Would an X-Universe screenshot BLENDER be a useful thing? (Take a look at it here)

[BeidAmmikon]

UPDATE - 2009.10.06 (click to download)

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Implemented collation of images, taken half-by-half (left+right and top+bottom).

You may download the ZIP with the latest executable and the PDF Help file from here (click) or by clicking on the first line in this post.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

Tried out the Blender today for the first time. Results below (and yes I'm still learning how to fiddle with the things for this program).

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On a sidenote: BeidAmmikon, after I did the first couple of blends with various screens the final image screen goes blank. The only way for the final image to be seen is by saving then opening. Is it just me and I need to better learn the Blender or is there a glitch?

[BeidAmmikon]

after I did the first couple of blends with various screens the final image screen goes blank. The only way for the final image to be seen is by saving then opening. Is it just me and I need to better learn the Blender or is there a glitch?

Hmmm... I don't know what could go wrong, but if you provide me with the exact steps you've taken to obtain such a result, and maybe upload the original images for me to test them, I'll be able to pinpoint and correct the glitch - if any, inside the program.
Anyway, thank you for testing it, that Blastclaw image is awesome. There's no complicated procedures to be afraid of, within the Blender - the Help file covers just about everything there is to it.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

Well I have yet to look at the Help file.....perhaps I should look at it.

With exception of the third blend shot, the first two blend screens, the originals of each, I think were uploaded to the SoTW thread. Lemme see if I uploaded the originals there and send them over here. If not, I'll upload them and post them here with an edit.

As for the steps, it didn't seem to matter what screenie's I used to make the final image window go blank. But I'll try re-creating my steps and post them in the same edit as the original screenshots.

But the Blender is quite fun and the possiblities that you can do with screens are virtually endless. I certainly hope it gets added to the Official Superbox. But if not I know that there is a Mod Superbox being compiled by apricotslice over in the S&M forum.


Edit:
1st blend: [ external image ] & [ external image ]
2nd blend: [ external image ] & [ external image ]
3rd blend: [ external image ] & [ external image ]

I think I know what caused the issue. If the Opacity/Intensity was set to 0%/0 then the final image would be so light that you couldn't see it until you opened after saving. But I'm sending the original images anyways just in case you wanted to run tests on them.


And for kicks, here's the second set of blend tests. Once I get this down fairly well I'll test out the splitting portion of the program.
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[BeidAmmikon]

I think I know what caused the issue. If the Opacity/Intensity was set to 0%/0 then the final image would be so light that you couldn't see it until you opened after saving.

You're right. This happens when "Mixing" only, a procedure that indeed uses the intensity of colours, instead of the alpha channel. When the opacity (blend)/intensity (mix) slider is put to 0, the final image is being drawn, but does not show up on the screen...
When blending, 0 values mean that only the second image will get drawn, with the opacity of the first one set to 0.
I used your screenshots when verifying this hypothesis.
I guess this is sorted out, then.

Thank you again, Deadbeat_Spinn, for your patience in thoroughly testing this program.

And I thank you even more for including this thread into your signature here.

[BeidAmmikon]

UPDATE - 2009.10.09 (click to download)

Last-minute changes:
1. Polished some procedures on the final image:
- don't open if it does not exist anymore (the user has deleted it before answering the dialog with the "Open final image" prompt)
- prompt the user to delete the image if opening it is not desired
- don't attempt to delete the image if it does not exist anymore
2. Added a progress bar for the lengthy Mixing procedure
3. Added a Credits section in the Info window, with links to those people's profiles on the Egosoft site

Here's the proof it can blend any images (these two were created with Terragen, by BrideOfCthulhu (1st image) and Markal (2nd) on Renderosity):

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You may download the ZIP with the latest executable and the PDF Help file from here (click) or by clicking on the first line in this post.


P.S. (to anyone): It would be useful to know what is the definitive final date for submitting content for the Superbox. Thank you for understanding that.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

Even more fun I see. Only downside for me is that the majority of my images need to be resized (resolution) in order to be blended properly but it's worth it. Speaking of which anyone know of a good resizing program or website? I think Imageshack may suit my purposes but I'll have to wait for a few days or so....I hate being sick.....and having to work on top of it.

Here's the test shots without X,
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And the test shots with X (due to resolution sizes being different some of the images will be odd),
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[IceFire909]

some of the images I've managed to get from this are absolutely amazing, hats off to its creation!

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[Deadbeat_Spinn]

Wow. Those shots put mine to shame, nice job IceSilver.


How did you find this thread......it's been buried for so long.

[travisdh1]

Even more fun I see. Only downside for me is that the majority of my images need to be resized (resolution) in order to be blended properly but it's worth it. Speaking of which anyone know of a good resizing program or website? I think Imageshack may suit my purposes but I'll have to wait for a few days or so....I hate being sick.....and having to work on top of it.

I'd recommend G.I.M.P., it's free and can do a lot more than just resize you're picture (can resize acording to pixels, inches, mm, and some others that I'm forgetting, it's the Image -> Print Size option you'll want to use.)

Anyway, http://www.gimp.org enjoy.

[BeidAmmikon]

Many thanks for your feedback, people. Here's to all of you who toyed with it and voted favourably (now, why did I stick a poll to this thread in the first place, beats me completely)
I've ordered one of my "blended" image to be drawn on one of my credit cards No, I won't be showing it to you

Lacking even an approximate date for the release of the Superbox, or its approximate building stage, the Blender is complete (as it is) and ready to rumble.
This doesn't mean that if you spot some errors or want some more features, I won't be paying attention to them.
Here's some more would-be wallpapers (yep, the Express Hauler that you see... portions of in the images, is now my personal ship) Which reminds me - I guess that none of the images obtained with the Blender qualifies for the SOTW as it is not an "original" screenshot, but what the hey - this isn't its purpose anyway.

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[Ujama]

Very nice, I'll be glad when I can get my game up and running properly.

[Captain CAVEMAN!!!]

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Just an addition by me i thought it looked quite nicve in the tester decide for yourselves

this is an excellent easy to use tool Kudos

Captain C.