Version 5.3.0 Releasenote (May.20th, 2014)

New Functions

  • Animation Instance Function
    • Overview
      • This function does not “copy“ animations but places and plays any number of parts having “reference” information.The referenced animation is called the source animation, and the placed parts are called the animation instance (“instance”).
    • Application
        • Multiple variations can be created by running the same animation and specifying parameters in the instance.
        • A scene can be built by combining multiple animations, such as separately created backgrounds, characters, and effects.
        • Sequences can be created that play an A-B segment, then play segment C n times, and then jump to segment D. (*1)
        • Animations can be created of a helicopter than has separate motion for the body and the propeller, which is always moving.

      And can also be used for other purposes.

    • Features
      • Instances are a type of part.
        • For this reason, instances can be placed anywhere on the tree, just like normal parts.
        • The instance attributes, such as coordinates, rotation, and scale, are inherited from the source animation.In other words, it behaves like the parent part of the root part of the source animation.

          * In fact, it never overwrites any attribute values of the root part.

        • X/Y sizes take over the reference frame of the source animation.
      • The instance has an independent time line.
        • Because each instance has a separate frame counter than the frame counter of the animation to which it belongs (parent animation), it can be played asynchronously. (When checking independent operation)

          For example, while the parent animation frame is stopped at frame 1, the instance can be played in an infinite loop.

      • Circular references cannot be made.
        • Instances that reference animation A from inside animation A cannot be placed.
        • Circular instances that mutually reference each other are not permitted, such as the following:an instance of animation B is placed in animation A and an instance of animation A is placed in animation B.
      • The data size is small.
        • The data size can be much smaller than simply copying parts because the instance stores only the name of the source animation.
    • Special Function
      • For only the instance, some parameters are provided to specify playback options as follows by setting “Instance” attribute key.
      • Playback segment, playback speed, loop count, and playback direction can be specified for each instance independently.
      • Playback segments are specified by label, and offsets can be specified.
    • Creation procedure
      • Turn off the option “Limit to Ver.4 compatible functions” in “Compatibility” of your project settings.
      • Create a new animation file to place your new instances.
      • Switch to “Anime List” by pushing the button(looks like movie films) on the right-top side on “Cell List”.
      • Drag the animation which you want to instantiate and drop it into the tree in “Frame Control” or into “Layout”.
      • Specify some playback options by setting “Instance” key on “Attribute” if you need.
  • Label Function
    • Application
      • Specifies the playback interval of the animation instance.
      • The player specifies the jump destination frame.
    • How to set
      • Display the right menu on the Frame Control ruler and select “Add label.”
      • To delete, select a label by left-clicking on it, and then select “Delete label” from the right menu.

        The selected label is shown in green. Left-click and drag a label to move it.

      • Left-click and drag a label to move it.
  • Important
    • 1. Supported players
      • Note that, as of 2014/5/20, there are no modules that can load and play the animation instance function and label function. Support is planned as follows:
        • SpriteStudio 5 SDK (end of 2014/5)
        • SS5Player for Unity (undetermined)
        • SSPlayer for Cocos2d-x (undetermined)
    • 2. Supported files
      • Data created with these new functions are saved only in .ssae files of the new SS5 format.Note that these are not contained in the formatted of previously exported files (.ssax, .ssa, etc.).
  • Notice
    • *1) It is not available to jump the animation frame to the other labeled position as the interval playback is finished.To do so, specify a keyframe just one frame after the interval playback finishes.
    • *2) Currently a bug is being addressed where the animation itself is displayed on rare occasions.

