Thanks Selina.....I was hoping that someplace there was a layer copy and paste as I can have two BT shows running at the same time.

On the other hand, having to rebuild layers does enhance the learning experience! LOL

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

I always have a fear of making recommendations like that as most are programming nightmares.

Surely I'm not the first to wish for this.

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

@Selina......should I send my idea/suggestion to the info@outerspace or start a new thread to the attn. of Michiel

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

@Salina......ok, and should I disappear from the community you'll know the idea wasn't too highly thought of ....LOL

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

I always merge the whole show (CONTROL M) and then delete the layers I'm not interested in, like the camera and light layers.

Using the clipboard is a good suggestion, thanks!

I'm also thinking about a dialog where you can select the layers you are interested in. But maybe deleting the others afterwards is just as easy.

michiel, 7 years ago

@Michiel & Salina

Let me explain as a new kid......
If I merge a whole show with another it will be tough to sort out the unwanted and wanted layers.
If I erase all the layers sans one to merge, I can see me accidentally saving and losing my show.

Maybe a little added option as in the attached picture, and then under Edit there would be an option to paste a layer. Something really simple....for us Senior Kids! LOL

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

Maybe it's the presets your are looking for. By using the PRESET menu items you can load and save all layer settings, except its animation.

I rarely use the merge functionality, but I can't live without the presets.

michiel, 7 years ago

@michiel

Let present this example if I may:

I have a show with a smoke effect coming out of the stack of a steam locomotive.

Now I'm going to create a show with smoke coming from the stack of a steam ship.

I want to be able to open the old locomotive show, copy the smoke layer, and paste it in to my new ship show.

I don't want to merge the locomotive to the ship and then try to figure out what should stay and what should go.

I really don't want to erase all out of the locomotive to merge with the ship because I know me. With all but one layer removed when I go to close the locomotive file it will ask me to save and I'll answer yes and now my old locomotive file is GONE.

I guess I should save the locomotive to a new copy XYZ file and do all the deleting, then a merge and move on.

But over the years I have become attached to a copy and paste world and don't understand why I can't do it here in BT. Simply grab a layer from one place and drop it in another.

Maybe my wish would not be that useful to most users, or be too great a headache to incorporate. I have a knack for coming up with those kinds of ideas......LOL

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

Easiest way is to save your smoke effect as a preset: select the particle layer and choose PRESET > SAVE PRESET AS...

Next time you create a new particle layer your own preset is visible in the preset dialog.

michiel, 7 years ago

@Michiel

Why is it that if I save in the preset options App or Personal when I select load neither of the options is available?

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

Because the open preset dialog displays the contents of both folders.

Note that it only displays presets of the same layer type as the active layer.

For example if the active layer is a plasma layer and you choose PRESET > LOAD PRESET, only the plasma layer presets are shown. This is done because it would not make sense to load a particle layer preset into a plasma layer.

It also takes attached layers into account. A particle layer attached to another layer (as made with the ATTACH PARTICLES TO ACTIVE LAYER... button) is another preset type than a particle layer that is standing on its own (as made with the ADD PARTICLE LAYER... button)

For these reasons the standard Windows file dialog can't be used.

michiel, 7 years ago

Thank you sir.....some how I did not understand that at all....

Got it working fine now....it's a family member so I can't post it to show you....might get in trouble..LOL

I'll keep watch the tutorials and reading over and over

Thanks again Michiel

SMSgtRod, 7 years ago

Previous articleNext articleCommunity home