Selection System....

[dmack]

Hi All,

Is there a way to alter the selection system in Lightwave Modeler so that you don't have to tap to drop a selection before starting another selection? Drives me nuts! I presonally prefer Modo's selection system - just wondering if I've missed a preference anywhere?

David

[evenflcw]

Modo's selection system

Which is? (Everybody doesn't know everything you know!)

In any case, there is no way provided by NT to change it and it's apparently not possible to alter selections from tools so there is no way for 3rd parties to provide an option either.

[dmack]

Sorry. In modo you select some points (or polies etc) just like LW but then, if you want to select some others instead, you just lasso another set of points and it replaces the first selection (ie the first bunch become deselected) - ie no need to tap off screen to deselect before selecting something else. You can always add to selection by shiftinh and remove by ctrl'ing, so complete control BUT never the need to tap away from screen (or do a keypress) that is cumbersome. It really really really speeds you up - amazing what a little thing lke that can do. Some might not like it so an option would be the way forward.

[Sensei]

Look at EasyMesh http://easymesh.trueart.pl
It joins 6+ different operations saving you time spend on dropping selection, tools and modes..

http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_1.gif
http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_2.gif
http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_3.gif
http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_4.gif
http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_5.gif
http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_6.gif
http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_7.gif
http://www.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/EasyMesh/Graphics/Movies/EasyMesh_8.gif

[evenflcw]

That's how selections work in Layout, so if NT will ever implement the modeler there it'll very likely end up working like that if selections in Layout are going to work consistently. Hopefully it'll be optional so everybody will be happy.

[Doctor49152]

I actually like the way LW does it instead of Modo, that way I don't lose my already selected points/polys. I do have my spacebar set to be the drop selection. Works great. My mouse has 2 side buttons that are programmable. So I have one set to switch to point mode and the other to poly mode. Mouse down as edge mode.

[Snosrap]

Looks cool Sensei, please apply for a job at Newtek.

Cheers
Snosrap

[Chris S. (Fez)]

Looks cool Sensei, please apply for a job at Newtek.

Cheers
Snosrap

Indeed. I assume they have made an offer by now...

[Sensei]

Hehe.. NewTek can't afford me.. I have > 1 M.. :)


Indeed. I assume they have made an offer by now...

No, they did not.

[Sensei]

Chris, hurry up with reg info.. We have here 2 a.m.. Your reg info from EasySpline and EasySplit is still valid? BTW, now you can upgrade to full TrueArt's Modeling Pack http://modelingpack.trueart.eu for 200 usd, instead of 300 usd.. :)

[Chris S. (Fez)]

Chris, hurry up with reg info.. We have here 2 a.m.. Your reg info from EasySpline and EasySplit is still valid? BTW, now you can upgrade to full TrueArt's Modeling Pack http://modelingpack.trueart.eu for 200 usd, instead of 300 usd.. :)

Away from my workstation so I have yet to install the new plug. But yes, that registration info is still valid. Looking forward to trying Easy Mesh. Modeler will immediately become much more useful to me as I have become so used to modeling with Max/Polyboost. Great work Sensei.

Again, I have not had an opportunity to try it yet but here is a feature request. I think holding down alt + RMB (or some other available combination) should contextually delete points, polygons and edges under the cursor in the same way that ctrl+RMB creates elements. I think the edges should be deleted but NOT the polygons.

[Sensei]

But yes, that registration info is still valid.

Okay. Then I will use it.


Looking forward to trying Easy Mesh. Modeler will immediately become much more useful to me as I have become so used to modeling with Max/Polyboost. Great work Sensei.

In that case please take a look also on SwiftEdgeLoop http://www.trueart.pl/?URIType=Directory&URI=Products/Plug-Ins/SwiftEdgeLoop
http://www2.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/SwiftEdgeLoop/Graphics/Movies/SwiftEdgeLoop_2.mov
http://www2.trueart.pl/Products/Plug-Ins/SwiftEdgeLoop/Graphics/Movies/SwiftEdgeLoop_3.mov
left mouse click on edge - sliding whole edge loop. Saves you going to edge mode. selecting one edge. And using some 3rd party slide edge LScript, because LW does not have it built-in.
right mouse click - making new edge loop. Saves you a bit of time with BandSaw. One click and done, then it's moved/slided to mouse coord like with left mouse button.

