CompuServe Messages

After using Imagine 2.9 for a while I wrote down a few suggestions I have for 3.0. I don't have a printer otherwise I would have printed it and mailed it. Problems from 2.0 that are still in 2.9: 1: Repeating Cylindrical maps don't repeat. And it seems to stretch the bottom part of the image that does get mapped. 2: If one applies a BrushMap to a object as a Flat X, Flat Z (for example) then wants to change it to any other method of wrapping it keeps the original orientation and doesn't auto-size. 3: Define the Altitude size without using the Y axis since this would NOT allow doing a Flat map onto a object with any kind of thickness. Bugs found in version 2.9: 1: In the Spline Editor the `OK' gadget is always ghosted even though the spacebar works. Suggesstions for Imagine 3.0: 1: There has been new features that have added more requesters, some of these could be joined to make it easier to use. For example, when doing a quickrender there is now a second requester for palette info which I think should be integrated into the first and changed to `toggle type' buttons. Since these won't be changed that often. 2: The new pull down menu called `NewStuff' could probably be changed to `Tools' since it won't be `NewStuff' forever. :^) 3: Automatically add a default light source to all scenes. 4: Make `Camera Re-Track' automatic. If the camera is tracking a object you will NOT see this in real-time in the perspective view or any other view. Or change it to a `Track' command which would apply to any object instead of just the camera. 5: There was supossed to be a way to access the Timelines (Action Editor) of a object from the Stage. 6: Cut and Paste in the Action Editor. Also add another command called `Drag', so instead of having to click on every timeline and enter numbers in requesters, changes can easily be made by just draging them. And use a `Shift Click' to drag the `Transition frame #s'. 7: The preset `Gadget buttons' in the editors need to be editable from the Preference editor because in some editors there is hardly any space left over to add and some people don't use alot of the preset ones. The Detail editor is a good example. 8: Whenever one enters the Stage editor there is a enter `Frame Number' requester. This could be eliminated if the settings in the Prefs show any of the `Warn' settings (WARN,WRNO) are set to False. My reasoning behind this is that anyone who has any of those settings set to False knows what they are doing and doesn't need to be bothered. At least I have found little use for it. 9: Whenever one either tries to make a wireframe anim or just move to another frame in the stage editor it has to re-load every object in each frame. With small objects this isn't as noticeable but I have had projects that exceeded 50,000 polygons and making a wireframe preview it spent most of the time just loading objects. This is also seen when one `GOes TO' another frame. I suggest keeping the objects in memory to speed up the display. I realize there are now `Quick Edges' to speed up redraws but doesn't help re-loading of objects. 10:The New Perspective view is Great! If the Zoom button also affected the other views it would be easier to do things. Otherwise we have to be manually zooming in and out. 11:I think you should have a few Projects included so people can get ideas on how to do things. The Particle F/X is a good example, with a project they can look at how you guys did it and expand from there. This would reduce the `experiment times' since they would have a head start. I hope you give some thought to the suggestions I have made here and maybe add a few of them or give you other ideas. Btw, is the Spline editor going to evolve into a 3D Spline editor? It is a PERFECT logo maker. <<< Tony D. Tracer >>> (Any render time >0 needs acceleration.)