank even when it's locked (auto 
refresh deactivated).  Really?  Can't it just maintain the current view?

10) Texture Editor relax tool doesn't relax.

11) No place to hide custom userdata that isn't in plain view of the user.  
Would be very useful for custom tools.

12) No paint UI or ability in SDK to create a useful 3D paint system.

13) Performance very bad with many objects in scene regardless of object 
complexity.

14) No ability to auto update self installing custom properties in a scene 
after code changes.

15) No falloff icon/manipulator for point lights

16) No ability to send events/callbacks to netview for custom tools to respond 
(example: on selection change, would like a netview based tool to respond)

17) No ability to preserve work on NURBS Surface when converting to polygon 
meshother than trivial geometry.

18) Realtime shader system overhauls that shows vertical improvement instead of 
lateral.

19) Lack of UI customization throughout.  Makes custom tool development more 
difficult than it should be.

20)  Ability to substitute operators/operator inputs in the construction 
history outside of text and curves.

21) Ability to read/write the construction history from the SDK other than a 
trivial XML dump.  What's needed is low level access to operator inputs/outputs 
so the operators can be recreated exactly using custom importers/exporters.   
Example:  the 'movecomponent' operator does not expose any parameters.  
Therefore a custom tool which needs to build an object from a file description 
cannot recreate the movecomponent operator on the generated object's stack.

22) ASCII file format for all presets, scene files, models, and other 
externally referenced data specific to the application.

23) A finished NURBS modeling toolset.

24) Ability to read / write NURBS data in parameterizations other than 
Non-Uniform.

25) Ability to get access to a reference model's Delta via the scripting object 
model.

26) Ability to write to a PointCloud from scripting.  Example: apply color 
values to the points in the point cloud.

27) Ability to duplicate an object contained in a referenced model.  That is, 
the resulting duplicate should be local to the scene and have no affiliation 
with the referenced model from which it was derived.

28) Ability to define presets / default values for commonly used

Re: undo event??!!

[Luc-Eric Rousseau]

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 2:12 PM, Ana Gomez  wrote:
> Yes, you both are right.
> I think I got a shock when I've found out that this event doesn't exist. And
> I've entered in an infinite loop of how this is possible XD

I'm not surprised there isn't one, because the whole XSI ui is written
without needing an Undo event or a Command event.  Only the Edit->Undo
menu has a special handshake deal with the undo manager so it can
update its menu text.

the way we program things internally is that we listen for value
changes, delete object and new objects
(siObjectAdded,siObjectRemoved,siValueChange).  Whether that occurs
because a command was fired, undo was executed, a script run, or a
slider modified, it doesn't matter, it happens just the same.

the difference between the SDK event API and the internal API, is that
internally we can listen to a "branch" of the scene graph. The event
registration is per instance instead of global so we don't get called
for stuff that isn't of interest.  For example, the Object Viewer or
the property page will only listen to modification for the object that
it's showing and its children.  The opengl viewport, however, listens
for everything from the scene root down. Luckily it doesn't need to
figure out the detail of what's change, its job is just to ask
everything to redraw so it doesn't need to do any complex processing.

RE: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Marc-Andre Carbonneau]

We have the 560Ti and it works fine with Softimage.

From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Meng-Yang Lu
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 2:56 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

So glad I asked.  Hahaha.  I knew your thorough personality yields the best 
answers.  Thanks much!

-Lu
On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM, Matt Lind 
mailto:ml...@carbinestudios.com>> wrote:
Anybody using Softimage in our building only use Nvidia GeForce.  We have many 
models and found some better than others.  The 200 series is very stable, the 
400 series should be avoided at all costs, the 500 series is a mixed bag (560 
good, 580 tempermental).  We just got a few computers with the 670 and breaking 
them in as we speak.  I'm the only person in the company using a Quadro as I 
have to determine if bugs experienced in production are due to hardware or 
software before filing a bug report.

On the few occasions we experience problems, it's usually an OpenGL crash to 
blue screen or overheating - both are driver issues.  We also discovered mixing 
and matching consumer and professional components in the same box is a bad 
idea.  Either buy a consumer level computer with a consumer level graphics 
card, or buy a professional workstation with a professional graphics card.  
When you mix and match you run into driver related issues as the consumer lines 
like GeForce don't go through the same level of QA and certification as the 
Quadro line - GeForces seem to be tested on a much narrower band of hardware 
configurations.  Although Nvidia releases driver updates more frequently for 
the GeForce product line, you'll be waiting much longer for patches to fix 
things in Softimage than with the Quadro line.  About 6 months in my 
unscientific observations.

As much as people complain here about Quadros being crappy, crash prone, and 
over priced, I will say I have significantly fewer problems than my colleagues 
here at the studio.


Matt



From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com]
 On Behalf Of Meng-Yang Lu
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:37 AM

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of building a 
system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.

Thanks,

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind 
mailto:ml...@carbinestudios.com>> wrote:
We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the computers 
we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we try to make 
them work, they just don't.  Crashes, glitches, overheating, etc...   We always 
have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get stability.

Framerate isn't everything, stability often matters more.

Matt





From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com]
 On Behalf Of Mirko Jankovic
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing gtx580 
with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport and no 
problems at all as well :)
It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to push 
overpriced quadros.
But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side (usually  
huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.

