Nutcracker: Tutorials

[smeighan]

I am going to use this first post to keep a record of the current recordings.


Previous tutorials

Maybe start with this one:
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...troduction.mp4


http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/sep27.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/oct4.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/oct11.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...mated_gifs.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/oct18.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/oct25.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/nov1.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/nov9.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/nov15.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...opy_effect.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...ort_import.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/nov29.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/dec6.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/tutorials/dec13.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...other_user.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...racker_tab.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...lights_lor.mp4
http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/...hts_layers.mp4


You can download these tutorials by using your ftp tool (something like filezilla)
site: ftp.nutcracker123.com
login: nutcracker
password: xfer1011

If you are using Filezilla, here is the xml config file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="true"?>
<FileZilla3>
<Servers>
<Server>
<Host>ftp.nutcracker123.com</Host>
<Port>21</Port>
<Protocol>ftp</Protocol>
<Type>0</Type>
<User>nutcracker@nutcracker123.com</User>
<Logontype>2</Logontype>
<TimezoneOffset>0</TimezoneOffset>
<PasvMode>MODE_DEFAULT</PasvMode>
<MaximumMultipleConnections>0</MaximumMultipleConnections>
<EncodingType>Auto</EncodingType>
<BypassProxy>0</BypassProxy>
<Name>ftp.nutcracker123.com</Name>
<Comments/>
<LocalDir/>
<RemoteDir/>
<SyncBrowsing>0</SyncBrowsing>
ftp.nutcracker123.com
</Server>
</Servers>
</FileZilla3>

[smeighan]

Ok, Now we come to the tutorials that have more substance on them

Tutorial #2. Creating a target model http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial2.swf
Tutorial #3. Creating a target model (continued) http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial3.swf
Tutorial #4. Creating an Effect http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial4.swf
Tutorial #5. Creating an Effect (continued) http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial5.swf
Tutorial #6. Exporting your sequence http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial6.swf

enjoy

[Lefserev]

I like your quote "I'm gonna use 16 strings because I got a lot of money... not" ROFL
Great tutorials though. They really help to clarify some details.

[Skunberg]

Ok, Now we come to the tutorials that have more substance on them

Tutorial #6. Exporting your sequence http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial6.swf

enjoy

Hi Sean, Now I've a copy of Vixen 2.1 and a couple of nutcracker files. I tried a copy paste onto the grid and got nothing. So I added it to the sequence directory. Can't seem to figure out how to import into Vixen 2.1 Has anyone else gotten past this point yet?

Brian

[smeighan]

Hi Sean, Now I've a copy of Vixen 2.1 and a couple of nutcracker files. I tried a copy paste onto the grid and got nothing. So I added it to the sequence directory. Can't seem to figure out how to import into Vixen 2.1 Has anyone else gotten past this point yet?

Brian

I think the process is like this:

1) Produce a vir file from Nutcracker. Save it to the routines directory under your Vixen 2.1.1.0 home.
NOT your Sequences directory.

You really should really get the three addons that Emmanuel wrote, they are awesome!

http://emmanuelmiranda.info/?page_id=10

download the Vixen 2.1
Unzip the file and you will have three addons

RGBProfilerAddin.dll <= This will create a profile from your vir file. It gets everything to be RGB, labels all the channels for you
RoutineLoaderAddin.dll <= Trying to load large routine files causes some problems for Vixen. Emmanuel wrote code that can instantly load the huge vir files with no issues
Both of these should be moved into your Addins directory


RGBTreePreview3d.dll <= This will create a 3D tree that looks the same as my animated gifs. very cool.
This should be moved into your plugins/output directory

You should look at the tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=_GEC3hrhHyY

Than Emmanuel has posted

[Skunberg]

I think the process is like this:
1) Produce a vir file from Nutcracker. Save it to the routines directory under your Vixen 2.1.1.0 home.
NOT your Sequences directory.
You really should really get the three addons that Emmanuel wrote, they are awesome!
http://emmanuelmiranda.info/?page_id=10
download the Vixen 2.1
Unzip the file and you will have three addons
RGBProfilerAddin.dll <= This will create a profile from your vir file. It gets everything to be RGB, labels all the channels for you
RoutineLoaderAddin.dll <= Trying to load large routine files causes some problems for Vixen. Emmanuel wrote code that can instantly load the huge vir files with no issues
Both of these should be moved into your Addins directory
RGBTreePreview3d.dll <= This will create a 3D tree that looks the same as my animated gifs. very cool.
This should be moved into your plugins/output directory
You should look at the tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=_GEC3hrhHyY
Than Emmanuel has posted

Yes that works and Emanuel's software works great! First ten seconds looks good. Now to do a few more into a test sequence.
Then finish the E681. Lay some lights on the floor and try to get everyone talking to each other.

