More compact Layer properties and extra functionality

[Kwadrope]

I have written a lot again with some ideas and changes I would like to see and from which I think that they would increase workflow greatly. Keep in mind that this represents MY views to improve upon an already great program. It is lengthy but please read it all and if there are questions or remarks still, I'd be happy to answer them.



I'd like to see in the next TVP that the layers are more comprehensive and functional

Working is all about workspace and I like working with the minimal layer look but it is flawed .


Minimized Layer
I'd like a new minimized layer look with
1)Visible LT (lightable) rectangle,nect to the Lock rectangle. Right now you only see the lock button and transparancy bar ,but you really need to see all the LT rectangles to know where it is active .

2)Smaller transparancy bar,only as large as the digits it needs. It takes too much space now. when you drag the transparancy, let it show a longer bar only in that case(like photoshop,corel painter,etc...).

Might even be color coded for mor visibility (green fully opaque,red fully transarent,orange anything in between,but not necessary.)

3)Multiply,color and other blend modes also in a rectangle with 3 letter abbreviations,or possibly even full length (because of all the space you save from shortening the transparency bar).


this is needed to see at a glance what properties your layer has ,ESPECIALLY the LT box because I always need to search and open and close layers to find a leftover lighttable setting.



Layer Look and functionality
The layer with the images itself could also be better when minimized
1)Remove title and add the timing boxes.the title of the layer is already visible to the left so it's present 2 times,which is not needed. It would be nice if the selection boxes to time the animation (the little grey boxes "left up" and "right down" each exposure) were still present in minimal view. thumbnail images are not necessary then,they are mostly too small anyway even in expanded layer view.

2)Make the images selectable so you can select a range of images,again so you don't have to open and close the layer each time (normally you make a selection below the images). It could be like making selections in the xsheet view: press "shift+drag" to select a range. and expand functionality by adding "ctrl+select" for multiple non sequential images.

I know shift drag is now needed to drag a layer before 0 on the timeline,but that is hardly necessary or could be put on CTRL+Shift+Drag

3) Blank,empty frames between layer images Make it possible for images in a single layer to not be needed to be blank until the animation in that layer resumes.
Meaning: Sometimes on a layer ,animation happens, pauses without even a drawing and resumes with new drawings. now you are FORCED to put blank images between those to instances where animation happens,which clutters everything unnecessarilly.

http://www.davidhellman.net/blog/wp-con ... meline.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.larkinheather.com/blog/entri ... eping7.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

these timelines illustrate what I mean; it's white when there is nothing ,and filled when there is something.

4)Drag and dropping of images If layers and images were more easily selectable Drag and dropping could be added to the layer manipulation possibilities. Even with shortcuts its a hassle to always HAVE to cut and paste. Let us drag and drop,much more visual,and much faster,in my opinion.

5)Middle mouse buttons scrolls layers. When rolling "middle mouse button" scroll down and up in timeline depending on where you hover.
Right now you adjust the drawing view,which is not needed while working in the timeline view.

so:
-when hovering on drawing view -> adjust zoom
-when hovering above layer view-> scroll between layers

6)When changing layer Blend mode with multiple layers selected change blend mode for ALL selected layers



XSHEET
and finally the xsheet now is a bit crooked. It needs to work TOGETHER with the timeline,but for now it is separated and clunky. it's a hassle to import and adjust. The left portion of the xsheet is good as it is and you should just be able to view the layers and their images as such. A kind of auto-numbering function would differentiate the images with exposures and repeats and double drawings numbered and colored (same like xsheet layers now,but without the need to make an xhseet layer)

If you do this you can let go of the right portion which serves only for importing ,and you'lle have more screen estate. and you need less layers in the Timeline and xsheetview.

You need to be able to view the timeline and the xsheet together. So make them in a different window.

I know this is fundamentally different then the Xsheet now,and you need to have some kind of Image ID on the images to make this work well with duplicates and exposures,but I think it would make verything easier and more transparent.

[Fabrice]

thanks for the feedback

[uwehoeck]

Layer folders would be quite helpful to store Layouts/STB/BG seperatly from animation or modelsheets/posing etc.

[Fabrice]

Layer folders would be quite helpful to store Layouts/STB/BG seperatly from animation or modelsheets/posing etc.

We actually use the color layer system.

[Kwadrope]

Layer folders would be quite helpful to store Layouts/STB/BG seperatly from animation or modelsheets/posing etc.

We actually use the color layer system.

Those ARE pretty useful,but limited


say I have a background with different elements that I want to join or keep together
and another background,and a crowd,and some secundary animation and so on...there's only so much colors and sometimes naming your group is a lot simpler to order stuff ,or to send your work to other people and still be comprehensive.

if you could make your own colors AND name them or give them a nametag or something and then choose to hide them from a drop down menu (so it can expand indefinitely) to hide them,then it might not be groups,but at least we'd have expanded functionality


but groups remain handy
look at photoshop,or corel painter ,toonboom and so on... not only are the lists indented which makes for nice readability of what is together,when you move them they ALL stay together,you can hide the group and ALL layers in that group are hidden,AND in toonboom you can put an effect on a single group and it is applied to ALL the layers. And then even,you can have Groups IN Groups for even more ordening power!
you can use the keyframer to move a group around,but still move stuff seperately in those groups,etc,etc,etc..

Just saying that there is more to grouping that can't be solved with colors.

[slowtiger]

The colour tagging doesn't do much for me - or am I using them wrong?

The only thing I can do with a group of same coloured layers is that I can show or collapse them in the timeline - that's all. This doesn't change their visibility in the project window, nor does it select all of them for other manipulations.

[Paul Fierlinger]

Color tagging is great, even with the kind of simplicity it has right now. I give certain characters their own color. I also work on several clips at the same time (the wonders of the Project Tab) but the character is seldom on the same layer. But when tagged with a color my eye goes right to the correct spot.

I agree that it would be nice to make a group of layers locked to any changes done globally to visible layers by assigning them a collective color, but just to be able to hide layers from view that never (or seldom) need to be changed makes for a more manageable Timeline Panel.

Another way I use colors is when I write notes for Sandra about something that needs to be done with a certain layer, I give it a color which is faster to locate than just by name.

[Elodie]

nor does it select all of them for other manipulations.

select colors layers.png (18.48 KiB) Viewed 29764 times

[Paul Fierlinger]

I never knew this existed ! But I see one problem already. When I highlight all the layers and lock/unlock them, the hidden layers get unlocked as well. They should stay locked.

[Elodie]

I never knew this existed !

The right click is your best friend with TVPaint

When I highlight all the layers and lock/unlock them, the hidden layers get unlocked as well. They should stay locked.

Hmm, it's not evident, because you maybe want to unlocked them (and if they are hide, whatever, as you cannot draw on a hide layer)

[Mads Juul]

Hmm, it's not evident, because you maybe want to unlocked them (and if they are hide, whatever, as you cannot draw on a hide layer)

If it was possible for me through George to detect whether a layer color is hidden or not then we could do custom
george script to obtain the desired function for instance NOT select the hidden layers. as I also would prefer I think.
-Mads

[uwehoeck]

I never knew this existed !

The right click is your best friend with TVPaint

I can't access this context menu. Is there something wrong with my fingers/mouse/brain/TVP-Version (9.5.18)?

[Paul Fierlinger]

RMB on top of the color at the very bottom of the layer panel.

[uwehoeck]

Thanks!