Re: Small Annoying Things

[Stefan Kubicek]

In that case it would be cool if the Right-Click Explorer menu would allow for 
muting the Operator/Compound
if it has a "Mute" Parameter.


I forgot one very important annoying thing:

51) ICE Trees should show up in a PPG just like other operators when using ALT 
+ Enter to inspect object(s).

Since an ICE Tree can have arbitrary composition of nodes, I would clarify this 
as displaying the top level node of an ICE Tree if it's an ICE Compound with 
custom UI.

The main purpose of being able to make an ICE compound is to encapsulate your 
work in an easy to manage package.  If that package has a UI for the user to 
interact with (sliders, checkboxes, ...), it's important for it to be just as 
easily accessible as the PPG to other operators when inspecting via ALT + 
Enter.  A custom ICE modeling tool should not require a user to dig 10 levels 
deep into an ICE tree or scene explorer to access a parameter to tweak.

Matt






From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Eugen Sares
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 12:52 AM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Small Annoying Things

Impressive!

Generally, for my part, I would love to see SI first and foremost evolve in 
this directions:
- extensibility
- customizability
- consolidation (general bugfixing, SDK fixes/cleanups, UI fixes/cleanups)


Am 18.08.2012 05:05, schrieb Matt Lind:
Here's my short list, some dating back to v1.x:



1) Inspecting a mixer source or mixer clip via the RMB context menu displays a 
collapsed PPG that must be manually resized via dragging the mouse to see it's 
contents.

2) Transfer / Merge Attributes editor found in the Poly.Mesh merge tool, GATOR, 
and a host of other tools only shows top two rows in the upper pane of the 
dialog and is NOT resizeable.

3) Transfer / Merge Attributes editor defaults to pairing up cluster properties 
(UVs, vertex color, user normals) by chronological order of creation instead of 
by name.

4) Updating a mixer source does not update mixer clips pointing to it from the 
mixer timeline.

5) No easily accessible UI for looking at image sources/clips on a mixer 
timeline.  Must navigate to the image clip folder in the scene explorer and 
know to select the image clip(s) to see anything at all.  Images should be an 
available option from the mixer.

6) No SDK access to Spreadsheet view.

7) No  option for scaling objects on axes other than local (such as global, 
object, or COG)

8) Cannot adjust explorer view filter to only show custom properties or other 
property type data without showing the rest of the object's structure.

9) Deleting selected object from the scene when in an explorer set to 
"selection" scope causes scene explorer to go blank even when it's locked (auto 
refresh deactivated).  Really?  Can't it just maintain the current view?

10) Texture Editor relax tool doesn't relax.

11) No place to hide custom userdata that isn't in plain view of the user.  
Would be very useful for custom tools.

12) No paint UI or ability in SDK to create a useful 3D paint system.

13) Performance very bad with many objects in scene regardless of object 
complexity.

14) No ability to auto update self installing custom properties in a scene 
after code changes.

15) No falloff icon/manipulator for point lights

16) No ability to send events/callbacks to netview for custom tools to respond 
(example: on selection change, would like a netview based tool to respond)

17) No ability to preserve work on NURBS Surface when converting to polygon 
meshother than trivial geometry.

18) Realtime shader system overhauls that shows vertical improvement instead of 
lateral.

19) Lack of UI customization throughout.  Makes custom tool development more 
difficult than it should be.

20)  Ability to substitute operators/operator inputs in the construction 
history outside of text and curves.

21) Ability to read/write the construction history from the SDK other than a 
trivial XML dump.  What's needed is low level access to operator inputs/outputs 
so the operators can be recreated exactly using custom importers/exporters.   
Example:  the 'movecomponent' operator does not expose any parameters.  
Therefore a custom tool which needs to build an object from a file description 
cannot recreate the movecomponent operator on the generated object's stack.

22) ASCII file format for all presets, scene files, models, and other 
externally referenced data specific to the application.

23) A finished NURBS modeling toolset.

24) Ability to read / write NURBS data in parameterizations other than 
Non-Uniform.

25) Ability to get access to a reference model's Delta via the scripting object 
model.

26) Ability to write to a PointCloud from scripting.  Example: apply color 
values to the points in the point cloud.

27) Ability to duplicate an object contained in a referenced model.  That is, 
the resulting duplicate should be local to the scene a

[no subject]

[Sam Cuttriss]

ppg logic:
ive got an odd problem with ppg logic.
im dynamically building a ppg that includes buttons to load presets onto
itself.
for basic absolute references it works great.
but i need the reference to the PPG to be relative, "PPG" ought to point to
itself?

#triple quoted function
oLoadPset = '''def [Button]_OnClicked():
try:
 Application.LoadPreset(r[PresetObj],[InputObj] )
Application.LogMessage("[Button]"+" pressed")

Application.SetValue(PPG.Name, "Proportions", "")
except:
 Application.LogMessage("[Button]"+" failed")
'''

# replacing all scene references with resolved names etc.
oLogic = oLogic+oLoadPset.replace('[Button]',oButtonName)


for some reason i cant refer to PPG directly as the [InputObj] for my
LoadPreset call.
i guess there is some subtlety to the PPG context im misunderstanding.
_sam

Re: Replace a geometry on an existing SI object via CMeshBuilder

[Steven Caron]

i have never tried to do such a thing but i think you have the right idea,
at least thats what i gather from reading the CMeshBuilder class
documentation. i would be weary of the clusters on the new mesh... maybe
purge clusters before rebuilding?

