Awning Composer

Eclipse Update

Details

Category: Awning Composer

Published on Tuesday, 20 March 2012 20:16

Written by Tom Grandgent

Hits: 1104

Awning Composer 5 for Eclipse

The latest version of Awning Composer 5 for Eclipse was released on 3/19/2013.  Click the download button below to update.

Development Log

Version 5.3.4862.16987 - 4/24/2013

Program changes:

• Fixed location search in Sky tab
• Added release notes display to new version notification prompt
• Fixed photo from Samsung Galaxy S III loading with incorrect orientation
• Fixed missing object after using "send to back" in page layout and saving as image
• Fixed backdrop/graphic thumbnail cache growing indefinitely
• Fixed crash when undoing applying braid to valance with no braid
• Added error message when 3D hardware initialization fails due to LogMeIn mirror driver
• Added error message when 3D hardware becomes unavailable and can't be re-initialized
• Fixed crash when attempting to perform various operations when 3D hardware is unavailable
• Improved detection of incompatible 3D hardware

• Added ability to define fabric panels to apply to an object's surface
• Added ability to insert list of fabrics/colors in page layout textbox
• Added ability to pan/scroll using touch in object properties
• Added option to favor speed over visual quality (for slow 3D graphics hardware)
• Added option to open on-screen keyboard when textbox is touched (for Windows 8)
• Improved performance of material and object lists
• Improved performance of touch/multi-touch object/camera manipulation
• Improved performance of scaling an object
• Improved performance when resizing the 3D view via splitters or window
• Widened splitters to be easier to grab with both mouse and touch
• Fixed valance incorrectly having a shadow when applied to an object without a shadow
• Fixed display of values in feet/inches to show only feet when value has 0 inches
• Fixed Transform By to correctly handle negative combined feet/inches values like -1' 6"
• Fixed transparency when applying graphics from PNG files created by Gerber Composer
• Fixed close button in mode instructions bar at bottom of main window not working
• Fixed missing texture when duplicating an object with an imported texture
• Fixed bottom of 'y' in Sky tab being cut off when system DPI is set above 100%
• Fixed selected time zone in Sky tab to be remembered between program sessions
• Fixed "Replace selected object" checkbox overlapping with tabs when window is small
• Fixed missing/empty panel when switching between material/object lists quickly
• Fixed shadows interfering with rendering of graphics applied directly to backdrop
• Fixed incorrect rendering of graphic after a series of undo/redo operations
• Fixed undesirable object movement when scaling a grouped object
• Fixed text in 3D view not updating when using context menu of Apply Text textbox
• Fixed crash when switching between logged in users on the system
• Fixed crash when loading invalid 3D model file
• Fixed crash when loading corrupt scene file
• Fixed crash when resizing graphic with invalid dimensions
• Fixed crash when showing file open/save window in rare circumstances

3D models:

• Fixed slight misalignment of stripes between top and valance on retractable awnings

Installer:

• Increased speed of installation process
• Fixed shortcuts not being created when installing from a limited user account
• Fixed detection of program when it's being run by a different logged on user
• Fixed uninstaller to check for admin rights on Windows XP

Version 5.2.4762.23876 - 1/14/2013

Program changes:

• Reduced application startup time and memory usage
• Fixed increasing memory usage after 3D device re-initialization due to sleep, lock/unlock, etc.
• Added "What's New?" command for viewing development log on web site
• Changed multiple icons in upper-right corner of application to single icon that opens a menu
• Fixed dark fringing around edges of text applied using Apply Text command
• Fixed valances and text/graphics to be properly obscured when using Obscure object property
• Fixed Print UI to automatically select Custom preset when customizing width/height/resolution
• Fixed Transform By to not reset value to 0 when entering negative inches in feet/in mode
• Fixed incorrect loading of object saved as custom object with duplicate part names when saved in scene file
• Fixed Split command to not be available for valance parts
• Fixed some actions (e.g. rename object part) not triggering the prompt to save changes when exiting
• Fixed crash when opening corrupt scene file

Fabric changes:

• Added 2013-2014 new additions for Sunbrella Awning and Marine fabrics

Version 5.2.4680.12837 - 10/24/2012

Program changes:

