Batch GUI Tool for Windows

Tested the new version out. It's got a node-based interface! Reminds me of this program...what's it called again...

2 bugs / user errors (?)

1. I run the batch fine, but I still can't click on "create animated GIF"
2. I connect two filters in a linear chain, but it renders both the full chain and the output of the first filter only. I only wanted the full chain.

I have found a bug

1 - Select Add filter and then go back to filter stack so it shows the node there
2 - Select now Insert filter and choose another filter
3 - When you try to go back to Filter Stack I get this error message shown below
4 - If you click continue, all the filters nodes are cleared, and the output directory is missing also.

And if you make it more smaller than the original default size, then happens this shown below

If after this one above you still keep adding more filters nodes, they will appear after the last one, also outside of visible window, so if you expand the window you will see them

This is really not a problem and not something wrong, IF you could expand the window and find them there and you can reorganize them as you want

In the same way, if you connect any of the possible additional links of a filter node to the output directory and then you want to delete them, they will appear again when you add a new filter node

As much as I test it, I am loving it more and find it really awesome and never expected to have something as wonderful as this that you have done.

And the feature to be able to zoom in-out all the stack is really great and very useful and works very smoothly

I suposse that the filter nodes only can have one link from the source and the only way to combine them is by Insert Filter

And the only node that can have more than one source is the output directory node

I will keep testing and tell what I can find

Congratulations and thanks very much for making this new node based version

@Indigo Ray
Thanks for testing!

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2 bugs / user errors (?) 1. I run the batch fine, but I still can't click on "create animated GIF" 2. I connect two filters in a linear chain, but it renders both the full chain and the output of the first filter only. I only wanted the full chain.

Did you choose two presets and a number of images between two presets? There must be something to make the animation over. What do you mean by "can't click on"?
It is possible that the Tool didn't work with your second filter. Which filters did you use? Can you explain a bit more?

Hey Aba, like your new design

I have some trouble with image transparency for PNGs tho, that doesn´t seem to work at all. I either get blank images or white backgrounds.

@Indigo Ray: I'm glad it works now!

@Sharandra

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I have some trouble with image transparency for PNGs tho, that doesn´t seem to work at all. I either get blank images or white backgrounds.

This seems to be a "feature" of the batch renderer. The batch.xml is oke, but it doesn't create transparent images. In the forums I read a workaround:

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had to specify a fully transparent source file otherwise it only rendered the filter over a white background. I'm using FFBatchMaster for Mac OS X. I also had to make the source transparent file the same dimensions that I wanted to render the final out to,

I implemented that workaround (let the tool create that transparent image on texture size and use that as input, and use that image in case of texture rendering automaticcaly). The side effect is that you'll get a black background when you choose not to Include Transparency in the Image output format instead of white. Maybe I'll look into that if somebody has problems with this.

New version uploaded (v0.93) with transparent image fix.

I like much that when selecting a source of directory of images, you can click on it and it will open a full list with the name of each one and the resolution size

Thanks very much for adding this

The only possible problem I see, is that most of my images and photos does not have a meaningfull name, and is like DSC_0895, so you do not know the image by the name, although if you have already loaded it, you really must know what you have loaded, and know what this images are refering too. So again I am probably being too picky.

Hi SpaceRay.

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all of them have the same name of "single images" or "directory images" or "texture" but unless you click over the icon to open that node and see what is inside you can´t know what is included in each one from outside. I mean maybe if it could be possible that when you hover the mouse over each source it could tell you the name of the file, or the name of the folder.

Sorry but that's to much I don't know a way to implement that in a nice way. You can always click on the Info button, that will give you insight in all the used sources per filter/input etc.

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The only possible problem I see, is that most of my images and photos does not have a meaningfull name, and is like DSC_0895, so you do not know the image by the name, although if you have already loaded it, you really must know what you have loaded, and know what this images are refering too.

If you select single images you can select the images you want with the windows-explorer, than you can see all the tumbnails.

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I like much that if you click on a link to be connected, the possible destiny points availables will be highlighted in red and then ones not possible to use will become grey. Well done and great.

Thanks!

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Select Insert filter to be able to put the third filter in between of the previous two filters, and then when going to filter stack, it will not show in the middle, it will be added as a new filter.

The only difference between inserting a filter or adding a filter is the number in the stack. You inserted Catwalk (I suppose) and it has stack number 02, so you can connect the output to nr 03 ChromeGrille. It will not automatically reconnect in/output, that must be done by hand.
But if you choose add it would be filter 03, you could connect ChromeGrille to Catwalk then.
I'm afraid that automatically reconnecting when inserting a filter in the stack could mess things up in more complicated stacks.

