Looking ahead to SU 8.

solo · 26 Sept 2009, 23:44

This is not another gripe thread, actually thanks to the last upgrade there are a few less gripes to bitch about.
Google IMO has done a sterling job with the last upgrade, but let's not let them rest on their laurels, the back patting is over and we need to refresh our list of needs, wants and requirements.
I see they agree with me as they have already got an opinion poll going, enquiring about what features the masses want next.
Personally I do not like the format they implemented so I would like to see what the SCF members feel.

Firstly we need to get a list of features, needs, fixes and wishes y'all have, then we can start another thread and get a SCF members vote going. Not that we are voting for what should or should not be included, but rather to create a priority list of what we think they should be concentrating on first, as every wish, fix, need and feature needs to be considered.

My opinion:(no particular order)

UV tools, real texture mapping, or at least better texture mapping.
That shadow bug, I know it's more a legal issue than a software issue, but let's get a definitive answer.
Toolbar control, as we are all sick of fixing toolbars every other day.

4)A 64 bit version, not that it will perform any faster, but more for the ability to use bigger and higher resolution textures due to the 64 bit platform's ability to utilize more ram.

chrisglasier · 27 Sept 2009, 01:34

Some kind of solution for the incompatibility of web dialog interaction in PCs and Macs. See http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=13394#p98793

brodie · 27 Sept 2009, 02:16

2&4 are okay, but I'd really like to see 1&3 next go around and I'd be happy.

-Brodie

d12dozr · 27 Sept 2009, 02:56

I would like to see UV tools and texture mapping.

utiler · 27 Sept 2009, 03:05

Good topic, Pete. I was going to start one along the same lines...
Let me start compiling my list!!!! [for both GSU and LO]

Ecuadorian · 27 Sept 2009, 03:30

Am I the only one whose problems with toolbars were fixed with 7.1?
Now I can move them wherever I want and they stay in place, unlike 7.0

My only wish for SU8 is: Whatever you do, keep the UI as simple as it is right now. Most programs become very unwelcoming to newbies after a few iterations, but SU still follows the "K.I.S.S. principle" in its 7th iteration.

remus · 27 Sept 2009, 07:47

A big thumbs up for better UV tools from me, and i'll add to the list better animation support. A very broad topic i know, but being able to trigger DCs through scenes would be a very good start.

Gaieus · 27 Sept 2009, 10:56

Better and more complex UV Mapping is definitely on my priority list as well and it's a promising thing that even the SU developers think they could (should) make some improvements in this field.

kwistenbiebel · 27 Sept 2009, 12:15

(animation anyone?)

dedmin · 27 Sept 2009, 12:49

Combined Layer Manager,Components Browser and Outliner into ONE

smokinbakin · 27 Sept 2009, 13:25

Something that really bothers me is the initial startup screen. If I really want to change the unit of measure, I can do it later, but I do not have to select my unit of measure and style every single time a go on sketchup.

MartinRinehart · 27 Sept 2009, 14:16

Lot of good ideas, here. Cast my vote in favor of the one that opposes complifying the UI. Now, the two other things I want for Christmas:

A <sketchup> tag in at least one HTML rendering engine. Maybe the engine that powers Chrome and Safari. With scriptable animation so we can have some serious fun.

And how about a material that renders scriptable HTML (including the <sketchup> tag, of course)? (TBD's idea.) That billboard you see as you enter your SketchUp town becomes compelling when it shows an animation. (Probably dangerous if placed on a real highway.)

That puts the web inside my model and my model inside the web. Just two things (and almost all the code is already written). Those would make a great Christmas.

For my birthday, I'd like to be able to export my animation to .GIFs. That could really spruce up your emails, no?

EarthMover · 27 Sept 2009, 14:28

Better vertex manipulation and control, including soft selection.

Texture layering and blending

UVW Mapping

Better selection tools (Select ring, select loop, freehand selection window, select all in bounds/crossing bounds toggle, etc.)

Snap/Inference on/off toggle

Keyframes and animation timeline

Animated texture support

Support for Spherical background images directly in SU

remus · 27 Sept 2009, 17:03

@smokinbakin said:

Something that really bothers me is the initial startup screen. If I really want to change the unit of measure, I can do it later, but I do not have to select my unit of measure and style every single time a go on sketchup.

Im sure theres an option to disable that somewhere. I dont suppose theres a little tick box on the bottom of the window?

massimo · 27 Sept 2009, 17:05

Mike, actually you can import TIF images in SU.

Gaieus · 27 Sept 2009, 18:18

@unknownuser said:

How about the ability to import TIF images.

As far as I can remember (back at SU 5 when I started), importing tif images has always been a feature - just like now.

chrisglasier · 28 Sept 2009, 01:03

@remus said:

Im sure theres an option to disable that somewhere. I dont suppose theres a little tick box on the bottom of the window?

Curious so I looked and took a pic

arail1 · 28 Sept 2009, 01:51

@unknownuser said:

Better vertex manipulation and control, including soft selection.

Texture layering and blending

UVW Mapping

Better selection tools (Select ring, select loop, freehand selection window, select all in bounds/crossing bounds toggle, etc.)

Snap/Inference on/off toggle

Keyframes and animation timeline

Animated texture support

Support for Spherical background images directly in SU

But if all this shows up I'll have to ask myself why I paid $800 bucks for modo.

linea · 28 Sept 2009, 06:05

Above all else I would like to see Google buying shed loads of all the plugins out there, polishing them and incorporating them properly into the core product. No need to reinvent the wheel.

remus · 28 Sept 2009, 06:44

@linea said:

Above all else I would like to see Google buying shed loads of all the plugins out there, polishing them and incorporating them properly into the core product. No need to reinvent the wheel.

Personally i think thatd be really bad. It would make SU incredibly bloated and introduce a lot of tools that will go unused in the majority of cases. Much better (in my opinion) would be to introduce some way of easily accessing plugins from within SU, so beginners dont have to make the leap of looking for plugins and working out how to use them.