• Added ability to show shadows with angled backdrops
• Changed "building faces" to "photo taken facing" in Sky tab (to be usable for both straight-on and angled backdrops)
• Fixed crash when combining objects in a group when at least one object has a valance
• Fixed out of memory error when importing large images or duplicating objects using them
• Added support for transparency when importing a graphic from a PNG with palette-based transparency (<=8bpp)
• Improved performance when loading an angled backdrop or switching backdrop type
• Improved framing of objects in object thumbnails when adding objects as custom objects
• Fixed problem saving/loading scene files containing imported files whose names require Unicode
• Fixed uncommon problem with arrow keys only moving objects (not rotating) when an axis is locked
• Fixed various uncommon crashes

Documentation:

• Added several sections describing new features
• Updated screenshots to reflect latest user interface
• Improved quality of images

Fabric changes:

• Added Sunbrella Upholstery fabrics
• Renamed "Sunbrella" to "Sunbrella - Awning and Marine"
• Updated Sunbrella fabric information PDFs

Version 5.2.4623.18544 - 8/28/2012

Program changes:

• Added ability to undo/redo changes to the page layout on the Print page
• Added ability to save the page as an image file from the Print page (in addition to printing it)
• Added ability to move, rotate, and scale the selected object by specified numerical amounts
• Added ability to make an object obscure part of another object, useful for making windows within fabric panels
• Added ability to group objects together for movement, applying fabrics, etc.
• Added ability to combine a group of objects into a single object
• Added ability to split, combine, and re-combine object parts
• Added ability to replace the selected object (Add Object, "Replace selected" checkbox in upper right)
• Improved speed and usability of Object Parts tree including columns, sorting, drag and drop re-ordering
• Added ability to rotate object by 90 degrees using the '9' key
• Improved object movement and rotation when viewing objects from different angles
• Added ability to select metric and other units (feet/in, feet, in, m, cm)
• Added ability to control individual object brightness (via emissive property in material properties)
• Improved dimension sliders (and others) to use non-linear scaling for greater precision and range
• Fixed loading of large (>3MP) image files on some computers with Intel integrated graphics
• Added ability to open TIFF files for backdrops, graphics, and texture images
• Added "Exempt from constraints" object property, controls whether object can pass through backdrop/ground
• Added ability to change opacity of text and graphic objects
• Added ability to center camera on clicked point in space (middle-click during rotate camera mode)
• Improved usability of controls on Render Image page for specifying render size and crop area
• Added several new commands to the "Modify Model Geometry" menu, for processing imported 3D models
• Added ability to save object as Custom Object (right-click on object and choose Save as Custom Object)
• Added display of fabric name/number applied to selected object in texture properties
• Added right-click context menu for 3D view when no object is selected
• Added 3D wireframe view options (right-click in 3D view with no object selected)
• Added ability to temporarily change dimension slider min/max values (right-click on slider)
• Improved appearance of some fabrics/textures when using Intel integrated graphics
• Improved ease of use of specular lighting material properties
• Improved rendering quality of specular highlights
• Added ability to type feet and inch markers (' and ") in valance properties
• Added keyboard command for centering the camera on the selected object (/)
• Improved global and 3D view keyboard commands (like Ctrl+Z) to work when other controls have focus
• Improved H.Repeat and V.Repeat texture sliders to be linked by default (right-click to toggle)
• Improved saving of scene files to embed imported textures
• Added ability to set material properties for multiple parts (when parent is selected)
• Added option for synchronization of texture properties between fabric and valance, enabled by default
• Added informational display message when saving the scene
• Added ability to adjust camera with arrow keys while in camera modes
• Added disabling of unrelated UI when performing certain operations such as setting backdrop scale
• Added warning/error messages for older unsupported Intel 910/915 and 945 graphics hardware
• Added separate tracking of "Maintain Aspect Ratio" setting for text vs. graphic objects
• Added "Align Axes" command for aligning the axes of one object to another without rotating the object
• Improved order of objects in object tree and object selection after duplicating an object
• Improved registration error message to mention company name
• Fixed crop area on Render Image page to be properly saved and loaded from scene files
• Fixed image not updating when repeatedly importing a texture or graphic from the same file
• Fixed incorrect lighting/coloring of objects without texture maps applied
• Fixed existing braid to be removed when choosing "Straight (no braid)" valance type
• Fixed changes to material properties to be undoable
• Fixed alignment tools to work when clicking on valance parts
• Fixed error message shown when trying to send feedback on computer with incorrect date/time
• Fixed rare problem causing custom backdrop/graphic tabs to not appear on some computers
• Fixed various uncommon crashes

