Viz Artist Release Notes

Version 5.0 | Published February 01, 2024 ©

Viz Artist Release Notes

Viz Artist 5.0.1

Release Date: 2022-12-19

These are the release notes for Viz Artist version 5.0.1. This document describes the user-visible changes that have been made to the software since release 5.0.0.

Note: Viz Engine maintains its release notes in a separate document starting from version 3.12.0.

Known Issues

12 issues

  • Shortcuts cannot be customized.

  • Dragging a selection into the new Scene Tree might show up in the wrong order.

  • Undocking and redocking the Rendergraph into a dock with old Tcl/Tk components might cause a crash.

  • Old parts (Tcl/Tk) do not scale on UHD resolutions. This will be solved as soon as all components are ported to QT.

  • It is not recommended to run the User Interface within a Virtual Set environment, as it can cause timing issues under certain circumstances.

  • The size of certain plug-ins with custom UI (like RealFX) do not automatically fit into the new panels, they need to be resized manually.

  • Viz One Browser: When the Viz One Browser window is minimized (either using the minimize button in the window bar, or WIN+D to hide all windows on the desktop), it can only be brought back to the screen by using the Restore and Maximize entries in the context menu of the window in the Windows taskbar.

  • Viz One Browser: The preview of clip elements in the Viz One Browser doesn't show the content correctly anymore when the browser window is moved to another display (for example, a second screen). The application must be restarted to bring back the clip preview.

  • Viz Engine render window is always on top when started in videowall mode -u1 -y -n and output system FULLSCREEN (VIZART-2400). Does not happen in mode -u1 -w or with any vga_preview and is independent of the number of monitors and whether a mosaic is used.

    • What can be observed is that the output is always on top and it is not possible to get anything else on top (taskbar, other windows with ALT + TAB, task manager). SHIFT + BACKSPACE works only when Viz Artist has focus. When CTRL + BACKSPACE does not work it can be achieved with CTRL + ALT + DEL, task manager, ALT + TAB to Viz Artist and SHIFT + BACKSPACE. ALT + TAB does not work initially as the window is not shown. This behavior is actually desired to have the output of Viz Engine always on top (for example, interactive scenes shown on screens in the studio).

Viz Artist 5.0.0

Release Date: 2022-09-27

These are the release notes for Viz Artist version 5.0.0. This document describes the user-visible changes that have been made to the software since release 4.4.1.

Note: Viz Engine maintains its release notes in a separate document starting from version 3.12.0.

Installer Notes

General

The Software ships with a bundle installer containing all necessary components. It is recommended to use the bundle installer when setup needs to be done manually.

  • Viz Artist is now installed in C:\Program Files\Vizrt\VizEngine\VizArtist.

  • Visual C++ Redistributable files are not part of the msi-setup file anymore. These files are now installed with the bundle setup application (VIZENG-13210, VIZENG-12629, VIZENG-12701).

  • The new bundle setup application installs or upgrades Viz Artist together with its required Visual C++ Redistributable files (VIZENG-12936, VIZENG-13804).

  • Starting with 4.0.0, Viz Artist has a dedicated MSI installer, which is part of the bundle installer.

  • All files contained in the bundle setup application can be extracted using the /dump commandline option. This creates a sub-folder where the files are extracted (VIZENG-13020).

  • Multiple installations of Viz Artist are not supported.

  • The installer automatically upgrades (replaces) any existing Viz Artist 3.x installation. However, downgrading is currently not supported (VIZENG-7098).

  • The installer package is digitally signed (VIZENG-7378).

  • The user account must have SeCreateGlobalPrivilege (SE_CREATE_GLOBAL_NAME) enabled.

Windows

This software has been tested to run on the following systems:

  • Windows Server 2019

  • Windows Server 2022

  • Windows 10 (LTSC 1809)

  • Windows 10 (LTSC 21H2)

  • Windows 11

Note: Only English language Operating Systems are supported.