Features

  • Layout: X/Y coordinates for multiple frames can now be changed in batch.
    • Change procedure
      • Set a playback segment with Shift + left-click drag in the region on the Frame Control ruler to be changed.
      • Change coordinates using the cursor and mouse drag on the layout.
      • The amount of movement that values of existing X/Y keys for all target frames have moved in the current frame are added together.
    • Operation specifications
      • X/Y coordinates, Z-axis rotation, scale, and size can be changed.
      • The change value in the current frame (relative amount) is added to all other key frames in the playback segment range on the ruler.
      • Multiply by the change rate for the scale only.
      • A key is created in the current frame for parts that do not have a key.
  • Frame Control: The playback range can now be specified.
    • Application
      • During editing, a specific range can be played repeatedly.
      • A target range can be specified when making batch changes across several frames in the layout.
    • How to specify
      • On the Frame Control ruler, drag to the right while holding down the Shift key.
      • Show the right menu on the ruler, and select “Clear playback segment data.”
  • Frame Control/Layout: Zoom is now possible by using the + or – key while holding down Ctrl.
  • Frame Control: A row (all parts) can now be selected on the ruler.
    • Display the right menu on the ruler and select “Select row.”
    • Selects each row in a segment when there is a playback segment.
  • Cell map: A warning is now displayed when attempting to create a new cell map by specifying an image with a reference image horizontal/vertical size that is not a power of 2.
  • Curve Editor: The current frame can be moved with the arrow keys (<-, ->).
  • Help: Added a direct link to the list of shortcut keys.
  • Project settings: General -> In addition, added an option where only integers can be input in the X/Y coordinates.
  • Project settings: General -> Added a selectable alpha-blend method when the following players are selected with a compatible platform.
    • SSP for Cocos2d-x [ADD]
    • SSP for HTML5 [ADD]
    • SSP for CoronaSDK [MUL][ADD]

Improvements

  • Cell list: Manual sorting of cells supported.
    • Change the order with drag & drop.
    • To sort in ABC order, select “Sort” from the right menu.
  • Layout: Visibility (eye ball) status and lock status can now be changed with the right menu.

    Note:Unlike Frame Control, this is always applied only to the selected parts.

  • Layout: Added an option so that hidden parts are not selected. (Environmental Settings)
  • Layout: The red region display for collision detection is not displayed when Hide is ON or Eye Ball is OFF.
  • Project: An entry, such as a filename or animation name, is given focus after being renamed.
  • Rendering sequentially numbered images: The output folder is now saved and the default filename is determined by current animation.
    • The data is saved in a .sspj file.
    • The output file name was changed as follows.
      • Base filename default: “Image” -> “ssae[name]_[animation name]”
      • HTML file for preview: “preview.html” -> “ssae[name]_[animation name].html”
  • Attribute: Interpolation settings can now be changed with the right menu on the curve editor open button.
  • Attribute: When selecting a part in a state where the parent value is inherited and its own value ignored, the value checkbox for the hide key is grayed out.
  • Frame Control: The open/closed status of the parts tree is now saved.

    Note:Saved when saving the .ssae file.

  • Frame Control: A folded part in the tree is now expanded synchronously when the part is selected on Layout.
  • Frame Control: The visibility (eye ball) state and lock state can now be reflected in child parts or multiple selected parts.
    • Changes can be made to single parts with Ctrl + click.
    • When multiple parts are selected, apply changes to them together by clicking on any selected part.
  • Frame Control: The current part column can be indicated on the chart side.
  • Frame Control: The following operations can now be applied in a selected region with the chart side.
    1. Add key
    2. Copy previous key
    3. Paste single key
    • Note: “Single” indicates a region of 1×1.
    • Note: For attribute units, the selected range is ignored during paste because copy-paste is not possible between different attributes.

Fixes

  • Cell list: When adding a cell or switching the current reference cell, active cells that are not scrolled are unidentified.
  • Cell list: When a cell is deleted, there is no active cell and the scroll bar is always displayed on top.
  • Cell edit: When the mouse cursor is near the top right edge of the desktop, it protrudes.
  • Import: When loading .ssw and ssa in a different folder, basically, the image file is read with ssa file location as a reference.
  • Export: When “Export all” is used, animation names starting with a numeral are renamed.
  • Layout: Even when switching the loop button to ON/OFF on the Frame Control Side, the loop button ON/OFF status in the time window in the layout window does not reflect the change.
  • Curve Editor: Forced termination occurs upon occasion when [Mac] is repeatedly opened and closed in short intervals.
  • Project Window: The context menu is not displayed on the folder in the “Folder” tab. (when in Japanese mode)
  • User data edit: The “Below” text in the coordinate input box was deleted.
  • Miscellaneous: The internal name tag content is not changed even when the filename of an animation or cell map was renamed.

Known bugs

  • Instance: Animations containing themselves are displayed in the animation list occasionally.
  • Export: The angle key for child parts having a negative scale is interpolated.
  • Export: There are cases of the origin offset value being shifted for reference cell animations with different sizes that have the origin not set in the center.
  • Resize: When size changes for multiple cell maps are detected, if “Yes” is clicked two or more times for resizing the same animation, the change is applied multiple times.
  • Vertex deformation: Specifying a value with a dialog box -> When closing, the last input is not applied.
  • Other: The playback segment is not cleared even when a new project is create