Fabric changes:

• Updated Sunbrella Care and Cleaning information
• Improved color accuracy and detail of Sunbrella Mayfield Collection fabrics

Version 5.1.4484.12920 - 4/11/2012

• Changed arrow key movement/rotation in 3D view to be more precise (with and without shift)
• Added keyboard commands (comma and period) to cycle through previous/next object in 3D view
• Changed automatic advancement of time to halt upon manual rotation of light
• Improved zoom sensitivity in page layout view
• Fixed loss of transparency when copying and pasting images within the page layout
• Fixed image replacement when copying and pasting images with same dimensions within page layout
• Fixed per-object shadow visibility settings to be saved in scene files
• Fixed opacity to be saved in scene files
• Fixed ground texture to be saved in scene files
• Fixed backdrop image not being included in scene file after undoing set backdrop
• Fixed several uncommon crashes

Version 5.1.4462.24492 - 3/20/2012

• Major improvements to page layout and printing interface

Version 5.0.4449.28267 - 3/7/2012

• Initial release

Download FAQ

Details

Category: Awning Composer

Published on Monday, 28 November 2011 18:56

Written by Awning Composer

Hits: 1913

Download FAQ

Why are there two downloads for Awning Composer 5 and what's the difference?

Awning Composer 5 now uses high quality photographic images to represent many of the included fabrics.  These images are very detailed and take up a significant amount of space, increasing the download time.  We have prepared a separate installer with medium quality versions of these images that is smaller and takes less time to download.  The difference in image quality is only noticeable when viewing the fabrics from close up (1-2 feet away) or rendering at high resolution.

I downloaded the file but my computer won't let me open it.  What's going on?

When the download started, did you see a prompt that looks like this?

If so, you're using Internet Explorer 9 as your web browser.  (You may want to consider using Firefox or Chrome instead.)  By default, Internet Explorer 9 uses a feature called SmartScreen Filter which purposely makes it difficult to download and install software that is not considered "commonly downloaded" by Microsoft.  However, you can still do it by following these instructions:

First, choose Run or Save.  Either option will work.  Choose Run if you just want to install the software now and don't need to save the installer file.  Or, choose Save if you want to save the installer file to run again later or copy to another computer.

When the download finishes, you should see the following prompt:

Choose Actions.

Then you should see the following window:

Choose More Options at the bottom.

This causes an additional option to be displayed:

Choose Run anyway.

Now, if you chose "Run" at the beginning of the download process, or if you run the downloaded file at any point later on, you may see the following prompt:

Choose Yes.

Now you should see the installer:

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Example Layouts

Details

Category: Awning Composer

Published on Monday, 19 March 2012 20:35

Written by Tom Grandgent

Hits: 1819

Example Layouts

Awning Composer includes custom page layout support for printing and saving as PDF.  The following fictional examples were created in Awning Composer by arranging renderings, text boxes, and imported images on the page.  You can click on any of the images below to view the original as a PDF file.  Click here to find out more about the page layout feature.

Engineering style with side info panel.

Engineering style with bottom info panel.

Rendering with disclaimer text and watermark.

Simple concept rendering.

Download FAQ

Details

Category: Awning Composer

Published on Monday, 28 November 2011 18:56

Written by Awning Composer

Hits: 5667

Download FAQ

I downloaded the file but my computer won't let me open it.  What's going on?

When the download started, did you see a prompt that looks like this?

If so, you're using Internet Explorer 9 as your web browser.  (You may want to consider using Firefox or Chrome instead.)  By default, Internet Explorer 9 uses a feature called "SmartScreen Filter" which purposely makes it difficult to download and install software.  However, you can still do it by following these instructions:

First, choose Run or Save.  Either option will work.  Choose Run if you just want to install the software now and don't need to save the installer file.  Or, choose Save if you want to save the installer file to run again later or copy to another computer.

When the download finishes, you should see the following prompt:

Choose Actions.

Then you should see the following window:

Choose More Options at the bottom.

This causes an additional option to be displayed:

Choose Run anyway.

Now, if you chose "Run" at the beginning of the download process, or if you run the downloaded file at any point later on, you may see the following prompt:

Choose Yes.

Now you should see the installer:

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.