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Is it somehow possible, to let it render the same preset, but with different settings?

It would be possible to build that into the program, but I think it's better done in FF. Where would you use it for?
1) It is possible to create two presets with the maximum difference that you want for a slider (say one preset 1 and the other preset value 100). Then set animation number of images between two presets at 98, and then choose render only one step. If you choose step 25 it will render the image with slider value 25. I use that for a simple filter that (with Minimum/Maximum Level) sets the maximum contrast, and in the filterstack I can choose a contrast value.
2) reading again I think you want to use different rendering options. No only AntiAlias wil be a part of the animation, so you could make two exacty the same preferences with different AA and then animate over it. If you "need" an other setting to use that way, let me know.

No, I don´t want to use different render options.

For example I have a filter that generates map tiles. It has several sliders which control what kind of tile piece will be created, for example corners and crossings and their directions. It would be great if you could batch render out all the combinations, without having to create a preset for each.

And another bug: It won´t open a filter if it loads external images in the color control.

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Object reference not set to an instance of an object

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See the end of this message for details on invoking just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box. ************** Exception Text ************** System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.    at FFBatchTool.Filter.<ReadControls>b__b(XElement c)    at System.Linq.Enumerable.WhereSelectEnumerableIterator`2.MoveNext()    at System.Collections.Generic.List`1..ctor(IEnumerable`1 collection)    at System.Linq.Enumerable.ToList[TSource](IEnumerable`1 source)    at FFBatchTool.Filter.ReadControls(Settings settings)    at FFBatchTool.Filter.ReadFilter(Settings settings)    at FFBatchTool.Filter..ctor(String filterPath, Settings settings)    at FFBatchTool.FFBatchTool.FilterSelectionDataGridView_CellContentClick(Object sender, DataGridViewCellEventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView.OnCellContentClick(DataGridViewCellEventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView.OnCommonCellContentClick(Int32 columnIndex, Int32 rowIndex, Boolean doubleClick)    at System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCell.OnMouseUpInternal(DataGridViewCellMouseEventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView.OnCellMouseUp(DataGridViewCellMouseEventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.DataGridView.WndProc(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam) ************** Loaded Assemblies ************** mscorlib     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1008 (RTMGDR.030319-1000)     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/mscorlib.dll ---------------------------------------- FFBatchTool     Assembly Version: 0.0.0.1     Win32 Version: 0.0.0.1     CodeBase: file:///C:/Users/Firedragon/Desktop/FFBatchTool.exe ---------------------------------------- System.Windows.Forms     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1002 built by: RTMGDR     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Drawing     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1001 built by: RTMGDR     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll ---------------------------------------- System     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1001 built by: RTMGDR     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Xml     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1015 built by: RTMGDR     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Configuration     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1015 (RTMGDR.030319-1000)     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll ---------------------------------------- wzflaoiz     Assembly Version: 0.0.0.1     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1001 built by: RTMGDR     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Xml.Linq     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.1 built by: RTMRel     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml.Linq/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.Linq.dll ---------------------------------------- System.Core     Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0     Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.233 built by: RTMGDR     CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Core/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Core.dll ---------------------------------------- ************** JIT Debugging ************** To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this application or computer (machine.config) must have the jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section. The application must also be compiled with debugging enabled. For example: <configuration>     <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" /> </configuration> When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer rather than be handled by this dialog box.

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For example I have a filter that generates map tiles. It has several sliders which control what kind of tile piece will be created, for example corners and crossings and their directions. It would be great if you could batch render out all the combinations, without having to create a preset for each.

No, I'm sorry, that would be too difficult too implement and to use. You can animate over intSliders if you use the right number of steps, but making combinations of all sliders would complicate things too much.
Maybe I can try to implement a checkbox on the filterinfo page and let it render all possible int values for a intSlider. And all combinations if there are more than one. I will put it on a todo list..[edit: sorry, I would like it myself but I tried it and it gets too complicated ]

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It won´t open a filter if it loads external images in the color control.

That's strange, I have tried it with existing and non existing images, never had a problem, is it only on a specific filter?

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so it would be only fair if he gets a reward for that

Thanks for your remark, I already asked for a discount on the update to FF4, but the FF team responded that I should ask the filerforge users for money to use my tool. In the meanwhile I payed for the FF4 update and as I started this "project" I said it would be free, so it will be free to use.

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aba New version uploaded (v0.93) with transparent image fix.

I have tested it with texture filters that include transparency and also loading PNG files with transparent background and it works well now and there is no problem.