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 8:52 AM, Kamen Lilov wrote:

> I am trying to completely replace the geometry on an existing Softimage
> X3DObject node - and do it quickly. This is not at render time but in an
> interactive session. CMeshBuilder seems the best way to construct a
> (relatively) large mesh's geometry from an internal, incompatible
> representation.
>
> I am also trying to preserve everything else on the SI object - operator
> stack, the render trees on the individual clusters, etc etc. I would rather
> not try to serialize everything beside the mesh and then re-create the
> entire node.
>
> Has anyone succeeded in replacing an object's mesh using CMeshBuilder
> while keeping everything else intact? Any pitfalls?
>
> K.
>
>

Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Len Krenzler]

NO.

On 8/18/2012 12:44 PM, David Gallagher wrote:


Mobile is so overrated. Does anyone actually get anything done on a 
mobile device?






--
_

Len Krenzler - Creative Control Media Productions

Phone: 780.463.3126

www.creativecontrol.ca - l...@creativecontrol.ca

RE:

[Stephen Blair]

PPG represents the property page.
I think you want PPG.Inspected.

From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Sam Cuttriss
Sent: August-20-12 3:29 PM
To: softimage
Subject:

ppg logic:
ive got an odd problem with ppg logic.
im dynamically building a ppg that includes buttons to load presets onto itself.
for basic absolute references it works great.
but i need the reference to the PPG to be relative, "PPG" ought to point to 
itself?

#triple quoted function
oLoadPset = '''def [Button]_OnClicked():
try:
Application.LoadPreset(r[PresetObj],[InputObj] )
Application.LogMessage("[Button]"+" pressed")

Application.SetValue(PPG.Name, "Proportions", "")
except:
Application.LogMessage("[Button]"+" failed")
'''

# replacing all scene references with resolved names etc.
oLogic = oLogic+oLoadPset.replace('[Button]',oButtonName)


for some reason i cant refer to PPG directly as the [InputObj] for my 
LoadPreset call.
i guess there is some subtlety to the PPG context im misunderstanding.
_sam


<>

Re: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Len Krenzler]

I liked Vista a lot too.  If you disable some of the very stupid web 
oriented crap it outperforms Win7 by a good margin.  I have 2 identical 
machines, 1 on Win7 and one on Vista and main programs such as SI, PS, 
Avid MC all open in half the time and run better overall and Aero works 
smoother.


And the best thing is I can still hide the taskbar in Vista.  On Win7 
it's like a F*ing virus that you can't get rid of.


Long live Vista.  It was a real WS OS before the toys took over.


On 8/18/2012 3:42 PM, Sam Bowling wrote:
You realize that there are still a ton of people that are still 
running windows XP, right? You also seem to be forgetting Vista (which 
I actually liked, but most other people didn’t).




--
_

Len Krenzler - Creative Control Media Productions

Phone: 780.463.3126

www.creativecontrol.ca - l...@creativecontrol.ca

Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Leoung O'Young]

Hi Marc,

Thanks, I think that is what I will go with, off hand would you know 
what brand it is, Asus, Msi, PNY, EVGA, Galaxy etc?


Leoung

On 8/20/2012 3:17 PM, Marc-Andre Carbonneau wrote:


We have the 560Ti and it works fine with Softimage.

*From:*softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] *On Behalf Of 
*Meng-Yang Lu

*Sent:* Monday, August 20, 2012 2:56 PM
*To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
*Subject:* Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

So glad I asked.  Hahaha.  I knew your thorough personality yields the 
best answers.  Thanks much!


-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM, Matt Lind > wrote:


Anybody using Softimage in our building only use Nvidia GeForce.  We 
have many models and found some better than others.  The 200 series is 
very stable, the 400 series should be avoided at all costs, the 500 
series is a mixed bag (560 good, 580 tempermental).  We just got a few 
computers with the 670 and breaking them in as we speak.  I'm the only 
person in the company using a Quadro as I have to determine if bugs 
experienced in production are due to hardware or software before 
filing a bug report.


On the few occasions we experience problems, it's usually an OpenGL 
crash to blue screen or overheating -- both are driver issues.  We 
also discovered mixing and matching consumer and professional 
components in the same box is a bad idea.  Either buy a consumer level 
computer with a consumer level graphics card, or buy a professional 
workstation with a professional graphics card.  When you mix and match 
you run into driver related issues as the consumer lines like GeForce 
don't go through the same level of QA and certification as the Quadro 
line -- GeForces seem to be tested on a much narrower band of hardware 
configurations.  Although Nvidia releases driver updates more 
frequently for the GeForce product line, you'll be waiting much longer 
for patches to fix things in Softimage than with the Quadro line.  
About 6 months in my unscientific observations.


As much as people complain here about Quadros being crappy, crash 
prone, and over priced, I will say I have significantly fewer problems 
than my colleagues here at the studio.


Matt

*From:*softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
] *On Behalf Of 
*Meng-Yang Lu

*Sent:* Monday, August 20, 2012 11:37 AM


*To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com 


*Subject:* Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of 
building a system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.


