Prefabs, and other spark editor functionality coming?
[R8]DJBourgeoisie![[R8]DJBourgeoisie](https://forumstest.unknownworlds.com/uploads/ipb/nav-62176.jpg)
Join Date: 2007-09-05 Member: 62176Members
Join Date: 2007-09-05 Member: 62176Members
<div class="IPBDescription">some requests to speed things up even further</div>I was curious as to whether or not the spark editor will allow prefabs in the future. In the little time I have spent learning this editor, I quickly realized that I was wanting to save out a modular system of corridors and generic sections could be created and saved out as prefabs for quick iteration if prefabs were supported. Anyways I'm sure everyone knows what a prefab is and why it would be useful to have that ability in spark.
Im a frequent user of sketchup both professionally and in personal projects at home, and quickly noticed some similarities between poly create/edit in spark as it relates to sketchup. Some of the tools that sketchup has that I think would "greatly" improve spark editor are as follows.
A simple trick sketchup does when you are extruding a face to save time is this. Say you created a poly, edited it such that you have made 4 cuts on the corners and need to extrude each corner 100 units. In sketchup, you extrude the first corner where you want it and then simply double-click the remaining 3 corner faces and they automatically snap to the same distance as your last extrude. It may not sound like a big deal but believe me it saves a ton of time.
More of a function and not so much a tool, the copy/paste multiply function. Say you have created a box and need to replicate it 6 times and space it evently each instance in a row. In sketchup you copy your selection, move the newly created copy where you want it (say 100 units for example), then after you have the copy where you want it you type x6 then press enter and sketchup will copy and create another 5 boxes giving you 6 in all and automatically space each one 100 units apart in a row. I find this particularly useful and one of the bigger time savers as simple as it is.
A really cool tool sketchup has is the follow me tool. Instead of trying to explain what this tool is/does a short tutorial video can probably explain it better than I can.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV7GBSPsK04" target="_blank">Follow me tool </a>
I am pretty impressed with spark editor, and it can only get better. I think adding support for the above mentioned items would significantly improve the speed of working in spark in your level design pipeline. Anyways please add support for prefabs if you have not already planned for it, keep up the great work guys!
Im a frequent user of sketchup both professionally and in personal projects at home, and quickly noticed some similarities between poly create/edit in spark as it relates to sketchup. Some of the tools that sketchup has that I think would "greatly" improve spark editor are as follows.
A simple trick sketchup does when you are extruding a face to save time is this. Say you created a poly, edited it such that you have made 4 cuts on the corners and need to extrude each corner 100 units. In sketchup, you extrude the first corner where you want it and then simply double-click the remaining 3 corner faces and they automatically snap to the same distance as your last extrude. It may not sound like a big deal but believe me it saves a ton of time.
More of a function and not so much a tool, the copy/paste multiply function. Say you have created a box and need to replicate it 6 times and space it evently each instance in a row. In sketchup you copy your selection, move the newly created copy where you want it (say 100 units for example), then after you have the copy where you want it you type x6 then press enter and sketchup will copy and create another 5 boxes giving you 6 in all and automatically space each one 100 units apart in a row. I find this particularly useful and one of the bigger time savers as simple as it is.
A really cool tool sketchup has is the follow me tool. Instead of trying to explain what this tool is/does a short tutorial video can probably explain it better than I can.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV7GBSPsK04" target="_blank">Follow me tool </a>
I am pretty impressed with spark editor, and it can only get better. I think adding support for the above mentioned items would significantly improve the speed of working in spark in your level design pipeline. Anyways please add support for prefabs if you have not already planned for it, keep up the great work guys!
Comments
I was curious as to whether or not the spark editor will allow prefabs in the future. In the little time I have spent learning this editor, I quickly realized that I was wanting to save out a modular system of corridors and generic sections could be created and saved out as prefabs for quick iteration if prefabs were supported. Anyways I'm sure everyone knows what a prefab is and why it would be useful to have that ability in spark.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You already can make modular corridors, in a .level but the problem is when copying/pasting modules and moving them, the textures displace even with texture-lock and the whole module is offset of the grid most of the time.
<!--quoteo(post=1744980:date=Dec 27 2009, 09:50 AM:name=[R8]DJBourgeoisie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ([R8]DJBourgeoisie @ Dec 27 2009, 09:50 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1744980"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
A simple trick sketchup does when you are extruding a face to save time is this. Say you created a poly, edited it such that you have made 4 cuts on the corners and need to extrude each corner 100 units. In sketchup, you extrude the first corner where you want it and then simply double-click the remaining 3 corner faces and they automatically snap to the same distance as your last extrude. It may not sound like a big deal but believe me it saves a ton of time.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Multiple extrusion is present of about all 3D programs.. It has been discussed but I think you can get along using the snapgrid so you extrude every faces at the exact same places, just takes a bit longer. It's not like the whole level mesh is made of extrusion but you surely use it often. I have myself recommended edge extrusion as an improvement.
<!--quoteo(post=1744980:date=Dec 27 2009, 09:50 AM:name=[R8]DJBourgeoisie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ([R8]DJBourgeoisie @ Dec 27 2009, 09:50 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1744980"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
More of a function and not so much a tool, the copy/paste multiply function. Say you have created a box and need to replicate it 6 times and space it evently each instance in a row. In sketchup you copy your selection, move the newly created copy where you want it (say 100 units for example), then after you have the copy where you want it you type x6 then press enter and sketchup will copy and create another 5 boxes giving you 6 in all and automatically space each one 100 units apart in a row. I find this particularly useful and one of the bigger time savers as simple as it is.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That has been discussed too and is present in many programs like 3dsmax, which you have to hold shift+drag the object to create an array. I hope they will consider adding this little function too since it is useful some of the times.
<!--quoteo(post=1744980:date=Dec 27 2009, 09:50 AM:name=[R8]DJBourgeoisie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE ([R8]DJBourgeoisie @ Dec 27 2009, 09:50 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1744980"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
A really cool tool sketchup has is the follow me tool. Instead of trying to explain what this tool is/does a short tutorial video can probably explain it better than I can.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV7GBSPsK04" target="_blank">Follow me tool </a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That is indeed a nice tool I have to say. Not sure if they will consider it useful enough in mapping (i'm not really a mapper but this doesn't seem to apply to many situations). This surely saves time in making nice and seamless trims and edges.
Others things, totally, would be nice to have them. Wouldn't surprise me if they're already in, just not released to the public yet. Likewise.
<!--quoteo(post=1744987:date=Dec 27 2009, 08:59 PM:name=Karrde)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Karrde @ Dec 27 2009, 08:59 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1744987"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Agreed. Now that I'm on break and have some time to ###### about, I'm noticing it'd be nice to have this. I love the shape of the doors, for example, so I made a wedge piece to fill in the gap. Would be nice to make it into a prefab for easy loading.that way I can be lazy and do less rework.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You don't have to though: there's a door-frame prop.
Geometry with mapping coordinates. So you can make props already but the thing you want to do is like.. build a prop inside the ditor with the native mapping tools and save it, right? This could be handy.