Are not you subscribed to TrueArt-News mailing list.. ?
You should have info about EashMesh & SwiftEdgeLoop released 1-2 month ago..


Again, I have not had an opportunity to try it yet but here is a feature request. I think holding down alt + RMB (or some other available combination) should contextually delete points, polygons and edges under the cursor in the same way that ctrl+RMB creates elements. I think the edges should be deleted but NOT the polygons.

I wanted it this way, but LW sends me only info about left/right and ctrl key presses... and it was requested in NewTek Feature Requests to add more qualifier keys also with info whether it's left/right on keyboard.. This would allow making much more modes.. https://secure.newtek.com/FogBugz/default.asp?9689_AXDRRUFB

[greent]

Hehe.. NewTek can't afford me.. I have > 1 M.. :)
No, they did not.

well, they should, and also buy off all your plugins, so we can get them by more reasonable prices ;-)
(sorry for offt).

[Sensei]

Actually I asked Chuck prior releasing SwiftEdgeLoop 2 months ago whether they want buy it for 3500 usd and include in LW v9.3 or so.. and got no reply.. But it earned more so far, so I don't complain.. ;)

If you can't afford tool for 50 usd.. well.. this might mean that you should increase prices for your end clients.. They're making millions on commercial breaks, games and tv.. So have something to share with people who actually render them, isn't?

[RedBull]

Actually I asked Chuck prior releasing SwiftEdgeLoop 2 months ago whether they want buy it for 3500 usd and include in LW v9.3 or so.. and got no reply.. But it earned more so far, so I don't complain.. ;)


That's quite sad, price seems alright.....
However if i was NT and ever bought the plugins, i would need to at least contract the developer as well.... As NT did with Jarno and David etc.

Obviously you don't go and buy Rounder if your programmers have no ability to update, improve the plugin ever again.....We need people who can enhance/refine improve the plugins as LW moves forward, not just left to the legacy bin like every other NT plugin.

You would be a credit to the speed at which NT is delivering Sensei!

[-EsHrA-]

shame on nt and chuck for again not replying to customers and devs who only want to help.


mlon

[Chris S. (Fez)]

Look at EasyMesh http://easymesh.trueart.pl
It joins 6+ different operations saving you time spend on dropping selection, tools and modes..


Sensei,

Easy Mesh is Awesome!! I have 2 feature requests:

1) An option to disable the right-click 2 point polygon creation. I rarely use it and find myself accidently creating 2 point polygons with surprising frequency during prolonged modeling sessions.

2) A hotkey toggle for extrude mode and extend mode.

[GraphXs]

Ha... Chris S., that the same thing I ask for in EasyMesh over at SpinQuad, I also asked for them to add a "bevel" function to it. It would (IMO) also be great for it to work with LW selections so I can do "group" extrudes, extends, etc. I won't have to go to extend plus, I can just keep using EasyMesh!

It is such a great tool! :thumbsup:

Swift Edge Loop is also wonderful for edge creation! Great tool!

I hope Newtek is paying attention to these tools. Consolidating modeler tools, is what TrueArts is doing, they seems to have a jump start on those type of functions.:bowdown:

Hey Sensei, last year I ordered the modelingpack, and I don't have all the plugin's listed, I'm missing these: Show Weights, Show Edge Weights, SurfacePicker, SaveSceneAndAllObjects, SaveSceneAtFrameZero, ImageForm, ImageSeqForm, RenderSplitter

Can ya email them to me if they are apart of what I ordered last year?

Thanks

Tony P

[Sensei]

Hey Sensei, last year I ordered the modelingpack, and I don't have all the plugin's listed, I'm missing these: Show Weights, Show Edge Weights, SurfacePicker, SaveSceneAndAllObjects, SaveSceneAtFrameZero, ImageForm, ImageSeqForm, RenderSplitter


Year ago they were sent to the e-mail from your signature.. Except Surface Picker of course, which was made right before SwiftEdgeLoop, just a couple months ago..