  • It is recommended to install the latest Windows Security Updates and Patches, except Nvidia drivers.

  • Dot.NET Framework 4.5 or higher is required (VIZENG-6036).

  • Minimum Windows Installer version is now 5.0.0.

  • To run Viz Artist/Viz Engine without Administrator privileges, you need to grant the following permissions:

    • SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege

    • SeCreateGlobalPrivilege

    • SeCreatePagefilePrivilege

    • SeIncreaseWorkingSetPrivilege

Note: Viz Artist requires a minimum resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.

Windows

  • Network shares are not accessible from within Viz Artist when UAC is enabled or when running on Windows 10. The Viz Configuration page Local Settings has been extended for enabling Network drive linking (VIZENG-15594, VIZENG-15319).

UAC

  • Viz Artist is UAC aware. Log-files and additional files are stored in %VIZ_PROGRAMDATA%, which defaults to %ProgramData%\Vizrt\VizArtist. Configuration-files and profiles are stored in %ProgramData%\Vizrt\VizEngine. Temporary data is stored in %VIZ_TEMPDATA% which defaults to %TMP%\Vizrt\VizEngine. The default value can be changed in viz.cmd or on the command line of viz.exe.

  • Starting Viz Artist shows a UAC popup for VizStarter.exe (VIZENG-8683).

New Features

Summary

Key

Adapt changing formats to new engine commands

VIZART-3553

Add "Downscaled preview" to "Map to config channel" dropdown

VIZART-3186

Add BorderColor and ClampToBorder in material sampler settings

VIZART-3746

Add Ctrl+F as shortcut to toggle VGA preview full-screen mode

VIZART-3657

Add IES Texture slot to RenderSystemLight

VIZART-3159

Add Instancing Plugin panels

VIZART-3776

Add Shortcut page to Config/User Interface page

VIZART-92

Add a drop-down menu to choose the target monitor for VGA preview

VIZART-3561

Add control for Gh password in Artist config

VIZART-3271

Add new File Collection type to asset view editor

VIZART-3802

Add preferred Adaptive Graphics output format to the config pages

VIZART-3853

Add simple format editor

VIZART-3296

Adding a scene plugin should jump to scene plugins settings

VIZART-3224

Adding reasonable step Size to FLOAT type in plugin interface development

VIZART-3737

Additional SSR debug methods

VIZART-3545

Additional underline customization UI for Text

VIZART-3330

Archive improvements

VIZART-3015

Artist gets unresponsive while deleting files.

VIZART-3840

Asset View should remember settings

VIZART-3324

Asset View: Drag & Drop on multiple items usability improvements

VIZART-3246

Asset View: Indicate Restriction

VIZART-3091

Asset View: Various improvements

VIZART-3238

Aux Channel integration

VIZART-3519

Block old GEOM_TEXT if scene has geom text lock set

VIZART-2869

BoxTransformation: Add Z-offset

VIZART-3730

Check for flexbox license

VIZART-3806

Clip file browser dialog improvements

VIZART-3030

Counter for selected items

VIZART-751

Create a new "Unreal" Scene Settings Section

VIZART-3814

Create custom ui for flexbox plugin

VIZART-3507

Create editor for BoxTransformation

VIZART-3423

Default Values for near/far camera values are wrong

VIZART-3309

Default folder for saving new scene

VIZART-3630

Default format should not be changeable in the Adaptive Scene Design format editor

