| Author |
Message |
    
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - 09:29 pm: | 
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Pylon Technical is pleased to announce the release of our first collection of plugins for formZ: Lighting Collection 1.0. This collection of four plugins was designed to make lighting in formZ as fast and easy as possible, which means higher quality renderings in less time.
This suite of tools allows you to interactively manipulate multiple light parameters in the modeling window: angle and distance relative to subject, cone angle and penumbra, intensity, color, date and time of day for sun lights, and much more. It also supports syncing lights to views (looking through lights), light-to-subject targeting, and 'mixing down' the intensity and color of all lights in a scene at once.
Celebrate our launch and learn more about our debut release at:
www.pylontechnical.com
Thanks!
 |
Peder Lindbom
Member
Username: Peder
Post Number: 67
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 06:47 am: |
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Looking good!
I really like the sun study plugin. Now let's hope ADS makes an effort to improve the OGL implementation...
Unfortunately I do most of my lighting through Maxwell these days...
I don't know how interesting it would be for others but a tool that could translate a FZ lightsource into a Maxwell area light enclosed in a cylinder could be interesting. Where the size of the emitter can be set in order to control the softness of the shadow and the relative size of the emitter / cylinder would control the field angle. Also the distance from the opening in the cylinder would control the beamangle. Now that would be really useful. Also options to show/hide these lightsources in Maxwell.(Like you can through the Maxwell plugin)
I wonder what the consequences will be for ADS now that the first commercial plugins are coming along. I hope it doesn't dampen the development for fear of stepping on developers toes.
Anyway great work and congratulations!!!
Peder |
Craig Williams
Intermediate Member
Username: Craigwilliams
Post Number: 88
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 06:54 am: |
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Great Work...I think that daylight tool rocks as well. I also love the Target and Orbit abilities in the Light Kit plugin.
Makes me wish I used a Mac at work...I'm guessin' you don't have plans to develop a PC version?
Craig |
Des Clarke
Intermediate Member
Username: Desclarke
Post Number: 82
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 07:50 am: |
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They say on the Pylon website that they're developing the PC version at the moment, it's just not ready yet.
I've put in my order already, can't wait to try it out.
Looks great and congratulations from me as well..
Des |
Craig Williams
Intermediate Member
Username: Craigwilliams
Post Number: 89
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 07:54 am: |
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Des,
I see it now...way down at the bottom...that's good news...
Thanks!
Craig |
m_s
Senior Member
Username: Maher
Post Number: 96
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 08:04 am: |
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huh! someone made a Mac plugin first!
I love the interactivity of editing lights. I hope such a feature finds its way to the formZ interface.
Peder, Metashapes were out long ago, but they went quiet!
I think some more enhancement between formz and maxwell would be a plus, but let's wait and see what Nextlimit will release hopefully with 6.1
-m
(Message edited by maher on November 16, 2006) |
Steven Houtzager
New member
Username: Stevenhoutzager
Post Number: 15
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 10:01 am: |
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I have put my order in as well. Like the way you can look thru lights (very useful). The overall lighting control window is great as well.
SH
----------------------------------------
FormZ Preset Materials for Industrial Design
http://intuitionusa.com/materials/index.html |
m_s
Senior Member
Username: Maher
Post Number: 97
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 03:17 pm: |
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huh, I got mine! It's awesome!!!
Thanks PylonTech  |
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 11:06 pm: |
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Thanks to all for your kind words.
More plugins are in the works, including a PC version of Lighting Collection, as Des notes.
Don't worry for a moment about formZ slowing their development progress; I am coordinating with ADS to make sure that I don't duplicate efforts they already have underway.
best,
bd
Pylon Technical |
Martin Malinski
New member
Username: Notagain_uk
Post Number: 12
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Friday, November 17, 2006 - 09:03 am: |
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Great....
I look forward to the development of the pc version and of the resource section of your web site...would it be poss' that you may include a user submitted section. ie, materials, models, scripts etc..
mny thnx |
Bo Atkinson
New member
Username: Boa
Post Number: 24
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, November 18, 2006 - 04:37 pm: |
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Excellent video demo, audio would make perfect but i'm not complaining at all. I'm very exited about my planned uses but no time at the moment with other Z priorities. This type of video-demo does wonders for visual minds but the tool functions go much further still! Just haven't got the time to use them before raving about the real thing, the tool itself. I want to get back into rendering again after being discouraged with numeric, formulaic barriers which my mind is never very happy with. Thanks BD et al
happy customer ~~< |
Dan
Junior Member
Username: Designd
Post Number: 43
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 03:53 am: |
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This excellent Plugin demonstrates, way control windows are such a pure UI element.
