michiel | 12 years ago | 20 comments | 16 likes | 6.3K views
vincent, maitegras, IBMedia and 13 others like this!
Version 8.4 introduces the following features that can make editing more efficient:
FIND
Press CONTROl F to find a layer. This is especially handy for templates with lots of layers. Press CONTROL G to find the next layer using the same text.
MERGING SHOWS
By pressing CONTROL M you can merge the current show with another one. This way you can easily reuse (parts of) shows.
DELETE ANY LAYER
Shows no longer require a camera layer and can even be empty. Shows without a camera layer can't be rendered and without a light everything is black, but such shows can be used to create the building blocks for the above merge functionality.
NO MORE AUTO LAYER SORTING
Layers were always sorted by layer type: camera layers first, containers last. In this new version, by unmarking the SORT LAYERS ON LAYER TYPE checkbox in the SETTINGS > GENERAL OPTIONS... dialog, you can order the layers as you like. Freely move them around with ALT [ ].
AUTO FOLDING LAYERS HIERARCHY
By marking the AUTO FOLDING LAYERS HIERARCHY checkbox in the same options dialog, child layers of not selected root layers are hidden in the layers dropdown. This makes it easier to see the structure of a show.
SHOW TOOLWINDOW ON STARTUP
By marking the ALWAYS SHOW TOOl WINDOW ON STARTUP checkbox you no longer have to select SETTINGS > TOOl WINDOW after double clicking a .bt file.
8.4 is a free upgrade and available from the download page:
outerspace-software.com...
These upgrades are awesome! Word of warning to new users though. MERGING LAYERS: This is not a beginners feature. When it says Merge Shows, it means every layer!!! Cameras, ambient light, point lights, all of it and that means they'll double up. Could be very confusing if you're not use to working with multiples. What's gonna be amazing about it though is, now we can build complex elements then save them as a stand alone shows to be imported where needed.
TWO THUMBS WAY UP!!!
michiel with this feature, we now really need a way to collapse Containers. Any way at all this might be possible? I have a single chain drive that's over 100 layers long. It would be nice to import that in as an element and close it down to a single visible layer.
BillyJack, 12 years ago
BillyJack, what you call "collapse containers" is 5th new feature as described above.
michiel, 12 years ago
HOLLY COW! I was so pumped about the merge, I hadn't made it that far in down the list of features. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!
BillyJack, 12 years ago
Fantastic new features.
Many many thanks.
When can we start a feature request for the next version?
IBMedia, 12 years ago
OK ... maybe we wait until next week then ....
IBMedia, 12 years ago
Being serious for a moment though ...
I do a lot of programming, so I REALLY appreciate how much effort must have gone into these changes ....
... and it's impossible to express how much I am in awe of Bluff Titler and how it has developed over the years.
I've only been a BluffTitler owner for a relatively short time (just over 7 months) and it has been enhanced several times during my short ownership.
BIG KUDOS to Michiel and the BluffTitler team.
IBMedia, 12 years ago
Michiel, very focused and smart upgrade!
These new features are so useful. I found myself wanting these features without even realizing how badly until you delivered them!
One glitch; When using the "Always show tool window on startup" option, The menus at the top display as if the tool window were not open. Once I use F11 to hide then show tool window, all is well.
Great upgrade!!! LONG LIVE BLUFF!!!
IntroChamp, 12 years ago
Michiel great. these new features comes out great for my next job
maitegras, 12 years ago
... also, the save "Command S" presents an empty name dialog at times. Necessitating the need to re-key the file name.
IntroChamp, 12 years ago
Vincent, I think you have to press the STOP button. You can't add a layer when the show is playing.
The other 2 issues reported by IntroChamp have been fixed in 8.4.0.1.
Thank you all for the reports!
michiel, 12 years ago
Solved with 8.4.0.1. Thank you Michiel.
(with 8.4.0.0 problem exists with stopped show)
vincent, 12 years ago
fantastic
loved
like to see in a future update ...
add a container into another container. =)
Carlos Marques, 12 years ago
Excellent additions.
Per, 12 years ago
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About michiel
Michiel den Outer is the founder and lead coder of Outerspace Software. He lives in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
If he isn't busy improving BluffTitler, he is playing the piano or rides the Dutch dikes on his bikes.
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Contact michiel by using the comment form on this page or at info@outerspace-software.com