In the Timing option in the PRT Loader, when you select “Load Single Frame Only,” by default frame 1 is loaded from the active partitions.
Couldn’t the frame offset be used in some way to select which frame is loaded from the partitions? i.e. Frame offset of 50 means frame 50 is loaded? This would be very handy when you’re adjusting the transform of the loader to align to scene objects.
-Adam
It should load the exact file you pick, so you should be able to pick frame 50 in the file picker to load the frame you want.
I wanted to avoid messing with the filenames at all in that mode, to allow for loading .prt files with no frame number, or with unrealistic frame numbers, without any difficulty.
Cheers,
Mark
Sorry Mark, I don’t quite follow you.
In my animation - if I want to examine frame 50 only of partitions 1 thru 6 - as far as I can tell the process is:
- Select Load Single Frame Only
- Click “Add File Sequence”
- Select “gu_06_v29__part1of5_0050.prt”
- Select “Yes to Load All Partitions”
- I then see “gu_06_v29__part1of5_0050.prt etc” loaded up in file sequence.
- If I turn off “Load Single Frame Only” the particles then load sequentially as normal
- Turn on again, I’ve just got 50 loaded.
Have I got that right?
Problem is - commonly I’d need to check the particles on multiple frames throughout the sequence. This method means I have to remove all selected sequences and reload them, this time using a different frame.
Sorry to be awkward - I’m just too used to using pointcaches I guess. I like to just point the loader at my cache files and be able to use a single value to offset the times.
Maybe the Load Single Frame Only needs to have a frame value next to it? Default = 1?
Cheers,
Adam
We decided to disable the Frame Offset if you have specified to show one frame only.
BUT the good news is that we added Playback Graph controls just like in PointCache2, so you can load a whole sequence, then enable Playback Graph and keyframe which file to load on which frame. It is similar to Frame Offset, but the current time does not run, the Playback Graph spinner defines the exact frame to show. So if you don’t animate the Playback Graph but just set it to a constant value of 50, frame 50 will be shown on all frames, giving you just what you asked for.
Obviously, you would be able to use the Playback Graph for whatever you want, including ping-pong playback, gradual slow down or speed up of sequences including freezing particle playback mid-scene for Matrix-like bullet time effects and whatnot. :o)
Cheers,
Borislav “Bobo” Petrov
Technical Director 3D VFX
Frantic Films Winnipeg
We decided to disable the Frame Offset if you have specified to show one frame only.
Gah - that’s disappointing. That would have simplified things
PointCache2 was exactly what I was thinking of - I’m always rescaling and retiming point caches for my crowd stuff.
Are these new controls that are on the way?
Yep, the Playback Graph control is already in our internal build and we will bring it to you ASAP.
Borislav “Bobo” Petrov
Technical Director 3D VFX
Frantic Films Winnipeg
Would be cool if you could load from multiple frames.
So if the playback graph said 32.3, load 30% from frame 33, and 70% from frame 32.
Or if the slope was really steep, load from more than two frames…
- Chad
And some smooth Spline Interpolation between the Particles Positions would be really nice.
So slowing down an already finished system would be possible without the jumps or oversampling…
Rob 
Yeah, if the index is the same, and you aren’t changing the count, that would be really cool.
Like particle morph targets!
- Chad
Exactly, secondary particle timing!
And applying modifiers on cacheswould be
great also, as it would be possible
to save out eg explosion clips and fit
them into different positions …
Rob
Maybe THAT’s what Bobo was hinting at? Simplemods would be easy, at least.
Hmm… Maybe you could apply Lattice?
- Chad