Change Log

Released: 31st Mar 2006

NEW TOOLS : Duration & speed tools
The old timeline Speed Tool has been dropped to make way for a much better alternative. As well as "Set Length" (now renamed "Set Duration") we have added the "Set Speed" contextual menu option. This not only allows you to change the rate of your movie objects but it also allows you to "re-time" your keyframes to easily speed up and slow down animation. Changes and additions to this part of the program are listed below.
- Duration dialog
- - "Length" tool renamed to "Duration"
- - Duration simply crops the object from IN frame to the set timecode/frames desired
- - Duration now has a fully working undo function.
- Speed dialog
- - This can be found in the objects contextual menu - right-click an object on the timeline
- - Allows for retiming an object by percentage or timecode duration
- - There is an option to re-time keyframes - this can result in less keyframes (where they overlap when speed is increased) and can not be undo (yet)
- - Simple undo command for this tool appart from keyframe retiming
- These tools contain the following NEW language strings :-
- - string_duration
- - string_set_speed
- - title_input_timecode_length
- - title_input_frame_length
- - title_input_speed_rate
- - title_input_speed_frames
- - title_input_speed_timecode
- - speed_keyframe_retime
- - speed_incorrect_speed
- - speed_keyframe_retime_warning_a (translation needs checking)
- - speed_keyframe_retime_warning_b (translation needs checking)

NEW FEATURE : Multiple language support
This is the first version of the programs which supports multiple languages. For new users this is set in a dialog when you first run the program, for reinstallers this can be set in the preferences.
- Five languages are included as standard (although International English is the only fully supported language).
- Language files cover over 95% of the application text!
- - International English
- - Deutsch
- - Español
- - Français
- - Italiano
- New dialog added for new users to select language before the application starts the interface.
- New option in the preferences to change language (which activates when the program is restarted).
- This feature contain the following NEW language strings :-
- - language_selection (translation needs checking)

NEW VIEW : Grade view
The grade view allows you to edit a single layer at full size so that even if its bigger than the canvas you can easily work with it and see the effects of your filter. This view specifically allows you to easily work with filters which have an origin point after you've animated/distorted the object.
- Grade view added as the new default for grade section on the timeline.
- "Blur : Radial" updated to work correctly.
- "Blur : Zoom" updated to work correctly.
- "Waves : Circular" updated to work correctly.
- This view contain the following NEW language strings :-
- - view_grade_selected

Render engine
- Updated compiles of our core imaging code with slight speed improvements across the board (Windows only).
- Additional render logic to increase speed when filters are applied but switched off.
- Preview emitters should now update correctly when switched on and off.
- Image export now correctly reinterlaces your footage in split field projects (just like it does for movie export).
- Frame grabber changes for improved accuracy due to new speed function (see above).
- Object properties now tell you if a composite filter is overiding the blend mode of an object.
- White line showing in some filters has now been fixed.

Shapes engine
- NEW : Feather guide toggle on shape menu - this allows you to switch off the feather guide for more accurate shape placement.
- All shapes (garbage matte, mask and lightsword) now have additional error protection to stop errors when they are made massive.
- The pointer selection tool now works correctly on garbage mattes allowing you to easily select multiple points.
- This tool contain the following NEW language strings :-
- - shape_popmenu_feather_visible (translation needs checking)

Projects & file I/O
- Significant testing to improve the time taken to load and save project files.
- - Loading project files is now up to 4 times faster.
- - Saving project files in now up to 10 times faster.
- Split field projects should now show timecode in fields per second rather than frames per second. i.e. A split field NTSC project is now 59.94 fields per second.

Media
- Images no longer have a playhead in the media browser.
- Images can now be stretched with the crop tool on the timeline.
- Files with offline DirectShow or QuickTime media no longer cause an errors when reopened.
- The applications now automatically checks for offline media in 2 extra locations other than only the path saved in the project file.
- When opening a project created by another user and/or computer the program now automatically creates a new temp folder in the standard location.
- - In the same directory as the project file.
- - In the same directory as the project file & "\media\".
- - These changes make tutorial projects easier to create and allow for distribution of projects more easily.

Filters & effects engines
- Day-for-night
- - The gamma level was incorrectly inverted in this VisionLab HD filter and has been fixed. Projects using this filter will need to have the gamma value of the filter changed - this can be done inside the project itself. The following grading presets have been effected, please delete them in the grade preset browser and download and install the updated versions from the website - Bright Sun, Red Alert Pro, Lights Out.
- Lightspill
- - Changes to the lightspill filter could effect your current projects and cause unpredicted results. When you load an older (pre 940) project the blend mode might be changed by 940 due to this update. To fix this simply change the blend mode in the effected lightspill filters back to their original setting and resave the project. No presets are effected by this change.
- Muzzle flash & particle engine
- - Crashing bug fixed with particle rendering code (Macintosh only).

Interface
- Significantly upgraded pasting of objects to be vastly more predictable and useful.
- Pressing RETURN / ENTER now adds a keyframe on the current frame for the value of the highlighted field.
- Some general menu and popmenu quirks fixed.
- The canvas quad line thickness bug on zooming in and out is now fixed.
- Several bug fixes.

Graphics
- Application credits and splash have been updated to include the current beta testing team.
- The download of latest update and news details from FXhome.com can now be made application and version specific if needed.
- The installer and application splash has been updated to the final release look.