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I came across this while looking for something else on the net and thought this maybe a feature worth adding. Image Styles
A seamless tile generator that does a really good job and they have a developers library that can be integrated into other software.
Allthough my title sounds different, that's exactly what I proposed hereQuote:
Originally Posted by angelize
Way to go, Frances
I looked at the separate seamless tile generator, Seamless Factory, and this suite of programs looks like the "find of the month" if you ask me!
I have a Redfield seamless tile "workshop" type plug-in, but it is very counter-intuitive and the results are less than phenomenal....much less. ;)
I only played for a few moments (yet) in the program you shared, but can already see that it is super-useful.
Especially for 3D work it is important to have seamless resources. Getting close in (camera-wise) to mapped image objects will show whether one started with a hi-res or low-res image. Having a seamless tile, in the general case, will make it so that you can have the appropriate resolution.
Again, Frances, great find!
THANKS
James
I use Pattern Studio at http://www.mediachance.com/patternstudio/index.html and it works very well.
Hello ZEBtoonz,
That looks like a cool program. It appears that it makes Normal maps, as well.
Thanks for the info!
James
I still think that it would be cool if xara had this built right in, and you could simply access it from the right click menu or some thing like that.
I've always used Xara to create seamless tiles, I even did a mini tut on it somewhere on here if anybody cares to dig it up. It's so simple, you really don't need a plug-in.
have to agree with Frank
in the same way as why would you need a shape editor tool if you could actually draw...>:)
Just try the proposed Software out (either Seamless Factory or Pattern Studio) and you'll figure right away what's the advantage of having Wysiwyg-Seamless Creation!Quote:
Originally Posted by beretgascon
Both products seem abandonware though, no Updates for several years, Patternstudio even doesn't work correctly on Win7 64 (Support-Staff doesn't answer).
Therefore I really appreciated a nice (vector-based) Xara interpretation. It should be darn easy to add - one basically needs a script to create identical instances (which have minimal Memory Footprint).
To make the output any useful for Deformation in 3D-Packages one however needed to be able to export Vectors as 16 Bit Greyscale Images. Again something which should be easy but would open up a new field of use for Xara.
and that says something.. no?Quote:
Originally Posted by polyxo
oh and xara does not do scripts, xara is on record as saying 'don't hold your breath scripts are not going to happen any time soon' because due to the way xara is coded scripts are not easy to do
Having a Software not even work properly in 32 Bit mode on a 64 Bit OS which is out for two years and not answering Support means that it's no longer properly supported, yes.Quote:
and that says something.. no?
While having User-Script wouldn't hurt too I was actually thinking of Scripts written and built into the Application by one of Xara's Programmers.Quote:
oh and xara does not do scripts, xara is on record as saying 'don't hold your breath scripts are not going to happen any time soon' because due to the way xara is coded scripts are not easy to do.
Seriously: It should not take longer than an hour to have something pretty much looking like Pattern Studio.
you know the xara code well then?
I wonder where I stepped on your feet...
Handrawn, there's things which are programmatically easy, regardless of Language used.
Having Vectors tile seamlessly is easy to add, trust me.
everything is easy in isolation - the proof is in integrating it into the existing modular system, trust me ;)
I have tried Seamless Factory which is why I create seamless tile patterns like this.Quote:
Originally Posted by polyxo
I'm afraid you will not convince me here...Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
I personally am more interested in Vector Patterns from Xara but also on photographic output WYSIWYG would help greatly.Quote:
Originally Posted by beretgascon
You will know that it's not just seams which may make Patterning obvious when used in 3D-contexts but also too prominent repeating features.
Having the Image tile already in the viewport while being able to edit it in realtime would be awesome for fine-tuning.
And a Feature which the much more expensive Photoshop does not have, not even with Plugins.
Frank that link does not work for me :eek:
Try that linkQuote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
thanks
Let me put it this way, for those who do web design this feature would be a great help, in this quick screen shot I used a trial version of seamless factory to quickly create 3 very different tiles from the same group of quick shapes, copied and pasted from XDP to Seamless Factory and in less than 5 mins created the different repeating tiles took screenshots and pasted them back into Xara (the trial of SF has the save function disabled) now imagine being able to do this directly from Xara, and then be able to set the tile as a web page background. You could quickly make seamless tiles from photos, vector drawings, etc. Imagine taking your website client"s logo and quickly turning it into a repeating background for their site with out needing to spend time precisely aligning multiple copies, which if are even slightly out will not tile correctly!
I would love to hear from John Horn or one of the other Xara developers what their impressions of this are.
Attachment 84977
I would rather Xara spent their time and resources on one of the many neglected vector features people have been asking for for years, like for example the ability to create your own line styles, I find the ones supplied to be sorely limiting.
we have all been wanting that one for a long time, I've given up hope that we will get it.
I have to disagree Steve, the fact that this is a niche market (as evidenced by the likes of the seemingly inert Pattern Studio) means that the features should be adopted by a company (Xara/Magix) that has a big enough fan base and is not a one-trick pony, so that the feature could well be absorbed into the program, survive and thrive.Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
No mention yet of Filter Forge (v 3.0 in beta) which seem to be doing OK, or TextureMaker (last update July 2007) which doesn't. :rolleyes::(
Bob.
I am of the same opinion as Frances.
Tiling images is something that is useful for 2D artists (and web designers) as much as for 3D artists. It's not a niche, this "effect" would have universal appeal.