[Cageman]

Hmm.. I could think of one reason for NT not to buy plugins for inclusion at this point; major changes are in the works that probably will break most if not all plugins for LW. Especially if their plans on merging modeler/layout will become a reality soon. That, in my opinion, is far more important than any plugin, because it is one of the "holy grails" for LW developement at this point.

[Sensei]

Hmm.. I could think of one reason for NT not to buy plugins for inclusion at this point; major changes are in the works that probably will break most if not all plugins for LW.

Unlikely.. After LWCAD not working at all, nobody would use such LW version.. To be honest..

[Cageman]

Unlikely.. After LWCAD not working at all, nobody would use such LW version.. To be honest..

LWCad is everything eh?

Right... so are you saying NT should focus on keeping plugins rather than having a unified app where current limits would become a vague memory? No offense, but as I see it, plugin developers such as yourself should adopt to a new LW, not the other way around.

[Andyjaggy]

Yeah I have to disagree there. The whole point is that LW will get good enough we don't need a mass arsenal of 3rd party plugs just to use the program. Keeping LW old and outdated just so 3rd party plugs don't break seems like a pretty poor strategy to me.

[oldtekerr]

NO LWcad would suck... lets hope they try to keep that one running. but I would like to see LW move forward more then I need LW cad.

[Cageman]

NO LWcad would suck... lets hope they try to keep that one running. but I would like to see LW move forward more then I need LW cad.

To be honest, I've never used LWCad, so I may have been little to fast in that judgement. It is true that, from what I've heard, LWCad adds alot of functionality to LWs modeler. That being said, in general, I think NT needs to move forward in a "fire and forget" manner. However, they should also keep the SDK up to date so that Sensei and others can write something cool (because, they DO make cool and usefull tools). I don't see any 3D-app not in need of usefull 3:rd party tools, just that Maya/XSI can handle themselves very good without any plugins, and that would be a pretty decent goal for NT to strive for.

[Sensei]

Right... so are you saying NT should focus on keeping plugins rather than having a unified app where current limits would become a vague memory?

What limits do you have in mind? What has unified app to do with 3rd party plug-ins? There has to be just something like 30-40 functions working in LWMeshEditTool and LWMeshDataEdit to have 95% Modeler's tool working fine.. I could even make them working on Maya, Max or Cinema4D if I would have to just by providing emulator for LW global..

BTW, I am against unified app.. ;) I would split it even more to have renderer as another process.. When thread is dying it's bringing whole process down with it, but another process can be run parallel to master, and not breaking it.. Like Jeremy's Batch Render script..

No offense, but as I see it, plugin developers such as yourself should adopt to a new LW, not the other way around.

Seeing how many scream is on forum after each breaking something LW version (without good reason btw, except bug in coding LW) like f.e. v9.0 breaking Fi's plug-ins, I would say breaking essential things would cause people to not upgrade to such version, until it's working again fine..

[Sensei]

I don't see any 3D-app not in need of usefull 3:rd party tools,

Modo? ;)

[Cageman]

What limits do you have in mind?

Just open any unified app such as Maya or XSI and take a look at all the possibilities when it comes to rigging/animation and how those tools realate to the fundamental principle of being able to select and edit mesh or components of the mesh.
What has unified app to do with 3rd party plug-ins?

If someone is screaming about a plugin not working because it was written 2002 and not developed anymore, I hope NT will not listen to this person/persons. LW needs to move forward, and they have said themselves that things will break in the process. Lets say all of Worleys plugs will break when LW 10 rolls out; I couldn't care less because I don't use them. It's up to Worley to stay in the game, not NT.

And yes, I really hope everything regarding animation in LW will get a complete overhaul. Away with the motion modifiers and go for a completely Nodal interface instead. Maybe there is a way to keep the old Motion Modifier system the same way Surface Editor have layer shading still there. But if it for some reason have to be either this or that, I really don't want to old stuff to be there. There are plenty of 3rd party Motion Modifiers that would break if something like that would roll out from NT.

[Cageman]

Modo? ;)

Toché!

They havn't released an SDK yet, have they? :)

[Sensei]

They havn't released an SDK yet, have they? :)

exactly..
and that was my point.. ;)