United3dArtists Archive

Ok, I've downloaded 7.61, and the more I read about it, the more confused I'm getting with regards to this workspace and model view concept, which is starting to sound like two entirely separate apps. A few questions:

Is there anything about "Workspace" that is necessary to the use of Truespace, or are there cool cutting-edge features in workspace that aren't available in model view? Can I just hit the "Truespace 6" tab and forget Workspace even exists or are there features in workspace that I need in order to make an animated short? Are all the animation features in TS 7.61 available in either "spaces"?

Are there issues with using textures/shaders and other features in model view if I switch to workspace? That is, is everything I do in model view compatible with workspace? If I texture up a character in model view, is it going to mess things up if I switch to workspace? Do I need to use workspace to render the animation or can it all be done in model view?

That's a lot of questions and I've only just started. What's the deal with workspace vs model view? I don't care so much what I see in the view window in workspace vs in model view (realtime) as long as it doesn't make any difference when I go to render a project. And am I reading this info right...do I need an external renderer to render an animated short (final output as a movie) from workspace and can use an internal renderer to output from model view, or does all this only pertain to realtime rendering inside of truespace? I'm so confused!

which is starting to sound like two entirely separate apps.
-- It is. Model side is TS 6.6 plus a few things. Workspace is an unfinished but usable new style of trueSpace. The bridge is a connection, a translator, between them.

Is there anything about "Workspace" that is necessary to the use of Truespace,
-- No. Model side is TS 6.6+. Some people are using workspace exclusively and some use both.

are there cool cutting-edge features in workspace that aren't available in model view?
-- Others can answer that better than I can. I'm a model side guy. It might have better character (flexible, organic, bones, skin) animation tools (Steinie knows about that) and the physics system is said to be better. People have done good things with the link editor. See Prodigy's reach stacker thread.

Can I just hit the "Truespace 6" tab and forget Workspace even exists
-- Yes. Turn the bridge off too. Hitting the TS 6 tab isn't needed. Just use model side if you don't want workspace.

are there features in workspace that I need in order to make an animated short?
-- Depends on what you want to animate. Model side is good except for character animation.

Are all the animation features in TS 7.61 available in either "spaces"?
-- No.

Are there issues with using textures/shaders and other features in model view if I switch to workspace?
-- Yes. Model side has the Lightworks (not Lightwave) shader/texture system built in. Worspace has the realtime DX shaders. They generally do not pass over the bridge well. There are plugins that export to third party renderers like 3Delight, Yafaray, and some use Kerkythea.

That is, is everything I do in model view compatible with workspace?
-- No.

If I texture up a character in model view, is it going to mess things up if I switch to workspace?
-- Very likely the textures won't look at all like the model side ones after you go to workspace (bridge translates Lightworks to DX?). I don't know if going to workspace and then back to model side will harm the textures on model side.

Do I need to use workspace to render the animation or can it all be done in model view?
-- The DX realtime render of workspace can render at fantastic speed but it has a cartoon/video game look. Workspace DX render and display require a compatible video card. For more realistic work use Lightworks, the model side built in renderer.

That's a lot of questions and I've only just started. I'm so confused!
-- We've all been or are there. It's ok.

I need an external renderer to render an animated short (final output as a movie) from workspace
-- See above about DX render on workspace. For more realistic yes, workspace needs an external renderer.

can use an internal renderer to output from model view
-- Yes.

If you decide to use both sides then find W!zard's thread about using both.

Thanks for the reply Finis!

Arg! That sounds discouraging!

"Model side is good except for character animation"

Character animation is indeed what I'd like to get into, so it sounds like I'll be needing the workspace. All that fancy facial animation/lip synching stuff I read about pertains to workspace? That's discouraging indeed. Aside from the modeling tools, I love the procedural texturing options (including the Simbiont plugin in the modeler view, and if I try to apply those to scenery models in model view and then bring them over to workspace, when I output a movie those textures won't work?! What a strange way to put out a new version -If you want photorealism in rendering output, you have to give up all the new features. Hmm!

I guess I've got a lot more researching to do before I make up my mind about investing the time to learn this app. I thought Blender looked crazy, but....!

Thanks for the input, and I'll find that thread by Wizard you mentioned.

Have a good one!

This is W!zard's thread vi ... f=13&t=237"