VIZART-3864

Derive step size from min/max range and current value

VIZART-3368

Disable RenderGraph docking panel when "UseSequence" is active

VIZART-3820

Dragging Images into Scene Editor should create default QUAD-Phong-Image Object

VIZART-3791

Enable SHM Aux settings panel for GFX channels

VIZART-3156

Exclude licenses for DSX Core and SDI/IP In/Out if invalid

VIZART-3861

Fetch references only if in view

VIZART-3833

Filter unsupported V4 Mocked built-ins

VIZART-2661

Fix various highDPI issues

VIZART-3033

Flexbox UI: Tracking disables too many properties

VIZART-3765

Font Management: Add option for switching off font previews in font list

VIZART-3147

Fonts: Performance Improvements

VIZART-3511

Format dependent properties need to be labeled in UI

VIZART-3465

GUI for Font Effect

VIZART-3433

GUI options for Auto Font Size

VIZART-3774

Gh server not running dialog not accessible

VIZART-3516

Hardcode delete mode of Filecollections

VIZART-3818

Highlighted Render Views Menu entries hard to read

VIZART-3649

Implement Classic LayerManager UI in new scene tree editor

VIZART-3544

Implement Scene Overview

VIZART-3721

Implement additional render preview panels for previewing adaptive storytelling formats

VIZART-3505

Import: Allow paths to be entered "manually"

VIZART-3373

Import: No feedback if file can not be found

VIZART-3435

Improve Format dependent information panel and add missing functions

VIZART-3660

Improve Handling of BACK/FRONT Layers when Switching to Viz Engine Renderer

VIZART-3251

Improve Message Window receiver list

VIZART-722

Improve UX of Container Colour Tags

VIZART-759

Improve date format and show time in AssetView Created/Modified Date

VIZART-3338

Improve selection speed of multiple objects

VIZART-1573

Improve visualization of GFX Video Output error messages

VIZART-3105

Improved Format Editor

VIZART-3380

Integrate "RenderSystemMaterialInvisible"

VIZART-3636

Integrate "Texture Renderer"

VIZART-3189

Integrate GEOM_TEXT to TEXT Conversion

VIZART-3543

Jump to new created folder/project

VIZART-3383

Layer Plugin implementation

VIZART-3754

Live input type STREAM should be used instead of RTP

VIZART-3775

Make SaveAs-dialog resizeable and remember settings when clicking ok-button

VIZART-785

Media Assets Improvements

VIZART-3207

Message center message not to pop up

VIZART-1636

Messages during geometry import via Drag&Drop into Asset view

VIZART-3845

New "Rendering" settings icon

VIZART-3486

New Camera Aspect mode need to be implemented.

VIZART-3663

New Scene Tree: Color selection UX improvements

VIZART-3650

New Scene Tree: Hide and Lock container icons have too low contrast when selected

VIZART-3676

New Scene Tree: Search should open on "Ctrl+F"

VIZART-3581

New Scene Tree: selection improvements

VIZART-3700

New Sequences, SHM aux mode, keying mode

VIZART-3779

New Text Parameters for Colored Emoji

VIZART-3125

New UHD connector modes for Xmio5 12G outputs

VIZART-3281

Option to Split Text Underline

VIZART-3667

Options for drawing Razor text on offscreen texture

VIZART-3708

Properties can not be dragged to scene editor objects

VIZART-1816

Property status dialog result is not updating values of the property

VIZART-3808

Property status dialog should show information about modes in flexbox plugin

VIZART-3786

Provide a list of Format presets in Config section and Scene settings

VIZART-3385

Re-enable License Config page in Artist mode

VIZART-3804

Re-implement Polygon plugin UI in new UI toolkit

VIZART-3138

Remove "Free Memory Threshold" from the config GUI

VIZART-3107

Remove FSAA property, replace with ANTIALIASING_MODE enum

VIZART-3176

Remove Flywheel settings

VIZART-3269

Remove Help button from OnAir toolbar

VIZART-3119

Remove Video from Path Aliases

VIZART-3112

Remove closing "x" from tab windows

VIZART-2964

Renaming folder/project should suggest previous name

VIZART-3536

Rendergraph should be hidden if "use sequence" is active

VIZART-3858

SaveAs location should be current location

VIZART-3834

Scene Editor: Drop Position is not accurate when the monitor for example has a scaling of 150%

