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Limitations of working in TS6 mode in TS7.5?
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Limitations of working in TS6 mode in TS7.5? // Roundtable
Post by Paul Boland // Aug 9, 2007, 8:17am
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Paul Boland
Total Posts: 383
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Right, while I've messed around with TrueSpace 7.5 since I've had it, I haven't actually committed the time needed to grasp it. My Ma's one year passing anniversary is this Sunday so my mind is kind of elsewhere at the moment, but today I sat down and started to finally get a feel for the new TrueSpace.
First thing I noticed was that it's not 800 x 600 friendly, not at all. Forget about it! This is the resolution I work at but I do up the resolution for some programs that also aren't 800 x 600 friendly, so I did so for TrueSpace 7.51. However, while a resolution of 1024 x 768 offers more space, after a bit of messing around some more, I realised that it's still not really enough space, particulary when you have three floating windows open, or are working in quad-view mode.
Umm...
So I went to the manual for a quick look at the chapter on the interface and there I found a line that said to work effectively, you need at least a resolution of 1280 x 1024. No problem, I have a lovely GeForce 6800 256Mb graphics card sitting at the heart of my PC, so I went and up-ed it...
And then...
OUCH!!!!!!
My graphics card may be able to handle ultra crazy high resolutions, but my monitor can't. While it did accept a resolution of 1280 x 1024, the display was distorted, it was squashed. A perfect square would looked like a tall rectangle. Also, I'm missing a few pixels from the right side of my monitor, can't see all the right edge.
When I loaded TrueSpace 7.51 at this resolution and did a bit of testing, the room to work is there again, but I can't work like this. Cubes look like rectangles, spheres are eggs! So I had to come back down to 1024 x 768.
Now I spent a half hour trying to sort out my room problem and I did manage to set up a somewhat ok layout, but it ain't great. It was then that I saw the TrueSpace 6 button above. I throught the Model view was this, but it's not. TrueSpace 6 mode eliminates the work bar that takes over the right hand side of the screen and gives you a less cluttered, more open work area. In essence, it gives you an old TrueSpace look.
Within minutes I had my screen layout matching how I work with TrueSpace 5 and all was well. But is it all well?
Although I'm using TrueSpace 7.51, I'm working in TrueSpace 6 mode. Do I have access to all the tools in TrueSpace 7.51 via the TrueSpace 6 interface or will I need to switch back to the 7.51 interface to get access to all the new tools, such as hair and the likes that came in with 7.51? |
Post by prodigy // Aug 9, 2007, 11:55am
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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...a resolution of 1280 x 1024,
that res is for wide screens..
must use 1280x 960px |
Post by TomG // Aug 9, 2007, 11:57am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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The tS6.6 interface is literally tS6.6, so there is no access to the new tools as those require the new architecture to work (and that was why we have a new architecture, to add in all the new tools requested by users over the years :) )
So all the new tools like edge loops, hair, new SDS algorithm, skeletons, etc can only be accessed in the workspace, and not in the Modeler.
On the subject of resolutions, second hand monitors are very cheap - I run two, the largest of which is 1600 x 1200, and cost me $35. Sure its just a regular old CRT, but can't beat the price! Interestingly I found it in the local bank, they were selling off their old monitors.
One of the best $35 I've ever spent I can tell you! Dual monitors are also great, my second monitor is smaller (1280 x 1024) but does the trick, and makes a huge different to all my workflow. I picked that monitor up second hand for around $50 a year or two before I got the other one.
So don't despair, better resolution could be within reach! Also it is possible to use tS effectively in 1024x768, we record our videos at that size. I agree 800x600 would be too small to be effective.
Dont forget you can close up the tabs for the rigth hand stack, or the lower AE etc. Also you can maximise one window with a double click. With those operations, you should find the workspace side just as effective as the tS6.6 Model side in the same resolution (since it will be a very similar display in fact, with no LE, AE, stack etc added it will just be the 3D views and toolbars).
You could also save favorite layouts and swap between them quick if you wanted to do some major alterations to the interface. So you could (and should) be able to work in 1024x768 too as another option.
HTH!
Tom |
Post by frootee // Aug 9, 2007, 12:06pm
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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Speaking of layouts, I have dual monitors, and would like to have one monitor with a full screen 3d view, and the other monitor with a split screen, with one view on top, and another on the bottom. How can I do that? |
Post by prodigy // Aug 9, 2007, 12:08pm
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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BTW, are 2 ways to solve your problem if that res doesn't apear in your screen config..
