Animation keypoints

[aplman]

Hello Igor ... SUGGESTIONS RE ANIMATION IN PTE

I am using PTE 6.02. I think PTE is a wonderful program, and in general the animation features are implemented brilliantly. However, I gather from some recent discussion on the forum that some users do not find those features as exciting as I do.

I have only one complaint, and that concerns the way keypoints are relocated when the duration of a slide is changed. Here are my suggestions as to how things might be enhanced.

Specification of Keypoint Location

I note that keypoint objects in a PTE file have their locations defined by the Origin= parameter and the Time= parameter. Origin can be SlideBegin, PrevEffectEnd, NextEffectBegin or SlideEnd (Let us call those the four “special points”). Time is a number of millseconds relative to the specified Origin.

For keypoints that do not lie at one of those special points, the PTE user interface appears always to generate a time relative to SlideBegin. However, I have successfully edited PTE files to have keypoint locations specified relative to the other special points, and both positive and negative time values appear to work. However, if I subsequently move the keypoint (in Objects and Animation), its Origin reverts to SlideBegin (with the Time value suitably adjusted).

The present behaviour has some unfortunate effects. For example:

(1) if a slide’s duration is reduced, and “Scale keypoints” is unchecked, keypoints that were within the main viewing time of the slide (between transitions) can end up in the next transition;

(2) if a slide’s duration is increased or reduced, and if “Scale keypoints” is checked, keypoints that were placed at PrevEffectEnd or NextEffectBegin are no longer located at those special points;

(3) keypoints can get out of sequence, when those at the special points remain there, while others move past them.

I suggest a change to the PTE program could free us users from these problems. It would be better if each keypoint had its Origin set to the nearest one of the four special keypoints, and its Time value as a positive or negative offset from its Origin. This should apply both to the initial creation of the keypoint, and to its new position after a move. This way, we would get the following benefits:

(1) keypoints that are placed at one of the four special points would remain there,

(2) keypoints that are supposed to be within a transition would remain within that transition,

(3) keypoints that are supposed to be between the transitions would remain there.

All these are true whether “Scale keypoints” is in effect or not.

Scale Keypoints

It remains useful to keep the option “Scale Keypoints”. Scaling should be applied within the range of adjacent special points, not across the whole range from SlideBegin to SlideEnd. In other words, scaling should apply to keypoints within a transition when the transition duration changes. Keypoints between PrevEffectEnd and NextEffectBegin should be scaled within that range only.

If the user wants to adjust the duration of a slide, by extending or reducing the main viewing time (between transitions), but wants to keep the timing of the animations near the start and near the end, then Scale Keypoints would be unchecked. If the aim is to adjust the duration of a slide and the animations within the main viewing time, then Scale Keypoints would be checked. In neither case is any animation within a transition affected.

On the other hand, if there is animation within a transition, then its keypoints should be adjusted when the transition duration is changed. This would have no effect on animation within the main view time.

Potential Problems

A reduction in slide duration, without keypoint scaling, could cause keypoints to “collide” or cross over in the centre. This should provoke a message to the user, with the option to cancel the change or drop the keypoints.

Removing a transition should cause any keypoints within the transition to be dropped.

Possible extensions

It might be worthwhile to allow a right-click option on keypoints to enable them to be “anchored” to any one of the four special points. Different colours could be used to give visual feedback.

It might be beneficial to have one more special point: Centre - Half way between PrevEffectEnd and NextEffectBegin.

Thank you, Igor, for giving this your consideration.

APLman (Ken Travers) - Moss Vale NSW Australia

[fh1805]

Ken,

You've beaten me to the punch! I've been thinking about raising this very subject for the last couple of days. I'm in total agreement with you. Especially, I think the four special points should be treated as "locked" at all times.

All my previous experience of "Scale keyframes..." had been on slides that used "Quick" transition so I wasn't aware of the potential problems. But I've just started working on a "proof of concept" version of a new sequence. I had programmed keyframes at the start/end of transitions, in the middle of transitions and in the middle of the slides. I found out the hard way that, when I changed the timing of the slide and/or the transition, things went haywire!

regards,

Peter

[aplman]

Ken,

You've beaten me to the punch! I've been thinking about raising this very subject for the last couple of days. I'm in total agreement with you. Especially, I think the four special points should be treated as "locked" at all times.

All my previous experience of "Scale keyframes..." had been on slides that used "Quick" transition so I wasn't aware of the potential problems. But I've just started working on a "proof of concept" version of a new sequence. I had programmed keyframes at the start/end of transitions, in the middle of transitions and in the middle of the slides. I found out the hard way that, when I changed the timing of the slide and/or the transition, things went haywire!

regards,

Peter

Peter - I'm totally thrilled that my suggestion has struck a chord with you! Thank you so much for the immediate feedback!

I was inclined to send my suggestion as a private message to Igor, as I have found that one or two suggestions of mine have spawned responses that were not in line with my expectations. Now I am more inclined to feel that I have judged the mood of the forum appropriately. Thank you enormously!

I'm looking forward to more feedback from experienced PTE fans.

Regards to all ...

APLman (Ken Travers)

[aplman]

Ken,

You've beaten me to the punch! I've been thinking about raising this very subject for the last couple of days. I'm in total agreement with you. Especially, I think the four special points should be treated as "locked" at all times.

... ... ...

regards,

Peter

Peter, do you think we might be able to stir up some interest in this matter for version 7?

As PTE stands now, there is a definite flaw that probably inhibits use of a potentially great feature!

I would really appreciate a comment from Igor as to the merits, usefulness and feasibility of my suggestion.

Ken T (APLman)