Thank you again Sean!!

[jrock64]

Link for #1 is broken
#2 and #4 end before they are finished.

A feature request which the program probably already knows.

Instead of asking for the duration, have an option for one revolution or cycle only.

A spiral will repeat after it makes one revolution.
The garland or hoop pattern resets when it gets to the top.

Setting the length to only one cycle would cut down on the generation time, and reduce the file sizes as redundant data is eliminated.
Would also make it easier to repeat an effect for an extended period, as you would not have to worry about aligning the splices of one cycle to the next.

Might also be a good idea to only put snapshots in the gallery, then click thru to see the full effect in action.
50 animated GIFs are kind of killing that page.

Joel

[smeighan]

Link for #1 is broken
#2 and #4 end before they are finished.

A feature request which the program probably already knows.

Instead of asking for the duration, have an option for one revolution or cycle only.

A spiral will repeat after it makes one revolution.
The garland or hoop pattern resets when it gets to the top.

Setting the length to only one cycle would cut down on the generation time, and reduce the file sizes as redundant data is eliminated.
Would also make it easier to repeat an effect for an extended period, as you would not have to worry about aligning the splices of one cycle to the next.

Might also be a good idea to only put snapshots in the gallery, then click thru to see the full effect in action.
50 animated GIFs are kind of killing that page.

Joel

thanks for the feed back joel.


Instead of asking for the duration, have an option for one revolution or cycle only.

For what effect?
spirals, i only generate as many frames as one rotation. When you then request a 5 second sequence, the output logic just reads the data file multiple times.
meteors, i currently create 80 frames. each frame generates a random number of meteors. after the 80 are finished , it repeasts them again. Again, for output if 80 frames does not create a long enough sequence, the make_lor.php, make_vixen.php routines just read the data file again.
butterfly, again i am creating 80 frames. This morphing color would continue foreverer, if we let it.
garlands, same as meteors. 80 frames

I have thought of prompting for the number of frames you might want for any animation.

A spiral will repeat after it makes one revolution.
The garland or hoop pattern resets when it gets to the top.

I wrote code to wait until the garland reached the top, i was getting 250-400 frames of animation depending on how you answered the form. This could not finish in under 30 seconds.
spiral already does one rotation. If there are 32 strands, then there are 32 frames.


/Might also be a good idea to only put snapshots in the gallery, then click thru to see the full effect in action.
50 animated GIFs are kind of killing that page.
I agree. I will do two fixes
1) short term, only display 30-40 gifs at a time, have next 40 button
2) Create thumbnails of the animated gifs. This requires that i modify the gnuplot program, blah, blah, blah. This will take longer but is the better solution.


thanks
again

[Barnabybear]

Instead of asking for the duration, have an option for one revolution or cycle only.

A spiral will repeat after it makes one revolution.
The garland or hoop pattern resets when it gets to the top.

That would be realy cool, and even better if the routine importing tool could import x times, based on # of rotations or time.
I'm sorry, you do lots of work and we just ask for more.

[smeighan]

new tutorials added. #7,8 and 9



Tutorial #1. Overview of Nutcracker and creating an account http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial1.swf
Tutorial #2. Creating a target model http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial2.swf
Tutorial #3. Creating a target model (continued) http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial3.swf
Tutorial #4. Creating an Effect, BUTTERFLY (Part 1) http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial4.swf
Tutorial #5. Creating an Effect, BUTTERFLY (Part 2) http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial5.swf
Tutorial #6. Exporting your sequence http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial6.swf

new added 3-21-12 13:00
Tutorial #7. Creating an Effect, SPIRALS (Part 1) http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial7.swf
Tutorial #8. Creating an Effect, SPIRALS (Part 2) http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial8.swf
Tutorial #9. Creating an Effect, TEXT http://meighan.net/nutcracker/tutorials/tutorial9.swf