1) Go to your Nvidia settings and search inside ( i dont have in this machine a nvidia chipset but later i try to make few screen shots) and you can see a checkbox like showing all other resolutions not supported on for your monitor.. check that checkbox and then in the display settings now you are able to select that and many others.. (Be carefull if you select another by misstake like 6000x5000 then you have a problem :D
2) If the 1st doesn't work and you still without selecting 1280x960px on your crt settings (your monitor not windows settings) select the height and reduce the height size to get a perfect square.. so you gonna get the 1280x1024res with 2 black bars like a widescreen..
Hope that helps.. |
Post by Paul Boland // Aug 11, 2007, 8:18am
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Paul Boland
Total Posts: 383
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Wow, thanks. A lot of info here to take on board. Appreciate it.
I've just checked and 1280 x 960 is there and my monitor seems to handle it ok, though there's a bit of banding acrossing the edge of the screen (don't know how else to describe it), but it seems ok.
I've been messing around in 7.5 and have seen that the TrueSpace 6 interface doesn't offer all the tools so I'm going to have to find a screen configureation in WorkSpace that works for me.
For years, in TrueSpace 5, I've been working at 800 x 600 with three floating views open, one front view, one top view, one left view. The main window, what's left of it, is set to camera view, though I do alternate the Left View to camera view too from time to time. If I can get this setup, or something like it, in 7.51, I'm laughing!
As for my monitor, it's an old one, for sure. I got it for fifty Irish pound just before we went into the Euro. It's a 21 inch model and was going cheap because it has a double line problem, which it did. Everything on the screen had a second line to the right of it. But it sorted its self out! After only a few weeks of having it, the double lines were gone and it's worked fine since, but it doesn't seem to like high solutions.
And I'm afraid I don't have room for a second monitor here so have to find a single screen layout that works.
Thanks again for the tips. Will mess around with this again over the next few days and hopefully move myself fully into the new 7.51 environment. |
Post by prodigy // Aug 11, 2007, 10:28am
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prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
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Glad that helps! look when you use new screen res you must calibrate your monitor..
Regards,
Augusto |
Post by nowherebrain // Aug 11, 2007, 3:45pm
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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I'm sure you can handle it yourself, but if you need to go back to 800x600 send me a PM about your typical setup...it is possible I can streamline one for ya. |
Post by W!ZARD // Aug 13, 2007, 1:34am
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W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
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Wow! 800x600? It's difficult for me to imagine working at that res - it would be like trying to assemble kitset furniture through the letter box slot!
Like Tomg I have a dual monitor setup (also cheap CRTs) which gives me lots of screen real estate.
One tip I can suggest which I've discovered made a huge difference to my modelling - hotkey the different views. I use numpad 1 for the usual oblique view, 2 for front view, 4 for side view, 6 for opposite side and so on. Since setting up these hotkeys I've rarely have more than 1 additional window open (in tS 6.6 or tS 7 model side). The other screen holds the stack, a LE window, image browser, model side scene editor etc as required but with the titlebar double click feature for maxing any window (in tS 7.x) and hotkeyed views you can easily work in a single screen and still have a clear working area.
Hope this helps |
Post by Paul Boland // Aug 13, 2007, 8:09am
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Paul Boland
Total Posts: 383
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Thanks for the offer of help and the extra tips, appreciate them. I'm working away at 1024 x 768. While my monitor will display 1280 x 960, I get this wierd banding effect across the edges of the screen. I don't know how else to describe it but it's very distracting.
Anyway, I'm actually doing well at 1024 x 768, so thanks again.
As to why my main resolution is 800 x 600, well, I don't sit slap bang in front of my PC. My PC and all the gear is set up on a computer desk and I'm on the sofa, about three feet away, a good leg stretch away ;). So at higher resolutions, text and icons can be a bit small. I do up the resolution to 1024 x 768 for applications that need it, and I have a few that do, but my main mode of work is 800 x 600. |
Post by Jack Edwards // Aug 13, 2007, 9:12am
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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Wow, gotta agree with Wiz.
I'm working at 1680x1050 and it's always painful going back to 1280x1024 and 1200x800 when I have to work on my other computers. HDTV resolution (1680x1050) LCD screens are really coming down in price (I got mine for $220 back some months ago) and it might be worth saving up for one. It's definitely worth the difference!
Also keep in mind though that LCD monitors HAVE to be used at their native (maximum) resolution to get a crisp clear image. Other resolutions force the monitor to interpolate (stretch/blend) the image across an non-matching number of LCD pixels. So you may want to consider upgrading you're video card to handle the higher resolution as well.
For games and DX apps that change the resolution the nVidia or monitor drivers usually let you set an option to display the lower resolution modes at the monitor's full resolution but centered with a black border around it so that you don't get distortion.
-Jack. |
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