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michaelk

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Posts posted by michaelk

    Label Legends

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Hmmm

    Rereading my post above, even I'm not sure what the question was. Let me try again:

    I create a symbol with an attached record format.

    I link the fields of the record to text in the symbol.

    Is it possible to change the placement of the text relative to the geometry in the symbol on an instance-by-instance basis?

    Say for example, that two symbols are inserted near enough to each other that the text from one covers up the text from the other. Is it possible to move just one of the text fields? (Without creating a new symbol?)

    This is possible with Lighting Instruments and Lighting Position Objects in Spotlight, but I can't seem to figure out how to do it with non-spotlight symbols.

    Thanks

    Michael

    Label Legends

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I've always wonder about this:

    Is there the equivalent to the Label Legend Manager for symbols with attached record formats other than the instrument data records in Spotlight?

    ie. Can I create a record format, attach it to a symbol, attach text to the record fields, and then edit the field value placement for each instance of the symbol?

    Thanks in advance,

    Michael

    Caster PIO

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Now that I've gone and posted them, I should say a little bit about how I use them...

    When I submit a drawing to a shop, I never intend for the casters to be real-world accurate.

    I put them in the drawing for 2 reasons:

    1) so VectorWorks can count them. I can get an idea of what the shop's bid might be if I can count things like casters.

    2) so the shop will see them and know where I suggest casters might go.

    With most of the shops I work with, there is some discussion later on about exact placement of the casters, and then the guy holding the welder just puts them where he wants to anyway.

    I DON'T use them to calculate the height of a rolling platform or road case. I just indicate what I would like the overall height to be and the shop deals with the difference between the caster height and the platform height.

    I'm not a caster expert. But it seems to me that the sizes of the plates and the placement of the holes are not standard across manufacturers. So the only caster you can accurately draw is one you already own.....

    Ok. That's way more discussion than I ever thought I would have about casters.

    Michael

    Caster PIO

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Ray

    Great idea. I just posted it in the Resource Share - Symbols list. A little spooky being the first one to actually post a symbol there.

    Hope it helps, Pat.

    Michael

    Caster PIO

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Patrick

    I just make my own 3D symbols. I made one accurate 3" fixed and swivel caster with plates, and I modify those as needed to get different sizes. I've never checked to see if a 4" caster is 4/3 the dimension of a 3", but it hasn't come back to bite me yet.

    Michael

    Best File Compression Software?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    For files that are close to the size limit, I've been able to use Stuffit to zip the file.

    But in real life it's much easier to do an ftp or to post the file on a web site and let someone else download it.

    You're a mac user - you could just get a .mac account. It's worth it just for this, but there are other benefits, too.

    hth

    Michael

    Old drawings getting older

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This is weird...

    A client just asked me for drawings from some old projects. I went back to open them and the files now say they are MiniCad 7 drawings!

    I never had MiniCad 7. Joined the VW family with version 9.

    I'm pretty sure the drawings were made with version 10. (Which I still have on this computer) The v12 drawings still say v12.

    Any ideas?

    Michael

    Drawing organization

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Andrew

    I'm sure that's true. His chain hoist tool is a real time saver.

    And back at 'cha with VideoScreen. Great tool.

    I'm working on developing my own much less ambitious, but blindingly obvious tool for Spotlight users. But lack of time and rusty college Pascal skills are slowing down the process.

    Michael

    Drawing organization

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Andrew

    I've never had a problem rendering light sources across layers. If I had, I would definitely be using one layer.

    I keep meaning to look at AutoPlot. Now you've given me more motivation to try it.

    Michael

    Drawing organization

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Andrew

    Back in the day I used to do a lot of layer linking. Remember version 10?

    But now if I'm doing a rendering for my own edification or a screen shot to email an idea to someone I just use the Stack Layer command.

    If the rendering is for real, I use a viewport.

    I sometimes use a version of your multiple symbol trick (I really like your 2D PAR symbol) for the same reason - to get the instruments to render in the correct orientation.

    How do you deal with the inventory counts? I assume that you don't use the Key to Instrumentation tool.

    Before we leave the discussion of layers I should say this: In theatre projects I never give layers a z level. With so much stuff being flown, I want to know that the position of every object in the drawing is set relative to a 0,0,0 position. (Center Line, Plaster Line, Stage Deck) Having layers with their own zero z seems like asking for trouble.

    And since the performance space is almost always one open volume of space anyway, the need to use layer z levels the way they would be used in architectural projects doesn't seem to apply.

    Ok. There's my other $.01...

    Michael

    Drawing organization

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Andrew

    I think it's a matter of personal taste.

    I used to share your opinion because it makes it easy to switch to other views if all or most of the drawing is in one layer.

    But now I enjoy having a few more layers and a lot of classes. You can't set the stacking order of classes. If I go back and add a new piece of scenery or masking I don't want it to float above the lights in plan view. And I don't want to spent time sending objects backwards and forwards. Layers allows you to control what gets drawn on top of what in plan view.

    The Stack Layers command makes it easy to keep all the layers in the same view.

    That being said, I also use a lot of classes, for pretty much the same reasons you state. I do a variation of your loci class trick. And for shows that have moving scenery, I like to put each move in a different class. -But I have scenery on it's own layer so I can control it's stacking order in the drawing. I find having symbols with elements made of multiple classes a very powerful tool.

    That's probably only $.01's worth...

    Michael

    Create Seating Layout Improvement

    in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests

    Posted

    I have two Seating Layout requests:

    1. I would like to be able to have the focus point of a seating layout snap to an object (like a locus or center of an arc.)

    2. (and this one makes my brain hurt...) (And maybe someone already has a good work around for this) I would like to be able to create a seating layout with seating symbols that have only one arm, and then add the missing arm to one end of each row. Currently, you have to use symbols with two arms (in real life, of course, there is only one arm between seats and you get to fight with your neighbor over arm real estate in theatres and coach seats on airplanes) because there isn't an elegant way to use a one-armed symbol and then add an arm symbol just for the end seat on one end of the row.

    Thanks

    Michael

    Indirect Light Level Calculations

    in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests

    Posted

    Greg

    Nice work. I second (or third) this motion. You can already create a fixture and render it using the IES data from the fixture's manufacturer, and the results are beautiful.

    I would like to add another light level calculation request: The ability to calculate daylight levels in interior spaces.

    You can already use VW to render daylight penetration into a building. It would be nice to be able to take the next step...

    Michael

    Render/Layer problem?

    in Entertainment

    Posted

    Craig

    Try this:

    1: Set both layer ambient light levels to "off"

    2: Turn on one SL. Try the first FOH and put a focus point way downstage. (so the focus point is almost straight down)

    3: Turn the instrument the wrong way. ie have it face the house

    4: In Preferences/Display set "Display Light Objects" to "Always"

    5: Zoom in on the instrument.

    6: You will see the light object (in the C-Clamp)

    7: Render with Final Quality RenderWorks.

    You should see the light hit the C-clamp, the yolk, and the body of the instrument (that's the reason for turning it the wrong way)

    But the C-clamp shouldn't cast a shadow on the yolk and neither will cast a shadow on the body...

    If you don't see that, there is a problem with the symbol or your position object is blocking the light and needs a texture that doesn't cast a shadow.

    If do see it, try putting a 3d solid with a color fill right below the light and make sure you see it on that object.

    I'm willing to bet that one of those tests will fail and you will find some geometry blocking the light or a corrupt symbol.

    Good luck

    Michael

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