Heightmap Surface [plug-in] (updated: 2014/Jun/30)

[oort]

Micheus,
Ditto on the Congratulations and indeed a great job. I love being able to double click the image to choose another one...

I like that you can save Color Ramps but sorry to say you might want to add the ability to delete individual ones as well...

I notice that Density defaults to the highest level by default. This is tough on old PC's like mine when the image is large. Should the default density be something smaller???

I know you want to be finished with this great plug-in but I can't help to mention these minor things...

Thanks again,
oort

[ggaliens]

Heightmap should be pushed to GITHUB

So all can enjoy before too long.

[micheus]

I like that you can save Color Ramps but sorry to say you might want to add the ability to delete individual ones as well...

Ok, I'm working in it.
You should have noticed that the saved item isn't added to the list - that is because there is no easy way to just update a list in wings dialog - it's build before the dialog be displayed.
Work with dialogs on Wings is really hard and it is worst when you build it complex - with lots of components interaction.
So, I'm trying to implement a dynamic dialog (there is a simplest application of it in wpc_test_ask).
The bad thing about this can be the way I implemented the preview image management. Image data isn't "attached" to dialog structure. You can notice this by loading an image, then load an other one and clicking in Reset button. Don't do that - except for test.
Each time the dialog is drawn or cursor is moved inside a text field - every dialog event - all dialog data is transiting in the functions. The use of Density control requires non destructive information for the source image plus a work image.

I notice that Density defaults to the highest level by default. This is tough on old PC's like mine when the image is large. Should the default density be something smaller???

Is something about 36Kpixels good for you? If so, it's already done.

Heightmap should be pushed to GITHUB

It's already on github. Make a pull request for dgud would be an option, but this can be done only after dgud accept some changes I did for wings_ask in order to make possible plug-in writers create their own custom control. (I created two for this plug-in and I want create a new one for a future project)

[oort]

Micheus,
Yes, I did notice that the saved ramps did not show up in the list till after the dialog was closed... I remembered seeing this behavior in something else so I figured it was a Wings3D thing that couldn't be helped...

I think 24k would be better for me. Is it a ram issue? I have 1GB of ram. I noticed that after playing around with higher density levels on several images things got so bad I had to shut down Wings3D to free up memory...

I can't wait to see what your future project will be...

Thanks,
oort

[micheus]

I think 24k would be better for me. Is it a ram issue? I have 1GB of ram.

Its origin came from that benchmark in the old forum:
* I'm using a better PC now, that is why I don't notice it put down Wings performance.
** of course, those times were related to mesh create processing. The entire Wings object creation still takes a few seconds (for me).

In the past I was limiting resolution to an image with the biggest dimension equal to 384px.
Now, it's limited by resolution to 147K (w*h) and the minor dimension must have at least 3px. So, 36Kpx is related to 50% of that initial dimension limit - 192Kpx^2.

I noticed that after playing around with higher density levels on several images things got so bad I had to shut down Wings3D to free up memory...

I think that you just need to use Edit->Purge undo history and - maybe - wait a little for garbage collect.

[micheus]

oort, it's ready for download.
I changed the initial density to 30% that's light enough even for a PC older than yours

About the save and delete Color ramp...
There is no way to use an confirmation dialog for these operations - wings_ask is not prepared to handle other thing than field events - everything else is ignored.

I also had to fix an issue about the dialog recreation that was not adjusted for treat the dialog preview feature.

[oort]

Micheus,
Thanks for the updated version. Yes, 30% even works good on my old PC.

The added Delete works great. I do not miss the confirmation dialog....

I tried using the purge undo history to clear memory but I was still having memory problems even after waiting a bit. It is most noticeable when browsing for a new image. The dialog box buttons and files disappear and reappear as the cursor moves over the files and buttons. This only happens after playing with larger image files, which I probably shouldn't do on my old PC...

Thanks again... I would call it finished...
oort

[micheus]

I tried using the purge undo history to clear memory but I was still having memory problems even after waiting a bit. It is most noticeable when browsing for a new image.

That makes sense. Purge undo history will take effect only over the mesh data. You should have already noticed this when undoing an Load Image Plane operation - the image is preserved in the Outline window.

I would call it finished...

thanks god.

[oort]

I don't want you to add this now, since I am looking forward to seeing what your next project will be.... just an idea... may not be possible....

Have the ability to paint an image texture in the dialog box ,where the image is shown, that would control the geometry. Paint with a white brush. I think this is available in Bryce but not sure since it has been so long since I played with Bryce. Maybe it was in some other software I played with a long time ago???

Thanks,
oort

[micheus]

Have the ability to paint an image texture in the dialog box ,where the image is shown, that would control the geometry. Paint with a white brush.

This kind of tool has passed on my mind when I was playing with brush for sculpt.
If I would do that, we certainly would use it for paint texture inside Wings - like in Sculptris
But for that, I would need to study/understand something about Image Warping.
Such tool would work like you see in Chameleon: Adaptive Unwrapping for Interactive Texture Painting

Maybe some day in the future.