Hello Softy people

I noticed a few minor updates to the FX tree in the latest Softimage release. This got me thinking that maybe it hasn't been completely abandoned by developers and maybe it has a future.

Does anyone know if there are any plans for future development of the FX tree? Even some basic multi-channel support would help bring it more up to date.

I'm quite a fan of this compositor. It is perfectly possible to do quality finished work with it and it would be a shame if it just slipped further and further behind. The fact it comes built in to Softimage is very handy, even if is just for quick pre-comps etc.

Does anyone know anything about it's future?

Thanks

Sam

While Luc-Eric Rousseau mentioned on the Mailing List that the FXTree wouldn't be pulled from Softimage, (quoted from here)
updating it doesn't seem to be a high priority at Softimage and the fact that Autodesk gave us our very own Softimage Composite with version 2011.5 does seem to point to the same ("no-new-features") direction.

So it's not being dropped but it's not being developed either. I suppose that's something.

Thanks for the info.

Do you think a poll would be a good idea to help demonstrate to Autodesk that the fxtree is something Softimage users want, and want developed?

If we just accept Autodesk Composite (not saying its bad), then that is what we will get.

Regards,

Alan

I highly doubt it, as the whole FXTree implementation always seems to have been a one-man show, Luc-Eric Rousseau's one-man show that is, and he has moved on from his time as "Project Leader - Compositing", when he apparently single-handedly implemented the FXTree in XSI, within (Avid) Softimage to his current position as "Development Manager, Autodesk Softimage" , leaving him obviously less time to dedicate to his "code-child" FXTree. And Autodesk's stance on this seems clear, hence "Softimage Composite" & probably no allotted time for Luc-Eric to play with the FXTree some more in the near future.

i would love to see FX tree enchanced, that would be killer and really a boost, its already powerfull but with a bit of updates it could really do great things.
Dont think it'll ever happen sadly:/

yeahh make it openCL and openFX compatible would be a good step!

I'd really like to see FXtree evolve as well. It's not that it's another compositing tool. It's that it's so integrated (and can be more) in SI that opens great possibilities. I second that, OFX should be a great step if there are no plans on developing exclusive SI nodes.

Fx tree input/output ( clips ) and a basic toolset needs adding to ICE, rather than the fx tree being contInued as it is IMO. Then we will have full integration within xsi.
In fact we pretty much have that now with ice and plugins; but we have to write to external fIles and it could be made easier to do.

I'd love to see it get steady development as well. It's great for small shops that don't want to spend extra on something like Nuke just for basic compositing and it's integration make it very handy. Toxic doesn't appear to be under development at all and for some reason it's display is all messed up on my comp. I'm not sure if it doesn't support Win7 or Aero or what but it's completely unusable as is with pieces of windows missing, redrawing strangely and not updating, going black etc.

So yes, FX tree is a great thing and should be continued!