VIZART-3835

Scene Tree Color selector improvements

VIZART-3624

Scene Tree: New design for Classic pipeline Layer Manger

VIZART-3482

Scene Tree: Performance analysis sorting improvements

VIZART-3839

Scene Tree: Renaming a selection of containers

VIZART-3707

Scene Tree: Search Improvements

VIZART-3812

Scenetree: Multiselection - Colors and Plugins

VIZART-3671

Set texture mode for AUX channels on background or foreground drop

VIZART-3800

Show Zoomlevel as overlay

VIZART-3693

Show correct VizGui instance type in title bar

VIZART-3370

Show full names of assets on dragging

VIZART-3392

Show icon on container if a container contains format dependent properties

VIZART-3748

Show invalid values for Rendergraph ComboBoxes in red text

VIZART-2841

Substance Licensing in Viz Engine Renderer

VIZART-3801

Suggest name for prefiltered Environmentmap

VIZART-3656

Support "TrackedContainer" on Flexbox plugin

VIZART-3628

Support middle-mouse button scrolling/panning in new Asset View

VIZART-3388

Switch from Import view to Editor view when opening a scene

VIZART-3239

Text is Not Updated on Some TEXT_EDITOR UPDATE_TEXT Command

VIZART-3173

Text: Kerning Missing

VIZART-3150

Texture Renderer: Texture width and height parameters

VIZART-3333

Texture slot plugin sRGB property

VIZART-3551

TextureSlot swizzle out of sync

VIZART-3548

TextureSlotPlugin implementation

VIZART-3533

The Asset Search "Start" button is too small

VIZART-2996

The behavior when clicking on a script plugin

VIZART-3764

UV transform panel cleanup, add pivots

VIZART-3459

Undo/Redo on MediaAssets

VIZART-731

Uptime inside the On Air information Editor doesn't automatically get updated

VIZART-2835

Variable Font Editor Panel for Text

VIZART-3184

Visualize which Adaptive Graphics format is currently in use

VIZART-3587

Viz Config behavior in scaled monitor setup

VIZART-3563

newly created folder should be the active one

VIZART-2885

133 issues

Fixed Issues

Summary

Key

Material UI not responding to ENLIGHTED on/off state

VIZART-3870

Assets can be dropped into the root directory, making them invisible in the Asset Editor

VIZART-3854

Scenetree: Clicking on Contol Object needs to select container.

VIZART-3813

Opening Folder Linked Scene leads to incorrect/unwanted error message.

VIZART-3747

Snapshot function place images wrong place and with wrong names

VIZART-3744

Different Script Panel behavior between Docked and Floating view

VIZART-3720

VizArtist 4.4.1 GUI for Classic Materials doesnt update correctly

VIZART-3711

Scene Editor - bottom bar disappears on resize

VIZART-3683

Not possible to Set clip in stage

VIZART-3675

FileLinks are missing from Assetviews

VIZART-3646

Expert plugin broken

VIZART-3642

Viz One browser not opening

VIZART-3639

Locked director menu inversed

VIZART-3627

New Scene Tree: Context menu position wrong on HighDPI displays

VIZART-3580

Not able to animate Superchannel Subchannel Position

VIZART-3535

Wrong behavior when using GFX Video Output functionality

VIZART-3531

No feedback from Artist on deleting folder with referenced files

VIZART-3510

Can't open scene loaded in GFX-Channel

VIZART-3508

GUI Text editor does not properly show up when double clicking the text in Classic scene

VIZART-3407

Shortcuts for creating container/grouping only work if clicked once first

VIZART-3399

Drag or CRLT+drag containers is inconsistent in selection

VIZART-3398

DataPool Trim Options in Viz4 don't work with space.

