Priorities
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Maybe I am off base, but I would like to open up a discussion of priorities. I think there are some really neat things going on with Animator but I wonder if several of us have caused Fredo to go a little off course with our discussions. While I love, and definitely plan on using, things like the Visual Effects, I wonder if there shouldn't be some higher priorities that would get wider use and be more important/useful to users/potential users.
Here are some examples:
- Translation - Path: I think a lot of users would like to have a multipoint path. Being able to define multiple points in a path, including curved lines, is available in most animation tools. I have seen that discussed in other threads. While my current models would not use it, I can see the desire to be able to define a path for a vehicle that followed a road and/or a terrain. I have also seen other examples where people had birds flying or a fish swimming. I can see many occasions where a multipoint path can be useful/needed.
- Scaling: Currently the scale tool is the only one that does not have at least some functionality. Yes, I personally have some need for it but I can see (I think) many uses for this tool. I could even be used with something like a bouncing ball to make it "smash" as it hits the ground or something similar. As I looked at Rich's crane I saw pieces that should/could be scaled to achieve the effect of the arm movement.
- Camera: Several people have mentioned the ability to have a camera follow an object. I see this one tied pretty closely to the Translation - Path so that a camera could follow an object along a path.
These are just 3 instances but I am sure others may have additional ideas. I guess what I am trying to say is rather than us leading Fredo all over the place, we (the beta testers) out to help define the highest priority items to be addressed to help prepare the tool for its first actual public release.
If I am off base and should keep my thoughts to myself, just say so and I will go back to preparing the things I need for my ultimate animated model. I think this tool has the potential to be a real "block buster" and want to help Fredo head down the most productive path.
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I think otherwise dave.
I think we can shoot out whatever we wish, being it silly or not so silly and let Fredo prioritize as he is the single person with the wider scope of the plugin, what he is able to pull off and what are his objectives.
At the end this is for the users but it is his plugin.
I've been beta testing a few plugins and software myself and I'm absolutelly sure that 100% of my requests are being considered, 70% are being ditched away and 20% are being written in the todo list and probably only 10% are being developed.
Also, I've had the rewarding experience of having made requests that were solved by things I couldn't even imagine.
So how could I know how to prioritize my requests or everyone else's?
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@JQL - I understand your comments. Before I retired, I managed the updates to some software and had to establish priorities. The priorities were highly related to customer requests/needs. I have seen a lot of stuff thrown at Fredo and I know he has a long list. I was just trying to provide a way for him to see what might be the highest priorities of users.
That said, I will back off and just see "what comes next"
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Don't worry, I have some kind of priority list, but the top of it is to detect and fix bugs in the framework and identify structural problems. Beta users are in general very good at it, so that's why I appreciate any comments, feedback and requests.
I designed Animator to be able to add features within a framework. That was the first goal.
For the features, I will likely give the next priority to Flying Cameras (i.e. travelling and path views), because in most cases, Sketchup users just want to make a tour of a static model (a house for instance). Although Sketchup Scenes and animation can do it to some extent, this is not always smooth and controllable enough.
In contrast, I see less users making real object animation, which is anyway time consuming.
So Animator is going anyway to be a long journey!
Fredo
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I can relate to that Fredo I think the basic stuff should be covered first as it's where people will start from.
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Ideally what I really want in an animation plugin is the ability to walk through a home/building and open doors, switch on lights, Tv's, and so forth.
So getting cameras to animate smoothly as well as basic animations will be a great start, IMO get the basics done and then add bells and whistles on future updates.
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@solo said:
So getting cameras to animate smoothly as well as basic animations will be a great start, IMO get the basics done and then add bells and whistles on future updates.
Sorry everyone. I thought this was what I was suggesting. From posts I have seen in other threads, I thought that the multi-point translation (path), turning on the scale tool, and the camera to follow an object were some of the basics everyone does/would want in an animation tool.
Kind of sorry I started this thread. Maybe it would be better if it were deleted.
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@ntxdave said:
@solo said:
So getting cameras to animate smoothly as well as basic animations will be a great start, IMO get the basics done and then add bells and whistles on future updates.
Sorry everyone. I thought this was what I was suggesting. From posts I have seen in other threads, I thought that the multi-point translation (path), turning on the scale tool, and the camera to follow an object were some of the basics everyone does/would want in an animation tool.
Kind of sorry I started this thread. Maybe it would be better if it were deleted.
You did well Dave, you shouldn't feel bad. As I see it you are a Beta tester for some reason, I don't know how many of us there are but if we're 10 you're representing 10% of the future animator users. The way I see it it might be even more. I'm pretty sure what you wrote here will influence the way priorities are going to be set and I'm also sure if this post was useless, we wouldn't be discussing it.
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