Contexts are an essential part of Gaffer. We’re working on some more structured documentation about them. In the mean time, here is a list of common Context Variables set by Gaffer as part of the compute process. Amongst other things, they can be used in expressions or via ${variables} in string plug values.
0.56.0: Area light visualisation
In Gaffer 0.56, we’ve made significant improvements to the visualisation of area lights. This video dives into the details, and talks about the varying support for connected shader networks:
Read on for more details and tips on how to customise the default settings…
Read more0.56.0: Crop Window Tool – 2D
Another improvement in Gaffer 0.56 is the ability to adjust your render crop window from the 2D view (finally!). This video demonstrates some of tool handling improvements we added at the same time:
TL;DW:
- Drag (outside)
Shift-drag (inside) to create a new window. - Drag inside to move.
0.56.0: Transform/Camera tool improvements
In Gaffer 0.56, we’ve improved the behaviour of the Transform and Camera tools. In this short video we take a look at the changes:
TL;DW?
Shift(precision) mode now works for camera movements and scroll wheel zooming too.- Tools no longer reset when precision mode is enabled mid-adjustment.
0.56.0: Set node tweaks
We’ve made a long-awaited tweak to the Set node in the recently released Gaffer 0.56.0.0. The confusing Paths plug .vs. PathFilter debate is finally over.
TL;DR: Just use a PathFilter – Paths is no more.
Continue reading “0.56.0: Set node tweaks”
0.56.0: New set expression operators
Gaffer allows scene locations to be organised into sets, and then uses a simple expression language to combine sets for use in light linking, shader assignments and the like. In this short post we’ll discuss a historical limitation of set expressions and present some useful improvements made in Gaffer 0.56.0.0.
Continue reading “0.56.0: New set expression operators”What’s cooking? : Spreadsheet node
A common pattern that arises in production is the “shot-specific branch switcher”, typically using a Switch or NameSwitch node to choose the right branch for the current shot. In the fictitious example below, this pattern is employed to select the right render settings per shot, with an ArnoldOptions and StandardOptions node on each branch.
Labelled menu dividers
From 0.55.0.0 onwards, you can now label menu dividers. You can see an examples of this in the Editor Focus menu, which has both a title (in black) and two labelled dividers (dark grey).
To create these, simply add a label to your item when setting "divider" : True:
menu.append( "/Follow Divider",
{ "divider" : True, "label" : "Follow" }
)
G4P – part 6 – Node defaults
For this instalment in our ground-up series about integrating Gaffer into a pipeline, we cover how to change node defaults.
All Gaffer nodes have plugs, whether they are visible in the Graph Editor for easy connection, or in the Node Editor as settings. These plugs have default values defined by the node’s programming. It may be the case however, that these defaults aren’t the most useful values for your use. To help with this, Gaffer allows you to provide your own, “user” defaults.
Continue reading “G4P – part 6 – Node defaults”
Gaffer 0.55.0.0
Another major release, so soon? You bet. This time we have fewer changes, but they’re quite far-reaching. Included are major updates to the main application’s editor UI, new scene manipulator features, and the new CopyPrimitiveVariables and NameSwitch nodes. Let’s take a tour.
Continue reading “Gaffer 0.55.0.0”