Help! Not Fading in Playback

Star_Dancer · 07-21-2008 10:43 AM

I mentioned this off-topic in another thread, but I hope this way I'll get more attention. (Yeah, I'm pathetic that way...)

I can't seem to get my characters or NPCs to do the usual post-death fade-out in demo playback. I've taken straight, unedited demorecordings where NPCs fade away at the DEL command (Thanks Zloth for cluing me in on that). But when I play it back, the NPCs just suddenly vanish at that point.

Is this another one of those limitations of playback? Or is this something particular to my situation (graphics card, settings, etc.)?

I'm currently trying to simulate it within my video editor (two versions crossfaded, one with NPCs and one without), but that's messy and time consuming. Plus I hate that lazy "We'll fix it in post" crap when producing videos.

Any thoughts?

Star_Dancer · 07-21-2008 02:46 PM

Hmmm... 23 views and no replies. Not a good sign.

Is anyone seeing post-death fade-outs in playback?

Scuzzbopper · 07-21-2008 03:16 PM

I did a quick check and they just pop out for me too.

I can't say I'm surprised given that almost all the stealth/transparency effects don't work in demo playback. I suspect the death fade is another symptom of that same issue.

CoH Codex : Demo Models/FX/MOVs : Demo Info

Arc 111022: "Doctor Geist and the Scientific Method"

Mutant_Mike · 07-21-2008 03:59 PM

<QR>

Not sure if this would work for you, but how about this...

Film your fade-out scene twice, once with the character that fades out - without deleting - and then once without the fade-out character in the scene.

Then splice the two scenes together, with a cross-fade from the scene with to the scene without when the character fades.

Test Subject 42 - lvl 50 Sp/DA Scrapper
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Borg Master - lvl 24 Bots/traps MM
Pinnacle

Nyghtfyre - lvl 50 DM/SR Scrapper
Champion

Zloth · 07-21-2008 04:43 PM

I just checked a demo I made when CoV opened - no fade-out. So it's nothing new in the recordings.

I could swear they used to fade out, though, not just vanish. OMG! Stealth nerf!!

Star_Dancer · 07-21-2008 08:34 PM

Thanks, all. Good to know it isn't just me. bad to know there's no way to correct it.

LOL - Mike, what a brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of... Wait... Oh, I did! Guess you missed the last part of my post. But you get an A for effort and bonus points for parallel invention. That's probably what I'll do, but it irks me 'cause I wanted the dead monsters to fade at different points in the same shot. Still... I might be able to fake that with careful editing.

Thanks again everyone.

Vorac · 07-21-2008 10:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks, all. Good to know it isn't just me. bad to know there's no way to correct it.

LOL - Mike, what a brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of... Wait... Oh, I did! Guess you missed the last part of my post. But you get an A for effort and bonus points for parallel invention. That's probably what I'll do, but it irks me 'cause I wanted the dead monsters to fade at different points in the same shot. Still... I might be able to fake that with careful editing.

Thanks again everyone.

[/ QUOTE ]

A movie that I am recording and editing right now, for a friend, calls for many shots of one of the heroes going in and out of invis. So, it's been a lot of zooming in on the timeline, editing out the particular toon and fading from one to the other.

So, I feel your woes, SD.

Now, to work on the 150 or so costume changes.............. yes, or so means more than......

rreay · 07-22-2008 01:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I can't say I'm surprised given that almost all the stealth/transparency effects don't work in demo playback.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait some of the transparency effects do work? Which ones? Right now my wife is fighting needing to have a character transparent.

Scuzzbopper · 07-22-2008 01:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Wait some of the transparency effects do work? Which ones? Right now my wife is fighting needing to have a character transparent.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just one little lonely one (that I know of & assuming it hasn't been broken by any recent game builds; what works in demos seems to change from one day to the next ).

Click here for the detail on the one that works.

CoH Codex : Demo Models/FX/MOVs : Demo Info

Arc 111022: "Doctor Geist and the Scientific Method"

rreay · 07-23-2008 06:40 AM

Ooooh thanks. She'll be thrilled that she doesn't have to blue screen and edit.

CaptainYarr · 07-23-2008 10:00 AM

Thank you Scuzzbopper, you are my favorite font of information as always!!! *hugs and cookies*

--Mrs. rreay

Scuzzbopper · 07-23-2008 10:36 AM

Glad to help. Hugs and cookies always welcome.

CoH Codex : Demo Models/FX/MOVs : Demo Info

Arc 111022: "Doctor Geist and the Scientific Method"

Quinch · 07-26-2008 11:12 PM

Speaking of the demo wiki, it seems that someone forgot to mention the most important thing about the Player tag - the distance cutoff. Depending on the world/character detail values, entities will fade and completely if they get too far from the Player-tagged entity.

An open letter to NCsoft

Scuzzbopper · 07-27-2008 05:58 AM

Well, don't forget that the whole idea for the wiki is so that anyone can contribute, so feel free to add/make corrections. So far, it's just been me and I'm sure there's things I've missed or gotten wrong.

This point is mentioned in the section on reasons why Models Don't Show Up, albeit as a placeholder note that needs a more complete write-up.

I plan to get back to work on the wiki entry September-ish, but work and real life have me pretty busy right now. Work, at least, should hopefully ease up a bit sometime in September.

CoH Codex : Demo Models/FX/MOVs : Demo Info

Arc 111022: "Doctor Geist and the Scientific Method"