I use MoI primarily for 2d work, this is something I did to relax; the precision and flexibility coupled with its ease of use make MoI perhaps the best program for 2d line art - blending the strengths of Illustrator and Flash drawing tools.
BTW, thanks for the color abilities of V2 Micheal.


Kiril

Cool Kiril, I'm glad that MoI is useful to you for 2D drawing!

In the future I want to extend some of the 2D-ish aspects even further.

- Michael

Yeah, I actually use MoI for a lot of my 2d work, too :)

So glad you have the .ai exporter/importer! (I think I mentioned somewhere else that I'm also after an .svg exporter :P)

Hi NightCabbage, yup SVG is on my list of stuff to add.

- Michael

Hi Michael

Hmmmm, just a random thought... would it help if I were to write some SVG exporting code for you to add into MoI?

I'm a programmer, and it would definitely be worth my while to write some code to add this functionality in (and language / format / style you request).

Hi NightCabbage, yup I do want to add in SVG support to MoI, but that will probably happen after I get a chance to improve the entire 2D drawing export mechanism to do hidden line generation and stuff like that.

Currently you can get your MoI curves into SVG format by exporting out of MoI in AI format, and then use this inexpensive ($39) illustration program to open the AI file and export as SVG: http://www.mayura.com/

- Michael

Yes, I currently have to use Mayura as a middle step in my work process :P

MoI -> Mayura -> Inkscape -> Paint.NET

Would be nice one day to just have:

MoI -> Paint.NET

:D

I am happy to help (with anything, including tedious tasks) if ever required...

Hi NightCabbage, do you currently generate a bitmap file from Inkscape to go into Paint.NET, or does Paint.NET read vector formats directly?

- Michael

I generate a bitmap (32-bit PNG with transparency)

The images I am generating are very simple - just lines and fills.

All I would need would be for MoI to render lines (of an adjustable width) and fills, with a transparent background.

Then I would be able to just use MoI - it'd be great! :D

Hi NightCabbage, I think it will get there eventually. But the initial priority before that will be to generate a hidden-line drawing.

- Michael

Do you mean to draw the lines hidden behind surfaces?

(is that a problem at present? you do it in the interface, with the dashed lines)

Hi NightCabbage,

> Do you mean to draw the lines hidden behind surfaces?

Well, it's more about hiding those lines so that only the ones that should be visible are shown in the 2D drawing.


> (is that a problem at present? you do it in the interface,
> with the dashed lines)

Yeah, but that hidden surface removal is happening at a pixel level using the video card's z buffer.

Generating vector output with actual curve data (which can then have line styles applied, etc...) instead of only pixel data is a somewhat different thing.

- Michael