VIZART-3366

Control Object editor content is fetched even if invisible

VIZART-3363

Font Faces not be shown in Font Management

VIZART-3343

Clip data directory doesn't work with UNC path

VIZART-3340

Abnormal end with dump when populating end emptying import tab in Font management

VIZART-3329

Show VGA preview issues with mixed-resolution dual monitor setups

VIZART-3320

Gui gets unresponsive after receiving dbi notification

VIZART-3312

Artist crashes when splitting specific geometry

VIZART-3303

Foreground asset can not be deleted via Trashbin

VIZART-3298

Issues with dual-monitor setups with different scaling

VIZART-3288

Dual monitor setup behavior with > 150% scaling

VIZART-3287

Problem with backslash in new variable font name

VIZART-3242

Asset View: Double clicking on "Saved searches" deletes entry

VIZART-3241

No container with texture created when adding clip as texture

VIZART-3217

Fullscreen Window always appears on Monitor 0

VIZART-3193

Text: Line Height Reset Missing

VIZART-3152

Text: Script Direction has No Effect

VIZART-3151

Failover server not used properly when configured main/replication primary connection is down

VIZART-3085

GUI sends a command without argument on set default in scene settings

VIZART-3031

Artist doesn't get update message for scene changes

VIZART-2798

Engine floods with commands when moving a polygon spline in scene editor

VIZART-2794

Viz artist GUI Issues on HighDPI/4k monitor setup

VIZART-2728

Media Asset Overview - subscenes not loaded

VIZART-2639

Config: Cannot update Viz One Hosts configuration if it has ending slash

VIZART-2266

GUI steals focus during sceneditor action

VIZART-2154

Layer Manager sets wrong camera

VIZART-767

Layermanager: not able to cancel remove operation

VIZART-592

No Undo/redo for all non "SET" commands

VIZART-580

49 issues

Known Issues

12 issues

  • Referenced Materials do not correctly update their icon if changed.

  • Shortcuts can not be customized.

  • Dragging a selection into the new Scene Tree might show up in the wrong order.

  • Undocking and redocking the Rendergraph into a dock with old TCL/&TK components might cause a crash.

  • Old parts (Tcl/Tk) do not scale on UHD resolutions. This will be solved as soon as all components are ported to QT.

  • It is not recommended to run the User Interface within a Virtual Set environment, as it can cause timing issues under certain circumstances.

  • The size of certain plug-ins with custom UI (like RealFX) do not automatically fit into the new panels, they need to be resized manually.

  • Viz One Browser: When the Viz One Browser window is minimized (either using the minimize button in the window bar, or WIN+D to hide all windows on the desktop), it can only be brought back to the screen by using the Restore and Maximize entries in the context menu of the window in the Windows taskbar.

  • Viz One Browser: The preview of clip elements in the Viz One Browser doesn't show the content correctly anymore when the browser window is moved to another display (e.g. second screen). The application must be restarted to bring back the clip preview.

  • Viz Engine render window is always on top when started in videowall mode -u1 -y -n and output system FULLSCREEN (VIZART-2400). Does not happen in mode -u1 -w or with any vga_preview and is independent on the number of monitors and if a mosaic is used or not.

    • What can be observed is that the output is always on top and it is not possible to get anything else on top (taskbar, other windows with ALT + TAB, task manager). SHIFT + BACKSPACE works only when Viz Artist has focus. When CTRL + BACKSPACE does not work it can be achieved with CTRL + ALT + DEL, task manager, ALT + TAB to Viz Artist and SHIFT + BACKSPACE. ALT + TAB does not work initially as the window is not shown. This behavior is actually desired to have the output of Viz Engine always on top (for example, interactive scenes shown on screens in the studio).

Windows

  • Right clicking on the Taskbar icon of Viz Engine starts a new instance. Starting an additional Viz GUI process is prevented on Windows 10.

  • On Windows version LTSC 1809: Logging out/in may be required for the fonts in the Viz Artist user interface to apply the set scaling after the user changes the Windows scaling setting.

Documentation

Documentation for Viz Artist, Viz Engine and Viz Plugins are available at the Vizrt Documentation Center:

Installation and Support

Installation

The installation wizard guides you through the installation process. Make sure to close any running Viz application, including a local database, prior to the installation. To run Viz Artist or Viz Engine independent of a database server, you need to install the Graphic Hub database software locally.

Support

Support is available at the Vizrt Support Portal.