[Suggestion] Read access to all layers for effect plugins

[midora]

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the first one asking for this. Maybe not a direct access to the paint.net document but an iterator to get a copy of a layer and its properties.

 

It would allow me to change the 'Look at It' plugin to play the current animation (using the same method as in the agif, apng, awebp and aavif plugin).

And for sure at lot of other plugins could be advanced (like G'MIC).

 

 

[Reptillian]

I second this request. I would be able to actually be able to create z-blend which basically use the z axis to determine the color of output image. And a few more obscure filters.

Edited December 28, 2021 by Reptillian

[Rick Brewster]

At some point I'm going to do a big revamp of the effect plugin system, and this will almost certainly be part of it.

 

First up is a revamp of the FileType plugin system, possibly for 4.4. (I'm actually looking at it right now)

[midora]

Sounds good. I guess a revamp of the Effect plugin system is much more complex because there are so many ideas what could be done. To get a good set of reasonable features is a challenge.

 

BTW: FileTypes.

- I know it's always a controversial discussion (see GIMP) but an additional export menu entry may help in some situations. It's not only about flatten but also to keep the the original pdn file unsaved. This avoids that you are loosing the layers by mistake.

- A configurable option for load which supports an open file dialog would avoid some of the methods used in the moment. It's not so easy because of preview in save and other issues.

- CTRL+SHIFT-O: To open the newest recent file

[Roly Poly Goblinoli]

Third the request. This is the bullet I can't bite on my own with Dynamic Draw. Being able to read the layers so I can make a quick merged copy would remove so much jankiness.

...I don't suppose writing to other layers will happen (that would be asking for the moon, since effects run against a single layer) but if it could...that would really remove the last barrier

[Porl]

I'm not sure if this feature is still up for consideration, but it would be very helpful for an animation spritesheet plugin I'm working on at the moment as it would allow me to specify anchor points (a pixel per animation frame) to know where to position sprites.

 

Currently I'm copying the separate layer (containing the anchor points) to the clipboard and reading from that instead, but it would be a lot more seamless to be able to read from the surface of another layer (ideally identifiable by it's layer name).

[MJW]

It's now available, though not for the "traditional" variety of plugin. There's a similar type of plugin that can be used. Some of BoltBait's updated plugins take advantage of the feature. I'm sure others will provide more details.

[Rick Brewster]

For an effect plugin you will have to derive from BitmapEffect, which is the new replacement for ye ol' Effect. You can also derive from one of the GpuEffect classes (GpuEffect, GpuImageEffect, GpuDrawingEffect, as well as PropertyBased versions of these such as PropertyBasedGpuImageEffect) if you want to render using the GPU via Direct2D.

[Porl]

Thanks, I'll have a play around with these examples. 🙂

[Rick Brewster]

Here are some v5.0 effect plugin samples: https://github.com/paintdotnet/PdnV5EffectSamples