Thanks,

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind > wrote:


We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the 
computers we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much 
we try to make them work, they just don't. Crashes, glitches, 
overheating, etc... We always have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce 
cards to get stability.


Framerate isn't everything, stability often matters more.

Matt

*From:*softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
] *On Behalf Of *Mirko 
Jankovic

*Sent:* Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM


*To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com 


*Subject:* Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after 
replacing gtx580 with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates 
in viewport and no problems at all as well :)


It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to 
push overpriced quadros.


But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side 
(usually  huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.

Re:

[Alok]

I am not sure if this will apply to your case but usually when I have to 
build dynamic stuff I try to stay away from the PPG Logic assignment on 
the fly.


A great way to store data in the PPG is by using the grid widget, you 
just do not add it to the PPG Layout so it is hidden from the user. You 
can store almost any kind of data in it. And as it is a spreadsheet you 
still have all the advantages of keeping your data in an absolute 
relational format. Sometimes you need to serialize some times you don't. 
For example it I want to query some scene object, I will just store 
their names in grid and later I can create the com object back in a 
button callback by simply doing Application.Dictionary.GetObject(  < 
full name of the object stored in the grid >  ).


When there is a need to dynamically create buttons or other controls, I 
try to figure some way to get over that and eliminate the need of 
dynamic buttons altogether and instead add what ever I need in an 
enumcontrol as controlCombo and just add one default button (already 
defined in _DefineLayout callback) to do something with the currently 
selected item in the enumcontrol.


Alok.
On 20/08/2012 3:28 PM, Sam Cuttriss wrote:

ppg logic:
ive got an odd problem with ppg logic.
im dynamically building a ppg that includes buttons to load presets 
onto itself.

for basic absolute references it works great.
but i need the reference to the PPG to be relative, "PPG" ought to 
point to itself?


#triple quoted function
oLoadPset = '''def [Button]_OnClicked():
try:
Application.LoadPreset(r[PresetObj],[InputObj] )
Application.LogMessage("[Button]"+" pressed")

Application.SetValue(PPG.Name, "Proportions", "")
except:
Application.LogMessage("[Button]"+" failed")
'''

# replacing all scene references with resolved names etc.
oLogic = oLogic+oLoadPset.replace('[Button]',oButtonName)


for some reason i cant refer to PPG directly as the [InputObj] for my 
LoadPreset call.

i guess there is some subtlety to the PPG context im misunderstanding.
_sam


No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5211 - Release Date: 08/20/12

Re: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Gene Crucean]

What? hehe. Is that whole $0.99 gonna break the bank for ya? Don't you
think all those hard working developers deserve a little money for
what they do for YOU?

Regarding everything costing money: That's a complete load of crap
btw. There are TONSSS of free and open source apps/tools available for
OSX. There are even full blown package managers like yum/apt-get for
osx... just like linux.

I respect your opinion... but to me, it just says a lot about how
little you know about the platform. It's HOT right now for development
and there are zillions of apps made for it every day. Well maybe not
"zillions" but there are a lot. ;)




On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 2:48 PM, Sam Bowling  wrote:
> One of the big surprises when I started working at this company that uses a
> lot of macs was the complete lack of free utilities available on a mac. You
> can get almost any kind of converter/utility for windows for free, but
> EVERYTHING on a mac will cost you money and most of them don’t even have
> demo versions so you can see if it even work. Hopefully they will continue
> to allow people to downgrade to earlier versions of windows, but with the
> way they are pushing their cell phone OS they probably won’t allow it on
> this version.
>
>
>
> From: Martin yara
> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 11:53 PM
> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
> Subject: Re: Windows 8 - anyone?
>
> We gained stability directx and some other things with winXP so it was a
> good change from win98 and 2000. It felt like a 98 and 2000 mixed and with
> the SPs blue screens were pretty rare.
> XP 64 and Vista never felt like a finished product so Win7 64 was a huge
> change for designers. 2 or 3Gb per application was just not enough.
> This time, I just don't see any reason to upgrade. Not yet at least. It
> seems that the upgrade price will be quite cheap so it may be worth to give
> it a try, specially if there is a no Metro GUI option.
>
> Linux and OSX are quite limited in software and plugins library so I don't
> think they are a valid option for a designer / generalist.
>
> M.Yara
>
> On 2012/08/19, at 8:22, Andreas Bystrom  wrote:
>
> "You realize that there are still a ton of people that are still running
> windows XP, right? You also seem to be forgetting Vista (which I actually
> liked, but most other people didn’t)."
>
> ofcourse, there are still people using win2k/nt even.
>
> also i did not forget vista, i ran it myself for years and was quite happy
> with it, win7 is better but overall vista wasn't that terrible either.
>
> also having used Linux for almost 2 years at work I've realized you can get
> used to and be quite happy with anything, its just a matter of using it long
> enough really, even though I still would never bother using linux at home..
>
> On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 9:42 AM, Sam Bowling  wrote:
>>
>> You realize that there are still a ton of people that are still running
>> windows XP, right? You also seem to be forgetting Vista (which I actually
>> liked, but most other people didn’t).
>>
>> From: Andreas Bystrom
>> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 1:05 AM
>> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
>> Subject: Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?
>>
>> ". So... I've installed Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far I'm
>> really impressed with the speed and the response from the system. Softimage
>> works a lot smoother on Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3."
>>
>> hmm, it's not april did hell just freeze over? actually the day alan
>> jones writes something like that will be the day hell truly freezes over..
>>
>> on a serious note, for every single windows release that's about to come
>> out since win2k I've heard the same exact thing "this will be terrible, I'm
>> staying with win  forever" yet those same people somehow upgraded
>> throughout the years and found themselves quite happy...
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Stefan Andersson 
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> It's not any better in the Linux Camp. Everyone is moving towards tablet
>>> use. But what boggles me is that... how can the developers themselves stand
>>> it?
>>>
>>> On a side note.
>>>
>>> I've been using Linux for a long time now, but got fed up with crappy
>>> wacom drivers and the crippled paint applications. So... I've installed
>>> Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far I'm really impressed with the
>>> speed and the response from the system. Softimage works a lot smoother on
>>> Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3.
>>>
>>> Anyhow, going to take a shower now since I feel quite dirty.
>>>
>>> And I think Windows 8 will be as Vista, a "side-note". They are already
>>> talking about Windows9.
>>>
>>> regards
>>> stefan
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 8:01 PM, Sylvain Lebeau  wrote:

