empty frames

[Xavier]

Blank frame indicated with checkerboard , plus extended horizontal dotted line showing the duration of the blank frame would be ok.

I still like marking the blank frame with an X and the extended horizontal dotted line showing the duration of the blank frame . It appeals to me because it hearkens back to ye olden days of Exposure Sheets where it was industry-wide usage to indicate a blank frame with an X and a (vertical) line extended down the sheet to show the duration of the blank frame.


BlankFrame_on_TVP_Timeline.jpg



A quick glance at the Exposure Sheet shows where there are blank frames, indicated by X .


Lion_King_XSheet_SEQ_04.2_SCENE_016.jpg

Hi David, I'm afraid that using a red cross to mark the empty frames would disturb the "eye" of some users. In my opinion it should remain discrete.

[D.T. Nethery]

Blank frame indicated with checkerboard , plus extended horizontal dotted line showing the duration of the blank frame would be ok.

I still like marking the blank frame with an X and the extended horizontal dotted line showing the duration of the blank frame . It appeals to me because it hearkens back to ye olden days of Exposure Sheets where it was industry-wide usage to indicate a blank frame with an X and a (vertical) line extended down the sheet to show the duration of the blank frame.


BlankFrame_on_TVP_Timeline.jpg



A quick glance at the Exposure Sheet shows where there are blank frames, indicated by X .


Lion_King_XSheet_SEQ_04.2_SCENE_016.jpg

Hi David, I'm afraid that using a red cross to mark the empty frames would disturb the "eye" of some users. In my opinion it should remain discrete.

I think the point is that the frame is marked in a highly visible manner (in my example by an X ) so the blank frame is very obvious and can not be overlooked. As I understood it , the original request was not about making a blank frame discrete, but about making a blank frame obvious to easily see it on the Timeline. It doesn't need to be a red X . That just seemed more visible to me and could not be overlooked. A greyed X and horizontal line indicating the duration of the blank frame would work. But to fulfill the original request I don't think the blank frames should be discrete. The problem was stated as:

"I'd like to have the option to make empty frames (instances) visually different from others. Maybe grayed out, or with a horizontal line, like in old X-sheets." and Peter's follow-up comment: "with the increased project resolution of today,
it is often very hard to tell if a frame contains a drawing."

If the blank frame is "discrete" , how does that solve the problem ?

To my eyes , comparing the proposed checkerboard pattern on the blank frame vs. X , the X is more visible.

[click image to view it full size]

.

[Xavier]

If the blank frame is "discrete" , how does that solve the problem ?

I don't disagree

[Xavier]

So I'm going to create *two* preference settings :

Capture d’écran_2022-03-09_11-07-37.png (5.42 KiB) Viewed 7154 times

"Identify empty instances" will be enabled by default
"Put an X on empty instances" will be disabled by default

Would it be okay like this ?

[slowtiger]

That's great!

[Xavier]

So here's a preview :

• if either "put an X" or "identify empty instances" is checked, when zooming out:

  

  Capture d’écran_2022-03-09_13-11-24.png (9.91 KiB) Viewed 7115 times

• when "identify empty instances" is checked:

  

  Capture d’écran_2022-03-09_13-09-07.png (12.07 KiB) Viewed 7115 times

• when "put an X" is checked:

  

  Capture d’écran_2022-03-09_13-09-59.png (13.78 KiB) Viewed 7115 times

• if you prefer to combine the two options:

  

  Capture d’écran_2022-03-09_13-16-47.png (13.65 KiB) Viewed 7115 times

[slowtiger]

I think the X is a bit fat, isn't it? Maybe same stroke width as the following dashes? (It looks like the flag of a new uninvaded country now ...)

[Xavier]

I think the X is a bit fat, isn't it? Maybe same stroke width as the following dashes? (It looks like the flag of a new uninvaded country now ...)

Well, maybe you're right

[D.T. Nethery]

So I'm going to create *two* preference settings :
Capture d’écran_2022-03-09_11-07-37.png

"Identify empty instances" will be enabled by default
"Put an X on empty instances" will be disabled by default

Would it be okay like this ?

YES !

I know you're going for maximum visibility of the X on the timeline (which is good!) , but I think I agree with Slowtiger that the X is a little bit heavy , perhaps just lighten up the stroke a bit ? But it doesn't really bother me if you left it as shown above.

I like having the different options you are providing in the Preferences ! Thank you.

[Xavier]

I know you're going for maximum visibility of the X on the timeline (which is good!) , but I think I agree with Slowtiger that the X is a little bit heavy , perhaps just lighten up the stroke a bit ? But it doesn't really bother me if you left it as shown above.

I like having the different options you are providing in the Preferences ! Thank you.

That's an easy request
So ... rather like this ?

Capture d’écran_2022-03-10_10-43-50.png (11.64 KiB) Viewed 7022 times

[Xavier]

By the way ... I came up with the vertical bar because I was a bit tricky to resize the X, when zooming out. And finally I think the checkerboard pattern would be sufficient by itself, to notice the empty frame.
So what would you think, if I simply let the checkerboard pattern on empty instances and/or the X ? and the vertical bar only on small zoom ?

[D.T. Nethery]

I know you're going for maximum visibility of the X on the timeline (which is good!) , but I think I agree with Slowtiger that the X is a little bit heavy , perhaps just lighten up the stroke a bit ? But it doesn't really bother me if you left it as shown above.

I like having the different options you are providing in the Preferences ! Thank you.

That's an easy request
So ... rather like this ?

Yes, I think that looks good.