Get ready for the next Summer of Code!

[Koba]

Well, looks like they are going to do it again!

Today Google announced that 2007 will be another summer of code. Applications are in March.

http://google-code-updates.blogspot....of-summer.html

Google summer of code has been utterly fantastic for Blender. It brought us fluids and sculpt as well as ffmpeg ....etc...etc. Personally, I already have a suggestion for a summer of code I would like to see.

I would love to see Blender's NPR rendering vastly improved. More specifically, I would like to see freestyle implemented as a node in Blender.

http://freestyle.sourceforge.net/

At one point I was in contact with the author and he said he thought a summer of code integration was a great idea. He has also been in contact with ton (apparently). Oh...and I would love true volumetrics in Blender!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to finding out what people are proposing and lets make this an ever better summer of code than the last!

Koba

[Jeremy Ray]

Volumetrics in Blender - mmm yum.

Can I mention an idea without this becoming another "what new feature do you want" thread and getting closed?

How about Blender absorbing the GIMP?

Texture Paint is good but pretty basic as it is - it needs layers and all the other tools that go with a full-fledged image manipulation program. So why not replace the UV/Image Editor with GIMP?

It wouldn't hurt GIMP to use Blender's window management system either, at least on Windows.

[RONIN]

Koba

Yeah I'm all pumped up for freestyle to be included in GSOC,but wasn't there a some really good projects that did not get excepted,and one that did didn't get finished?Sky generator I think it was?

If freestyle doesn't make it over the summer,I'm willing to raise some money and find a coder to implement some kind of starting point.

[gaalgergely]

i want jahka`s particle patch to be implemented into blender. and gsculpts modeling tools.

[Charlesworth999]

So many choices, so little time...
So, where can I vote for Blender?

[JiriH]

I definitely vote for jahka`s particle patch. Finalisation under GSoC would be great.

What about nurbana (NURBS implementation in Blender) ? :-) MOI may be good inspiration (http://www.moi3d.com/)

[aws357]

Freestyle seems wicked...
http://freestyle.sourceforge.net/GAL...G/dirindex.php <-- I dig that one the sketchy one...

but would be nice to see something like the fake/real SSS well integrated or something... With the number of character made using the sculpt tool, it would be sad to let those characters down by giving them half assed skin texture no?

http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/6757/testbumpnw5.png <--- Doesn't this cute wittle wrinkled masai deserve a well SSSed wrinkled skin? (go Peng You gooo!)

[simhar]

My favorites...

- NURBS
- usable GI for Blender Internal
- Camera Motion Tracking from videos
- Volumetrics
- SSS

[dems]

hypervoxel is my favourite!

[osxrules]

NPR
volumetrics
SSS
GI
True motion blur
other advanced shaders

All possible by replacing the internal renderer with a better one.

So my vote would be for something that can't be achieved by using a better renderer and that would be jahka's particle patch. I'd love to see scripts that can run inside the 3D window though so we can finally get rid of the scripts panel. The way I see it is there would be a tools palette that had a scrolling list of available scripts and when clicking the button for a script would show/hide it or run it if it isn't running.

[Koba]

Everyone seems to love jahka's particles (I do!).

My only issue is that he has already achieved so very much that with his patch, the particle system is a completely new (and very powerful!) beast. He must be very motivated and I'm not sure a summer of code would be able to up his productivity much more (though it would be insane if it did!). Of course he deserves something for his efforts and I suggest he sets up a donation page so we can show our appreciation.

I'm not saying that what he has done till now isn't worth a summer of code project in itself. That said, perhaps it would be best for Blender if we got someone else onboard with a different project.

One thing that would simply be invaluable to my current project would be a strong link/integration between Blender and Makehuman especially for animation. For those not familar with Makehuman, it started as a Blender script and can be found here:

http://www.dedalo-3d.com/

For those who feel Makehuman create generic humanoids, consider the following:

Makehuman base mesh + animation -> Blender + all modelling tools + Sculpt! =
Incredible workflow for humanoid characters that would kick the **** out of Poser, Max Bipeds etc.

I also feel the Makehuman team have shown a tremendous dedication and deserve a Summer of Code.

Koba

[dems]

i think hypervoxel will be complment for jahka work

[IamInnocent]

Originally Posted by Koba Makehuman base mesh + animation -> Blender + all modelling tools + Sculpt! = Incredible workflow for humanoid characters that would kick the **** out of Poser, Max Bipeds etc. I also feel the Makehuman team have shown a tremendous dedication and deserve a Summer of Code. Koba

It would be a great workflow !
Take into account though that the Makehuman open source project is now autonomous and is entitled to postulate for GSoCs all by itself.

Jean

[harkyman]

I wish it weren't just for students. I'd be able to carve some time out of work to do some real coding if there were compensation available.

[IamInnocent]

Originally Posted by harkyman I wish it weren't just for students. I'd be able to carve some time out of work to do some real coding if there were compensation available.

Team up with a student as a mentor ?
It is not as much money but it is not as much time either.

Jean

[FuzzMaster]

Cloth dammit.

[Charlesworth999]

Seeing as everyone has one, here's my list:
* Polygons (besides, tris and quads, duh)
* NURBS modeling
* SSS
* Volumetric materials

Oh, and when will the next version of Blender be released?
I'm eager to see it

[Harryabreu]

Hi guys I am very new in this community and a lot of time I prefer only read for learning than speak some thing.
Bu first I want to thanks you, because de “freestyle” was what I wanted for give life to my characters and I did not know how get it with blender only…
Second the NURBS project is very interesting too because sometimes subsurf isn’t the right way for expression my ideas.
I really agree with the new particle system is a good choice for a lot of us because the price for you have something similar on a proprietary software you will need a lot of money.
I only want a simple thing to cut the mesh on any direction…. I try to improve my technique with “retopo” but a kind of software like gsculpt http://gsculpt.sourceforge.net/index.html is very useful for complex character.
Again tank you for this discussion because I learn a lot.
Sorry for my poor English.

[dems]

I wish it weren't just for students. I'd be able to carve some time out of work to do some real coding if there were compensation available.

harkyman,its a real solution to mentor a student!
you are a great coder and your participation will encourage youg developper and im sure you project will be great!
thkx a lot!

[metalliandy]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Ray Volumetrics in Blender - mmm yum. Can I mention an idea without this becoming another "what new feature do you want" thread and getting closed? How about Blender absorbing the GIMP? Texture Paint is good but pretty basic as it is - it needs layers and all the other tools that go with a full-fledged image manipulation program. So why not replace the UV/Image Editor with GIMP? It wouldn't hurt GIMP to use Blender's window management system either, at least on Windows.

I second this...
Blender would be amazing if we could have decent 3d painting!
It would really give Bodypaint 3d a run for its money.