Seeing the image tiling AS you are editing it makes sure that it is done right and allows precision that working on the single tile alone does not afford. Most web pages need a background ;) and this effect would allow infinite possibilities and a wysiwyg way of achieving it. Sounds right up Xara's alley for cool, new ideas with a lot of usefulness.
I have used the manual methods, as mentioned here as well as what I would call the "repeat and displace" options and though they OFTEN work, it is far from ideal and it is time consuming. As Xara is the "fastest drawing program", it seems the perfect home for this type of plug-in/effect.
Just playing for a short time with seamless tile editor (as per Frances' initial post) shows that there are many very creative, aesthetically pleasing patterns that can "pop up" while experimenting.
Additionally, when using this to make TILES, it only makes sense to be able to see them AS TILES while editing.
What a really cool addition it would make.
Those that are suggesting manual methods over the power of these types of plug-ins, just do not fully understand. (imo)
I know this isn't a democracy, but more than any other "wished for" feature for Xara (that I have read), I really would like to see this one see the light of day. It gets my vote "best addition to Xara with far-ranging potential." ;)
Peace
James
Hi Bob nice to hear from you, as a long term user and creator of tiles on this forum :)
I have no idea whether this is a niche market or not - but it seems that there is difficulty in getting the idea off the ground in the market place was all I meant
I think I fully understand the point that is being made about seamless tile editors - and my response is 'fine' lets use a specialist third party one
I am not saying this of anyone posting here, but I am often amused by those who on the one hand say the program is the fastest one around and on the other hand want bells and whistles bolted on left right and centre
Yes it could be done as a plugin or a live effect - mind you as many moan about live effects as they do about bloat...
Perhaps it could be done as a separate program - like xara3D - except I'm not sure Xara are up for that
Handrawn,
again, please don't take offense but I believe you are drastically over-complicating things.
All there was required was an option to redraw dumb instances of items which are already rendered inside the Buffer.
We are living in times where 3D Programs replicate thousands of people, all with motion capture applied and lets them
walk on a Street with Collision Detection. Even a Beginner can script the required Repeat-Function for Seamless tiling inside
CAD-Programs.
There's no separate program required but just a "tile" checkbox inside the GUI which could work on anything displayed on the current page.
Anyone who doesn't need to tile anything could leave that Box unchecked forever.
As a graphic artist I find myself needing to create textures or pattern time and time again.
A repeating function would be very useful.
When it comes to making repeating pattern in vector. Artlandia is the best. But its very expensive.
And you dont need those mirror, cyclic kind of patterns that artlandia have, since you can create them yourself if you just can make an image repeat.
http://www.artlandia.com/products/SymmetryWorks/
Now that xara has clones, it should be a bit easier to just make this function.
But I agree, we also need customizable lines.
polyxo:
hopefully no offence anywhere - we are just discussing :D
yes I can see that you think I am over complicating things , but what I am not doing is over simplifying things ;)
these dumb instances that you require redrawn are redrawn in real time - right? - otherwise there is not much point in the exercise a I see it
so then you have to take into account why xara designer has 'one of the fastest rendering engines on the planet' - it was specially written in machine code
now all this may be completely irrelevant - I don't know - but what I am not going to do is assume that it would be easy to make the modifications you suggest work
good luck though, I can see that it would be appreciated
Good.Quote:
hopefully no offence anywhere - we are just discussing :D
Well, I think Assembler has already done its work when something is ready to be displayed.
Instancing is a super fast thing, one doesn't need much Memory, Multiprocessing or a super fast machine.
It does not play a role speed-wise to display one cube on Screen or 10000 and File-Size doesn't get much larger
than the original Cube. I'll gladly set up an example for you.
no need for an example I am sure that what you say is correct in itself
lets hope any implementation is straight forward
If you want the best seamless tile maker check out http://repperpatterns.com/ - yest you do have to pay for it but you will be amazed by what it can do.
Christine
Looks very neat!Quote:
Originally Posted by Christine Farrelly
It however only works with single objects, only supports Bitmaps ( no Vector-Data) and it only saves with 8Bit per Channel.
The last makes it pretty much useless for 3D Work.
Also there's no options to make a non tiling Input seamless to begin with...
One is limited to its caleidoscopic auto-tiling using simple Blur.
if you want more than 8bits per channel that rules xara out from the word go does it not.....
No, apart from the fact that writing them is not currently supported. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
16 Bit were only required as an option for Greyscale-Imagery anyway.
Patterned Output in 8 Bit such as also written by Repper, Pattern-Studio
or Seamless Factory is fine to Paint Colour on 3D Objects.
But one can not properly use the same Bitdepth for Deformation.
Thanks, Christine
That's a great program! Was lost in it for at least an hour.
So great for seamless tiles for 2D and 3D patterns...
Since the tile is seamless, it always wraps perfectly, has no edges, and can be virtually any resolution... WOW!
Attachment 84987
I'll be buying this one!
Thanks, again
James
You may also want to take a look at Genetica from Spiral Graphics: http://www.spiralgraphics.biz/genetica.htm A limited version called Wood Workshop can be downloaded for free.
Well, to round things up - there's still one left unmentioned (Substance Designer by Allegorithmic). :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Boy
Still, none of them does allow Vector and Bitmap Tiling as it was pretty easily possible with Xara. The closest App is Pattern-Studio but it is no longer in development.