New Script - OpenGL Previews

[MoonDoggie]

If you're like me and do a lot of pre-vis and consistently have to send out OpenGL Stills and Animations of your cameras to see what they look like, then you know how much of a pain in the ass it is every. single. time.

I wrote a script to automate the pain in doing this process.

http://www.colinsenner.com/scripts




OpenGL Previews Features

• Automatically detects the Keyframes on a camera allowing the script to automate the process of figuring them out (Detects the last frame on either the camera or the target, if you're using a dummy to animate to, this will not currently detect the frames on it, I'll add it if people animate this way a lot (I don't usually)).
• Works with all camera types.
• Works with still and animated cameras
• Max2012 compatible (tested with 2011 as well, probably works fine with 2010 too, let me know if you've tried it)

I love this script and hope you will too, should save you tons of time if you find yourself doing this like I do.

Cheers,
Colin

[MoonDoggie]

I guess I'm alone doing this :P. Anyone try it? Experiences with it?

[cgrant3d]

Tried it but didn't do anything... No error or anything - dialog comes up with cameras listed but clicking "Generate Previews" doesn't do anything.

[MoonDoggie]

Oh, you need to select the cameras you want to generate previews from in the multilistbox. Apologies, probably should tell the user that.

[MoonDoggie]

Let me know when you try again Chris, and thanks!

[burtonr]

Works great for me, thanks for this

[MoonDoggie]

Glad to hear. It's saved me at least 2 hours already at least. I'm in love.

[Neilg]

I've not done animation in a while, but this wouldve saved me a load of time at my last job, and will again soon - so thanks

[trixian]

Slightly unrelated.
I'm curious if it would be possible to make previews in 2012 (Nitrous) where the frame is grabbed after refinement, and not just the "unrefined" one.
I find the quality of the viewport stuff good enough to show people without having to explain how it's going to look later on while the model is WIP (at least with a simple setup with standard lights and materials, as Vray lights and materials don't really behave right in the viewport.... i.e. vray dome light acting as an omni instead of mimicking the standard skylight).
Would there be any way to get the previews to complete each refinement pass each frame before saving it?

[Laserschwert]

I'm curious if it would be possible to make previews in 2012 (Nitrous) where the frame is grabbed after refinement, and not just the "unrefined" one.

There's a script for that right HERE.

[MoonDoggie]

Yeah, I can look into incorporating the nitrous viewport as well after specified seconds for refinement.

[trixian]

There's a script for that right HERE.

Tried it, but it is unreasonably slow. Even if one sets the refinement quality to really low, it still uses the same insane amount of time per frame regardless.

[MoonDoggie]

That's why I just use opengl screengrab animations and stills. The quality is enough for me to check composition easily and if you have a semi-artistic client, it allows them to see their shot reasonable well.

[zoranm]

You may try using VrayRT with restricted time for refinemant. It works quite well.

z.

[MoonDoggie]

another possibility for this script, and a good idea.