hover cursor - interactive shader

[pixemo]

Is there a way to get an object to change color when the mouse cursor hovers over it?

[pixemo]

Hmm - maybe I should elaborate. I'd like to create a script that would both change the color of a shader on and object when the mouse cursor hovers over it, as well as when you actually select the object. So there would be three states in all - unselected, unselected and mouse hover, and selected. If an object is selected the shader should not change if the mouse is over it, but it should continue to change other objects.

I realize this isn't an default function in XSI, so I'm asking for some scripting hints to make this work.

Thanks!

[thiago]

Hmm - maybe I should elaborate. I'd like to create a script that would both change the color of a shader on and object when the mouse cursor hovers over it, as well as when you actually select the object. So there would be three states in all - unselected, unselected and mouse hover, and selected. If an object is selected the shader should not change if the mouse is over it, but it should continue to change other objects.

I realize this isn't an default function in XSI, so I'm asking for some scripting hints to make this work.

Thanks!


this is viewport feedback what you want?
If it is, explore the Display property. It hold states for selected/unselected/etc...

I have no idea if it is possible to switch a renderable mentalray shader when your mouse goes over it...

Can I ask why do you need this?

[pixemo]

Hi thiago! Thanks for replying! I'm happy you saw this as I was recently looking at this thread (http://community.softimage.com/showthread.php?t=1361&highlight=select)which may use a similar function - maybe.

This doesn't have anything to do with Mental Ray (AFAIK)- its all about interaction/workflow with a rig (or anything) in the viewport. The main thing I'd like to do is rid the world of wireframe controls for rigs. I don't like them. They are messy and hard to select. The synoptic view is great, but I'd prefer to never leave the modeling window to select something - it should be easily accessible from there.

What I'd like is this: proxy objects that react to mouse proximity (among other things). A great example of this is pre-selection highlighting for mesh components (which most specialized modeling apps and plugins (Silo3d, draster's NEX) have already adopted).

I'm not sure why pre-selection and other animation specific interaction hasn't trickled down into animation tools, but I'll take credit for the idea when it does... :). Or at least credit for stealing the idea from modeling. hah hah.

ok, I'm babbling. thanks for looking!

[misterdi]

I believe it is doable and actually had been implemented by XSI on tweak tool, where it automatically switch between component selection.

But don't know how to do it, and what kind of overhead required to have it applied.

[pixemo]

Actually, after I've slept on it, a better way to sum it up would be an animation centric version of XSI's tweak tool: preselection highlighting for rig controls; min/max selection radius (so you don't have to be directly over the object your selecting); context sensitive right click menu for different types of controls (FK/IK snapping, parent switching).

I'm guessing a lot of this stuff is possible with some scripting (context sensitive stuff), but I imagine the preselection highlighting would be more OpenGL or DirectX oriented.