 this makes me think about Apple rumour to let go the dev on the mac
 pros...

 Seem's everybody is going nuts on the mobile thing. And all professional
 market get's ignored!!

 i wont be able to do Arnold render regions on my f-ing iphone

RE: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Marc-Andre Carbonneau]

Hmmm is there a way without opening the box? Can't seem to see it appear 
anywhere in the NVidia properties

From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Leoung O'Young
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 3:57 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Hi Marc,

Thanks, I think that is what I will go with, off hand would you know what brand 
it is, Asus, Msi, PNY, EVGA, Galaxy etc?

Leoung

On 8/20/2012 3:17 PM, Marc-Andre Carbonneau wrote:
We have the 560Ti and it works fine with Softimage.

From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 [mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Meng-Yang Lu
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 2:56 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

So glad I asked.  Hahaha.  I knew your thorough personality yields the best 
answers.  Thanks much!

-Lu
On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM, Matt Lind 
mailto:ml...@carbinestudios.com>> wrote:
Anybody using Softimage in our building only use Nvidia GeForce.  We have many 
models and found some better than others.  The 200 series is very stable, the 
400 series should be avoided at all costs, the 500 series is a mixed bag (560 
good, 580 tempermental).  We just got a few computers with the 670 and breaking 
them in as we speak.  I'm the only person in the company using a Quadro as I 
have to determine if bugs experienced in production are due to hardware or 
software before filing a bug report.

On the few occasions we experience problems, it's usually an OpenGL crash to 
blue screen or overheating - both are driver issues.  We also discovered mixing 
and matching consumer and professional components in the same box is a bad 
idea.  Either buy a consumer level computer with a consumer level graphics 
card, or buy a professional workstation with a professional graphics card.  
When you mix and match you run into driver related issues as the consumer lines 
like GeForce don't go through the same level of QA and certification as the 
Quadro line - GeForces seem to be tested on a much narrower band of hardware 
configurations.  Although Nvidia releases driver updates more frequently for 
the GeForce product line, you'll be waiting much longer for patches to fix 
things in Softimage than with the Quadro line.  About 6 months in my 
unscientific observations.

As much as people complain here about Quadros being crappy, crash prone, and 
over priced, I will say I have significantly fewer problems than my colleagues 
here at the studio.


Matt



From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com]
 On Behalf Of Meng-Yang Lu
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:37 AM

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of building a 
system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.

Thanks,

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind 
mailto:ml...@carbinestudios.com>> wrote:
We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the computers 
we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we try to make 
them work, they just don't.  Crashes, glitches, overheating, etc...   We always 
have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get stability.

Framerate isn't everything, stability often matters more.

Matt





From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com]
 On Behalf Of Mirko Jankovic
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing gtx580 
with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport and no 
problems at all as well :)
It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to push 
overpriced quadros.
But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side (usually  
huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.

Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Len Krenzler]

So...does that mean some of that tech (something similar to PantaRay for 
example) will find it's way into SI soon, therefore the reason to buy 
Nvidia? :-)


On 8/17/2012 10:51 PM, Chris Chia wrote:

Nah Ben, that's not the reason! ;)
I think Nvidia research has spent a lot of effort in understanding what the 
production studios really need... Take a look at this interesting article:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/wetadigital_avatar.html

Chris

On 18 Aug, 2012, at 12:11 PM, "Ben Houston"  wrote:


Chris Chia and I think a few others in the Singapore Softimage team
are ex-NVIDIA guys. ;-)
-ben

On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 12:06 AM, Mirko Jankovic
 wrote:

Any reason for that kind of personal preference, when all tests shows that
nvidia is staying in the dust behind ati?

btw talking about gaming cards here, not overpriced quadros :) If someone
else was buying and not interested in budget then fine but when waging
performance / price wise
as mentioned before in some tests back right on this list hd7970 got better
results than quadro 5000 which is couple times more expensive :)

nvidia gtx cards can;t even compete heheeh



--
Best regards,
Ben Houston
Voice: 613-762-4113 Skype: ben.exocortex Twitter: @exocortexcom
http://Exocortex.com - Passionate CG Software Professionals.