NOT ALL THE FILTERS CAN HANDLE TRANSPARENCY


Must be said also that not all the filter can use images with transparent background while KEEPING that transparency in the result, as these will load right but the result will become a solid color. The filter must have been prepared by the author so that it supports alpha channel and it can process right any image with transparent background.

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Insert Filter question Sel ect Insert filter to be able to put the third filter in between of the previous two filters, and then when going to filter stack, it will not show in the middle, it will be added as a new filter. The only difference between inserting a filter or adding a filter is the number in the stack. You inserted Catwalk (I suppose) and it has stack number 02, so you can connect the output to nr 03 ChromeGrille. It will not automatically reconnect in/output, that must be done by hand. But if you choose add it would be filter 03, you could connect ChromeGrille to Catwalk then.

Yes, I used the insert filter with the Catwalk filter

OH! Sorry That I have not seen that the Catwalk filter has changed the node number fr om 3 to 2 that shows then that the Insert filter really works right. I see and now understand, and now know that is working right as it was made and I was wrong thinking that the insert filter would automatically link and position the filter between both filters.

So then the insert filter works changing the node number so when going to the batch rendering, it will do all the tasks according to these node number and in that order, and I think that this is right and a good thing.

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aba I'm afraid that automatically reconnecting when inserting a filter in the stack could mess things up in more complicated stacks.

I have to say that I do not need or want to have automatically reconnecting of the nodes, and I can easily and without problem do it manually and is OK. I have only told it BECAUSE I thought that this was the right it should work, but I was wrong and it does not work this way, so everything works fine and right with "add filter and Insert filter"

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GMM Quote batch render them, will the filter author get credit for it? Unfortunately not, and there are no plans to add this functionality. I admit this this unfair though

Well, I wish it could give credit, but you can´t have everything as you want, and maybe it would be bad if it was possible, because if you batch render a 2000 images at once, the credit reward would skyrocket, and then the HU rewards would skyrocket too, and then it would not be fair for FF Inc.

Will send it in an email because I don´t want to publish it right now. Maybe it will also help you to add support for batching those kind of filters

Edit: Ah crap, can´t attach anything to a PM

ok

@Sharandra
Could you attach it to a pm, if I create a xml out your mail it will not read into FF (eror message ).
I can see that it uses groups and customClasses, I haven't tried that with the tool before, maybe that's the problem.

@SpaceRay: Great!

GMM thanks for the info. It's to bad the author will not get credit for renders. I guess I'll just continue to render my tiles one at a time while using others filters because I feel they need to get those credits. It's an ethical thing for me. I will only use my own filters for batch render through the program.

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Well, I wish it could give credit, but you can´t have everything as you want, and maybe it would be bad if it was possible, because if you batch render a 2000 images at once, the credit reward would skyrocket, and then the HU rewards would skyrocket too, and then it would not be fair for FF Inc

No you are wrong. I have rendered hundreds of tiles through several of the filters in the library one at a time and the original builder reaped their just reward for it. Now there is a potential for new filter builders to have hundreds or thousands of tiles and renders stripped from their count and they will never get credit for it. So I see no harm coming to Filter Forge. I only see Filter Forge giving less HU then ever.

I am already testing it but I have not finished as I had to do other things

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aba you can render all values of one intSlider of (one or more) preset(s)

Good feature and option to have, although I still do not understand it right, could you please, explain it a little bit more how to use it and what you can do?

I mean that you have said that you can use one intSlider, so as far as I know it means that you can´t use any of the normal slider controls, so you must know which one of the settings is using a intSlider, if any is using it, and this can´t be known from outside, you must go inside Filter Editor and see it.

I just found 3 minor bugs and solved them, please use the latest version (v095).

I have to look into the naming of the output images, something strange when testdriving. (only the names it works fine).

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explain it a little bit more how to use it and what you can do?

As Sharandra says: you can only choose a intSlider. It will show how many steps it has. What you can do with it? I have a BW filter with 12 options in a intslider. With one preset I can try them all. If I like one I choose the render one step option to render the one I like the next time. Or I choose render one value of an intSlider which is connected to variation, no need to alter the preset. Or you can make a silly animation of it

btw if you want to see which controls and values the filter has you can look at the tab next to the presets tab when choosing a preset (choose select all presets to see them all). It als gives info about the lighting.

I want to thanks again for this awesome tool and is very good and useful

I have tested it with many things and have not found yet any error or bug more

And this changes the way you can use FF and how rendering the results can be done in a bettter and easier way, specially when you need more than one result of a filter and different presets, or multiple filters, multiple presets, or ......