Dan |
m_s
Senior Member
Username: Maher
Post Number: 98
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 09:58 pm: |
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Hey, It would be nice to have a scene console pallet. don't you think?
-m |
Carlos Rego
Junior Member
Username: Carlosrego
Post Number: 35
Registered: 01-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 - 07:18 pm: |
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Great Plug-in
This is the kind of additions that really improve workflow. I just received mine and after playing with it for only a couple
of minutes it was more than enough to know that this will be a plug-in I can't work without from now on.
Now the only thing that's missing is FZ to support the visualization of shadows for point and cone lights in Open GL.
Congratulations Pylon for the wonderfull tool you created for FZ. |
Deanpaul Russell
New member
Username: Deanpaul
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 09:51 am: |
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Looks really interesting!
I've never used a plug-in for Z (that I know of), so I have a few awkward questions.
I'm a contract designer working independently. Some of my clients use FormZ, and at the end of a project I send the final model off to them. If I use this plug-in, and my client doesn't have it, will they be able to render the scene the way I did? I know they will lose the controls the plug-in provides, but would lights change their settings and / or go away without the plug-in present? It's important for them to be able to render the scene as I did in the event of changes. In a perfect world, they would buy the plug-in as well, but I already know some will not.
Second, do plug-ins increase the chance that I will have irregularities running FormZ as new versions of Z, MacOS whatever come out. I'm wondering about compatibility issues, and the more parts there are the more difficult it becomes to trouble shoot. Anyone remember extensions conflicts in the pre-OSX days? I shudder to think about the extensions manager. Turn half the extensions off - except the ones needed by the system! Problem still there? Turn the other half off... Repeat. Is there a chance this plug-in set could destabilize my set up over time?
This product looks great, and I'm really interested. The price also feels right - I just want to know what I might be in for down the road.
Thanks! |
support@formZ.com
Moderator
Username: Tech
Post Number: 852
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 11:00 am: |
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Hi Mr. Russell,
Plug-ins and scripts are forwardly compatible. A plug-in that works in a current version of formZ will work in any future formZ version.
We will defer to Pylon Technical regarding compatibility with formZ applications that don't have the Lighting Collection plug-in. However, it appears as though these tools assist in the setup of lights, but once the light is set, there is no lingering control. In other words, if you save the formZ file and send it to someone that doesn't have the plug-in, there shouldn't be any problems. We have contacted Pylon to confirm this.
Plug-ins that will change renderings, if they are unavailable, are Surface Style Shaders or Renderers. For example, there is a plug-in shader called Fabric that comes with formZ version 5.5 and higher. If an object is textured with the Fabric shader, the rendering will change if rendered in a different formZ that doesn't have the Fabric plug-in. But this does not apply to the Lighting Collection.
ZWebTech Support |
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 02:07 pm: |
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Mr. Russell,
You have probably used plugins before. The Frame tool is the most visible example, but many functions in formZ are currently implemented as plugins, including most of the file translators. Go to Extensions> Extensions Manager... to see the full list.
As zweb states, plugins are forward compatible, which means that Lighting Collection will work with future versions of formZ.
formZ files produced with the help of Lighting Collection are 100% compatible with formZ installations that do not have Lighting Collection. This plugin collection does not alter the way lights are internally handled by formZ. All other things being equal, a rendering on a computer with Lighting Collection installed will be identical to a rendering on a machine without it.
Lighting Collection has been tested extensively; versions of it have been used on in-house projects for nearly a year. (The current version runs only under formZ 6.0 or later, and is not compatible with 5.5). This is a very stable release. However, should you encounter a problem, just send an email to the support address indicated on our website (and in our documentation), and we will see that it is resolved.
best,
bd
Pylon Technical |
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 02:10 pm: |
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Hi Carlos,
Glad to hear you are enjoying it. Spread the word to your colleagues!
best,
bd
pylontechnical.com |
Carlos Rego
Junior Member
Username: Carlosrego
Post Number: 36
Registered: 01-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 02:23 pm: |
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Hi Pylon,
I already talked about this plug-in at the office and they bought it today. It's amazing how fast I'm able to set a light for a particular scene. As an example I was trying to set the light of a FZ file for almost two hours and I wasn't happy with the final result. Fortunately your plug-in was delivered an hour ago. I adjusted the light with the Pylon interactive interface and got the exact light effect I wanted in just a couple of minutes. Light collection plug-in it's amazing.
Keep up with the great work
Carlos |
Richard Rush
Junior Member
Username: Rwrush
Post Number: 41
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 03:34 pm: |
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Pylon, can you tell us when the PC version will be released?
Is anyone else having problems running Pylon's video demos? They don't work on my computer.