--
_

Len Krenzler - Creative Control Media Productions

Phone: 780.463.3126

www.creativecontrol.ca - l...@creativecontrol.ca

Orienting a bounding box to smallest fit at an angle?

[Alan Fregtman]

Hey guys,

Is there a better way to figure out the smallest bounding box than rotating
the geometry and testing the bounding box again?

Has anyone ever tried to generate an oriented/aligned bounding box from
frozen geo that's at an arbitrary angle?

I guess another potential way is to sample three axes of circles of XX
raycasts and sorting by the ray hit lengths. Longest of each circle would
presumably give a kind of angle estimation as to how to orient the bounding
box.

Cheers,

   -- Alan

RE: Orienting a bounding box to smallest fit at an angle?

[Matt Lind]

Look up the subject of 'eigen vector'.

Matt



From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Alan Fregtman
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 1:47 PM
To: XSI Mailing List
Subject: Orienting a bounding box to smallest fit at an angle?

Hey guys,

Is there a better way to figure out the smallest bounding box than rotating the 
geometry and testing the bounding box again?

Has anyone ever tried to generate an oriented/aligned bounding box from frozen 
geo that's at an arbitrary angle?

I guess another potential way is to sample three axes of circles of XX raycasts 
and sorting by the ray hit lengths. Longest of each circle would presumably 
give a kind of angle estimation as to how to orient the bounding box.

Cheers,

   -- Alan

Re:

[Sam Cuttriss]

thanks for the info guys.
ill keep tinkering.

im pretty sure i tried PPG.Inspected[0]  (as its a collection of
potentially multiedited ppg's)
without any luck.
i think the main problem is the lack of error messages, im probably one
very small typo away from getting this correct.

grid data sounds like an interesting approach.
i could even present the grid data in an "expert" panel of the ppg?
that would expose some nice tweak options after the initial generation.

ill keep fighting and see what happens
thanks
_sam

RE: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Sven Constable]

Yes, stability matters. I don't care that much about performance also. Even
I would like to see ATI as an alternative in professional graphics
especially with softimage! I'm not an Nvidia fanboy at all. I bought an
ATI-FireGL  card two years ago because it was officially certified for
Softimage.  Just to realize it was not.

Even softimage developers admitted (afterwards) this card did not work well
with it. These flaws with ATI and proffesional graphics goes  a long way.
ATI cards were problematic with softimage for about what, 10 years?  And I
personally would go so far to call it a no go for any professional DCC
application.

 

my 2 cents.

 

From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Matt Lind
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 20:23
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: RE: Graphic card for a workstation again

 

We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the
computers we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we
try to make them work, they just don't.  Crashes, glitches, overheating,
etc.   We always have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get
stability.

 

Framerate isn't everything, stability often matters more.

 

Matt

 

 

 

 

 

From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Mirko Jankovic
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

 

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing
gtx580 with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport and
no problems at all as well :)

It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to push
overpriced quadros. 

But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side (usually
huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.

Hair using instances of group with multiple objects....misalign

[john clausing]

hello all,

i'm using hair, and using instances of a group with several objects in this 
group

occasionally, the objects miss -align from each other when instanced.

never run into this before.any ideas?

thank you,

john

Re: bbc olympics titles

[Jeremie Passerin]

I'm a little late on this one. I just saw it today.
Really impressive work, congrats guys !

Any word on the muscles ? Is it ICE ?

cheers,
Jeremie


On 6 July 2012 03:42, Sajjad Amjad  wrote:

