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tools:proposals

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Plugin Proposals

This is a list of plugin ideas that have been vetted and will at some point in time be available for voting by patrons.

UV Transform

Similar in functionality to the UV Distort tool developed in March 2019. However, this will allow you to move, rotate and resize a selection of points in UV space using a bounding box interface. Similar to the transform tool in Photoshop.


Audio Frequency Node (Kenneth ;)

Load audio files, use FFT to extract the amplitude at specific frequencies and expose them as scalar values.

The result of the FFT computation will be cached in memory for best performance, allowing any frequency to be extracted from the same audio file at any time. The cache is shared between plugins.

There will also be a channel modifier.

Multiple audio files are supported. The allowed file formats will depend on the library we'll use for that, but at least include WAV. The choice of libraries to use will depend on their licensing. The LGPL is, unfortunately, out of the question as it would add additional files to distribute and install.


Fog Pixel Filter

An attempt to bring old school simple fog back to LightWave 3D. This will change the colour of render samples depending on the distance to the camera, using settings similar to the fog that was available in 2015 and earlier. It will also take the item flags for fog into account. One caveat: Due to the nature of pixel filters, there will be no fog behind transparencies.


CCTV

Replacement for the CCTV shader that was lost in 2018. Basically traces through a camera and maps the result to a projection.


Spline Toolkit (S-Tk)

Image Layers

A set of tools to deal with items that stem from a multi-layered image file. Could even be based on a new Primitive Type as well.


Limited Region Manager

Mainly a master plugin that can store multiple, different, limited regions. Also, limited regions may be animated (but likely not be used in lwsn).


Instance Filter Node

Similar to the Instance Inspector, this provides a picker in the viewport to select multiple instances which can be used to filter the current instance ID when shading.

This way, specific paths can be taken in the node graph using the logic nodes and switchers, depending on whether the currently shaded instance has been selected or not.


Multi Mixer

Similar to the Multi Switcher nodes, but allows for mixing like the morph mixer does.


Colour Curves Node / Image Filter / Pixel Filter

A plugin similar to the curves adjustment available in image processing applications.

Requires a custom control to be able to display and edit spline, also requires r&d on the best 2D spline type to use.

This would be a two months project - one for the custom control, one for the actual plugins using it.


Proposals that have been implemented

Multi Variables Node

Implemented in March 2020

A node that provides multiple values types as nodal outputs and GUI controls. They can be customized.

The idea is to allow for creating once node that holds a collection of parameters used elsewhere in the node graph.

Starts out as an empty node, new outputs are added by right clicking on the node.

Outputs and respective controls may possibly be renamed.

Bonus node: Elbow

An empty node where inputs can be added, which pass through to automatically added outputs. Used to clean up the layout of node graphs.


Oscillator - node/motion modifier

Implemented in February 2020.

The problem currently… Nodal: the amount of nodes needed to setup and control an oscillating motion… time, multiplication, into a Sin node, that also needs multiplying or adding, with more gradients and distance for falloffs - so many controllers!

Oscillator Motion modifier: it’s incredibly useful but it’s also a modal window. This means you have to open it up, tweak, close, see if it’s what you want, stop, open, tweak, close, preview……

Would love to see a db&w, self contained oscillator node and/or modifier, where I can simply press play and get creative, without the convoluted nodal setup or constant ui clicking! Built in falloff, following of ref nulls, different patterns/shapes possibly(?)…

Almost like a, say, waveform generator in a synthesizer then. So basically, a choice of base waveforms, frequency and amplitude adjustments as well as a fade in and fade out?


DoF Tool

Implemented in November 2019.

An interactive tool to set the DoF parameters for a camera, including animated values.

Will also display the volume that's in focus and provide handles for the near, far and focal point.

tools/proposals.1586168302.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/04/06 12:18 by lightwolf