Richard |
support@formZ.com
Moderator
Username: Tech
Post Number: 864
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 03:51 pm: |
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Richard,
I have Internet Explorer 7 Beta installed and it is occasionally cropping these images. Try Mozilla Firefox -- it seems to play the movies better.
ZWebTech Support |
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 10
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 04:17 pm: |
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Richard,
You may need to download Apple's Quicktime (free) from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
We do not yet have a release date for the PC version of Lighting Collection, but rest assured that it is indeed coming. We will post notice here when it is released.
bd
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Pylon Technical
www.pylontechnical.com |
support@formZ.com
Moderator
Username: Tech
Post Number: 869
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 04:56 pm: |
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Pylon,
Good point. I know Richard has Quicktime installed, but he may not have the latest. Apple has made some important fixes in the last few months, so making sure that your installation is current (within the last month or two) is a good idea.
I rechecked the demo videos on IE 6 and they played properly (after hitting the space bar so you could see the full screen...).
ZWebTech Support |
Richard Rush
Junior Member
Username: Rwrush
Post Number: 42
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 06:36 pm: |
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Okay, I finally got Quicktime working (uninstalled and then installed a new download) and watched the demos. I plan to be a buyer of the plugins when the PC version is released, but I have a few questions:
Do the plugins interact with light-groups in any way? I assume they can be used for lights within a group, but how about the group itself? Lets say I have a group for each scene or view, could I load/unload the lights in a group in the Light Console as one operation? Sometimes I use a group just for convenience, without any overrides, but with interiors especially there may be many lights in a group with overrides for intensity, color, cone angles, and shadow options. Would the plugins be able to handle any manipulation at the group level?
Is there any interaction with Scenes Palette? If I select a defined scene would its lights be loaded into the Light Console?
Regardless of the answers to these questions the plugins appear to be really useful, and I look forward to the PC version.
Richard |
Deanpaul Russell
New member
Username: Deanpaul
Post Number: 2
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 07:20 pm: |
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Thanks for the replies, Pylon and FormZ. I appreciate the feedback from other users here, and plan to pick up the plug-in this week! |
Dan Shear
Senior Member
Username: Redrngr
Post Number: 53
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 07:33 pm: |
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I have installed the Pylon Plugin correctly twice. In reference to the light console tool, it shown in the extension manager as palette as it show in the work space as palette. However, is there also an icon in the Pylon Tool Bar for the Light Console Tool as shown above? It is not displaying if that is the case. I only have 3 Pylon tool icons. Am I missing something as all the controls seem to be with the Palette?
Dan S. |
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 11
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 - 11:09 pm: |
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Richard,
Individual lights within light groups can be manipulated, but adjusting the parameters of light group overrides is not currently supported. We like your idea, and have added this as a suggestion.
When a new scene is selected from the scenes palette, the shining, visible, and shadow parameters for each light are automatically updated in the Light Console palette. Lights are not included or excluded in the palette based on scenes, but by the individual light's lock status. This gives you the opportunity to turn on a given light in a scene in which it is currently off (while still allowing you to free up room in the Light Console palette by locking lights). However, we can see how loading only visible lights would be useful in some circumstances, and have logged a suggestion for a new Preference that would accommodate this.
Dan,
Sorry for any confusion. That's a typo in the image above; the caption should read "Light Console Palette," not "Light Console Tool." This is correctly documented everywhere else.
bd
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Pylon Technical
www.pylontechnical.com
(Message edited by pylon on November 21, 2006) |
m_s
Senior Member
Username: Maher
Post Number: 112
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 12:37 am: |
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Pylon Tech,
When can users post questions directly to your forum space ?
-m |
Dan Shear
Senior Member
Username: Redrngr
Post Number: 54
Registered: 04-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 03:21 am: |
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Thanks for clarifying BD. Yes, all the PDF documentation, located in the Pylon Plugin folder mention the Lighting Kit, Light Sync and Daylight Tool Icons that are located in the Pylon Lighting and Rendering Tool Bar. Yet, the Lighting Console Palette has No Icon associated with the Lighting and Rendering Tool Bar as shown above as a Mixing Panel.
Dan S. |
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 01:24 pm: |
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Maher,
At this point, we do not anticipate hosting a dedicated forum. Please feel free to direct any questions or suggestions to our "support" email address, listed on our website and in the documentation that came with your plugin collection. We will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Dan,
Please see my response to your email...
bd
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Pylon Technical
www.pylontechnical.com |
pylon
New member
Username: Pylon
Post Number: 21
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 01:56 pm: |
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Hi All,
Lighting Collection 1 is now available for both Windows (32 bit) and Macintosh versions of formZ.
bd
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Pylon Technical
formZ plugins
www.pylontechnical.com |