> As far as I know, the jiggle on the pants is deliberate, under the arms
> not so much :-)
>
> I think the point being made is that MD allowed us to do cloth sims to a
> much higher quality given the time constraints. For the sake of comparison,
> we have a lot of experience with Syflex, and it still has limited purposes
> (for us). However, Syflex wouldn't have allowed us to do even half the
> stuff we managed with MD. As Jamie said, MD isn't perfect, but it's leaps
> and bounds ahead of Syflex. I mean, it's not often that you actually enjoy
> doing cloth sims :-)
>
>
>
>
> On 6 July 2012 10:49, Vladimir Jankijevic wrote:
>
>> that's cool to hear. But when I watched it the first time I especially
>> noticed some jiggling on the cloth. Like in the shot on second 27 under her
>> arms and on second 39, his pants are jiggling. But this is surely accented
>> by the jiggle of his arms and the shadow on the pants from them.
>>
>> nonetheless a really stunning piece of work!
>> congrats
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 11:32 AM, Jamie Franks wrote:
>>
>>>  Hey guys,
>>>
>>>
>>> I thought I’d share some info regarding Marvelous as it seams to be
>>> generating a fair bit of interest over here and it completely deserves some
>>> of the positive comments it’s getting.
>>>
>>>
>>>   I understand why it can be seen as a bit on the expensive side. But
>>> when you consider the amount of time it can save in a production and the
>>> quality of the simulation, I think its well worth the price. That said, I
>>> do feel there is still a good amount of development needed for it to slot
>>> nicely into everyone’s workflows and is still lacking a few fundamental
>>> features which they have promised to implement. It has many pros, but it
>>> does also come with cons which you will need to workaround.
>>>
>>>
>>>  The accuracy of the simulation was incredible and extremely fast. We
>>> were literally 80-90% of the way with the first pass of simulation and were
>>> left with very little tweaks and managed to avoid any secondary
>>> modifications in Softimage. Also, there was absolutely no mesh jittering in
>>> the sims, providing that the collision mesh was well prepared and there was
>>> enough space for the cloth to move between arms, legs and bodies. Sajjad
>>> developed a very useful ICE compound for fixing this and other self
>>> intersect geometry between arm pits and the groin area, some of the extreme
>>> poses would have been very difficult to simulate without this.
>>>
>>>
>>>  Approaching cloth simulation using the traditional method of pattern
>>> making meant that we could reference pattern templates of real sportswear
>>> and tailor them to fit the characters proportions perfectly. I'm pretty
>>> confident its this approach which helps give more realism to cloth
>>> simulation in general and deffinately made it easier to generate the
>>> creases and deformations that everyone was expecting.
>>>
>>>
>>>  We found that the whole process of modelling the clothes, developing a
>>> cloth setup and simulating a shot could be condensed into a single process
>>> which obviously saved a huge amount of time. Being able to simulate and
>>> interact with the garment as you model is a massive understated feature of
>>> Marvelous and it simply enabled us to achieve the director’s vision sooner
>>> and allowed us to tackle a larger volume of work, which gave more time to
>>> focus on raising the quality of the simulations.
>>>
>>>
>>> hope this helps answer some of the questions
>>>
>>>
>>> Jamie
>>>
>>> --
>>> Subject: RE: bbc olympics titles
>>> Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 08:44:44 +0200
>>> From: szabol...@crytek.com
>>> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Congratulations guys, I loved the style and the whole stuff!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I hope there will be some breakdown also. And, as a character artist,
>>> I’d like to see more characters as well! By the way, MD is quite pricey,
>>> isn’t it? As I tested it’s the best cloth stuff compared to anything I have
>>> ever seen, but the license fee was extreme then…
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Szabolcs
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto:
>>> softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] *On Behalf Of *Ciaran Moloney
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 04, 2012 4:18 PM
>>> *To:* softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
>>> *Subject:* Re: bbc olympics titles
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jul 3, 2012 at 10:37 PM, Steven Caron  wrote:
>>>
>>> is mario ucci still there? cause i think i see his hand in every
>>> character... and all of the characters are awesome! (not just modeling,
>>> animation, and shading too!)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> You're right. Good eye!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  As I recall there was a specific reason we used Arn

RE: Graphic card for a workstation again

[Matt Lind]

For working at home I use a Quadro as they're more stable and glitch free for 
GPU stuff.  You can get a good Quadro for cheap on Ebay.

If you insist on GeForce, I'd go with a 560, 295, or 260.

Matt





From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Meng-Yang Lu
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:56 AM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

So glad I asked.  Hahaha.  I knew your thorough personality yields the best 
answers.  Thanks much!

-Lu
On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:53 AM, Matt Lind 
mailto:ml...@carbinestudios.com>> wrote:
Anybody using Softimage in our building only use Nvidia GeForce.  We have many 
models and found some better than others.  The 200 series is very stable, the 
400 series should be avoided at all costs, the 500 series is a mixed bag (560 
good, 580 tempermental).  We just got a few computers with the 670 and breaking 
them in as we speak.  I'm the only person in the company using a Quadro as I 
have to determine if bugs experienced in production are due to hardware or 
software before filing a bug report.

On the few occasions we experience problems, it's usually an OpenGL crash to 
blue screen or overheating - both are driver issues.  We also discovered mixing 
and matching consumer and professional components in the same box is a bad 
idea.  Either buy a consumer level computer with a consumer level graphics 
card, or buy a professional workstation with a professional graphics card.  
When you mix and match you run into driver related issues as the consumer lines 
like GeForce don't go through the same level of QA and certification as the 
Quadro line - GeForces seem to be tested on a much narrower band of hardware 
configurations.  Although Nvidia releases driver updates more frequently for 
the GeForce product line, you'll be waiting much longer for patches to fix 
things in Softimage than with the Quadro line.  About 6 months in my 
unscientific observations.

As much as people complain here about Quadros being crappy, crash prone, and 
over priced, I will say I have significantly fewer problems than my colleagues 
here at the studio.


Matt



From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com]
 On Behalf Of Meng-Yang Lu
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 11:37 AM

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Can you say which cards you guys are using, Matt?  In the process of building a 
system to do some GPU stuff alongside some 3D tests at home.

Thanks,

-Lu

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM, Matt Lind 
mailto:ml...@carbinestudios.com>> wrote:
We are a games development studio making MMORPG games.  Most of the computers 
we buy come stocked with ATI Radeons, but no matter how much we try to make 
them work, they just don't.  Crashes, glitches, overheating, etc...   We always 
have to swap them out for Nvidia GeForce cards to get stability.

Framerate isn't everything, stability often matters more.

Matt





From: 
softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com
 
[mailto:softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com]
 On Behalf Of Mirko Jankovic
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:30 PM

To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Graphic card for a workstation again

Maybe it is so but it still doesn't change the fact that after replacing gtx580 
with radeon7970 I got HUGE improvement in frame rates in viewport and no 
problems at all as well :)
It seems that all new gtx cards after 280 are crippled in an effort to push 
overpriced quadros.
But ofc we need to make differences between big studios on one side (usually  
huge budgets :)) and small to mid studios and freelancers.

