What's new with Illusion: The Magic of Pixels

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Version 2.0                        11-30-00    12:30 PM     1,984,000 bytes

   New Features

      - No longer limited to particle shape images that are 128 x 128 pixels.
        Can now use any combination of the sizes 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512,
        1024, 2048.  This means that 256 x 64 is a valid size, 1024 x 16, etc.
        Note that the larger sizes (2048, 1024) may not be available with all
        OpenGL drivers.
      - Particle shape image import is MUCH improved.  Allows choice of sizes,
        new "crop" option, more transparency options, and an image preview.
      - Now supports project sizes up to 8192 x 8192.
      - Image loading dialogs (for bg images and particle shape images) now
        show a thumbnail preview of the images.
      - Added key shortcuts: 'Z' for stage zoom; 'S' for stage scroll.
      - Added Cut/Copy/Paste to stage context menus.  Paste via this menu will
        paste the emitter (or deflector or blocker) at the r-click point
        instead of on top of the original object.
      - Added Undo/Redo buttons to toolbar.
      - Added new Preferences: default stage size, show shape alpha, skip
        "delete points" confirmation.
      - Added "reset" function to particle color gradients to delete all color
        points except the first.
      - Added "use as stencil" feature to bg image transparency dialog.  When
        checked, the bg image will not be displayed, but any particles on this
        layer will only be drawn in the transparent areas of the bg image.
      - Added "Zoom to Fit" function that zooms the stage to fill the stage
        window. R-click on stage to access this function.
      - Added new emitter shape type: AREA.  This is a rectangular emitter
        that creates particles throughout its area.
      - Added the ability to change the particle shape reference point.  This
        allows particles to rotate about a point other than their center, and
        will lead to many new types of effects.
      - Particle size changes and angle changes (due to spinning) are now
        motion blurred.
      - Added motion blur option to preview windows.  R-click in the preview
        to access this option.
      - Motion blur can now be seen on the stage (when playback is not
        occurring) when using the "show particles" option.  There is a
        "preview" option in the motion blur section of the project settings
        dialog.
      - Added "Color" option to preview window context menus.  Allows quick
        changing of preview background color to black, grey, white, or stage
        color.
      - Emitter tint color is immediately shown in the preview window while
        still in the color picker dialog (for feedback on color changes).
      - Added new "number" calculation that results in smoother changes in the
        number of particles when the number properties are changing.  This
        required the addition of a "use old number calculation method" option
        so can choose between old and new methods (since the new method will
        add more particles in some cases, which can make old emitters look
        different).
      - Added "oldest in back" and "oldest in front" options when "keep
        particles in order" is checked.  This replaces the use of the "zoom"
        property in determining which order to draw them in.  It's easier and
        you get instant feedback in the preview window.
      - Added "replace" button to the bg image dialog.
      - Added the ability to load a bg image (or sequence or AVI) at a frame
        other than 1.
      - Added the option to have the bg image (or sequence or AVI) "turn off"
        after the last frame instead of holding at the last frame
        indefinitely.
      - Added automatic backup of emitter libraries.  The number of backups to
        save is set in the "preferences" dialog, and the backups are saved in
        the "library_backups" folder.  The backups are renamed IELs, in the
        form of "libraryname_xxxxx.bak", where the "xxxxx" is a sequential
        value.
      - Added "select" button to toolbar.  When pressed, clicks on the stage
        will select emitters, never add them.  When not pressed, clicks on the
        stage will add emitters, never select them.  (Same for deflectors and
        blockers).  Can use the key shortcut of "A" to toggle between
        selecting and adding.  (Note that when in "adding" mode, the cursor
        becomes the "emitter" cursor.)
      - Added "mirror" and "flip" commands to size over life graphs.
      - Added "mirror" command to color gradients.  These mirror functions are
        very useful when converting a growing effect into a shrinking effect.
      - Added "remove black bg from RGB channels" option to the output dialog.
        This option is only available when saving alpha and only works when
        the project uses a black background color, but when checked the image
        will no longer have the "dark halo" when composited.
      - It is now possible to select multiple emitters, deflectors, or
        blockers.  (The only limitation is that you can't select emitters AND
        deflectors, deflectors AND blockers, etc. -- the objects all must be
        of the same type.)



   Bug Fixes

      - The first frame in which a particle appeared it was not motion
        blurred.
      - The last frame (or sometimes 2 it seems) of a bg image AVI was not
        being displayed.
      - Paste of a color or gradient when the "link alpha to color" option was
        checked would calculate the alpha values incorrectly.  (The alpha
        values would update after anything else was changed, but they would be
        wrong at first.)




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