Deltas and shader editing on referenced models

[Nick Angus]

Hi Folks,

I am trying to get my head around reverting shaders after editing them in a 
shot (using referenced models), I would have thought disabling or deleting the 
changes in the delta would have done it, but no.
Has anyone had much experience with this, or am I walking in a minefield?

Cheers, Nick

Re: Windows 8 - anyone?

[Sam Bowling]

What $0.99 video format converters do you know of that will give you real 
professional quality results, because I couldn't find any. Also there are a 
ton of free programs for synchronizing your drives on windows and I couldn't 
find any for OSX that didn't cost money. BTW, I'm talking about Mac 
programs, not unix programs. The people I work with would be completely lost 
if they had to do anything in a terminal. They're mac users after all.


Oh, there was one free program that I found useful. I can't think of the 
name at the moment, but it allows me to search drives that have not been 
indexed yet, and use wildcards (2 things that should have been built into 
the OS IMO). I would love one that would stop the computer from asking me if 
I want to use an external drive for time machine every time I plug a drive 
in and also stop it from wanting to open every freaking window and program I 
had open every time I reboot the computer. But apparently Apple seems to 
think we want to open all the same programs and windows every time we 
restart the computer.


As far as how much I know about macs, I know that every time I've searched 
for a utility to help out with a job it either costs us money (and my boss 
does not like to part with money) or has to be done on a windows box.




-Original Message- 
From: Gene Crucean

Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 1:04 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Windows 8 - anyone?

What? hehe. Is that whole $0.99 gonna break the bank for ya? Don't you
think all those hard working developers deserve a little money for
what they do for YOU?

Regarding everything costing money: That's a complete load of crap
btw. There are TONSSS of free and open source apps/tools available for
OSX. There are even full blown package managers like yum/apt-get for
osx... just like linux.

I respect your opinion... but to me, it just says a lot about how
little you know about the platform. It's HOT right now for development
and there are zillions of apps made for it every day. Well maybe not
"zillions" but there are a lot. ;)




On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 2:48 PM, Sam Bowling  wrote:
One of the big surprises when I started working at this company that uses 
a
lot of macs was the complete lack of free utilities available on a mac. 
You

can get almost any kind of converter/utility for windows for free, but
EVERYTHING on a mac will cost you money and most of them don’t even have
demo versions so you can see if it even work. Hopefully they will continue
to allow people to downgrade to earlier versions of windows, but with the
way they are pushing their cell phone OS they probably won’t allow it on
this version.



From: Martin yara
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 11:53 PM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: Windows 8 - anyone?

We gained stability directx and some other things with winXP so it was a
good change from win98 and 2000. It felt like a 98 and 2000 mixed and with
the SPs blue screens were pretty rare.
XP 64 and Vista never felt like a finished product so Win7 64 was a huge
change for designers. 2 or 3Gb per application was just not enough.
This time, I just don't see any reason to upgrade. Not yet at least. It
seems that the upgrade price will be quite cheap so it may be worth to 
give

it a try, specially if there is a no Metro GUI option.

Linux and OSX are quite limited in software and plugins library so I don't
think they are a valid option for a designer / generalist.

M.Yara

On 2012/08/19, at 8:22, Andreas Bystrom  wrote:

"You realize that there are still a ton of people that are still running
windows XP, right? You also seem to be forgetting Vista (which I actually
liked, but most other people didn’t)."

ofcourse, there are still people using win2k/nt even.

also i did not forget vista, i ran it myself for years and was quite happy
with it, win7 is better but overall vista wasn't that terrible either.

also having used Linux for almost 2 years at work I've realized you can 
get
used to and be quite happy with anything, its just a matter of using it 
long
enough really, even though I still would never bother using linux at 
home..


On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 9:42 AM, Sam Bowling  wrote:


You realize that there are still a ton of people that are still running
windows XP, right? You also seem to be forgetting Vista (which I actually
liked, but most other people didn’t).

From: Andreas Bystrom
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 1:05 AM
To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com
Subject: Re: OT: Windows 8 - anyone?

". So... I've installed Windows7 on my workstation at home. And so far 
I'm
really impressed with the speed and the response from the system. 
Softimage

works a lot smoother on Windows7 than on CentOS 6.3."

hmm, it's not april did hell just freeze over? actually the day alan
jones writes something like that will be the day hell truly freezes 
over..


on a serious note, for every single windows release that's about to come
out since win2k I've heard 

Re: Deltas and shader editing on referenced models

[Orlando Esponda]

I think it should work if your remove the changes from the deltas, just
need to save and reopen the scene.

Orlando.

On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 12:16 AM, Nick Angus  wrote:

>  Hi Folks,
>
> ** **
>
> I am trying to get my head around reverting shaders after editing them in
> a shot (using referenced models), I would have thought disabling or
> deleting the changes in the delta would have done it, but no.
>
> Has anyone had much experience with this, or am I walking in a minefield?*
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> Cheers, Nick
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>

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Registration Number: HRB 26501, Chief Executive Officers: Frank Lenhard, 
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