iPhone app for alpha creation.

[2bitlabs]

Hello.

I am asking for opinions and advice.

I am writing an iPhone app, it's purpose is to help create alpha maps for use in ZBrush. The idea is you are out somewhere, see a cool texture, get out your phone and open the app. Take a shot and it creates a colour, greyscale and high contrast depth map saved to your camera role. Preferences let you use a naming convention, adjust contrast to suit your needs, change export size, turn off certain exports etc. I want it to be very fast, very simple, and above all free.

I wonder if many people would use such a tool, and if so what your needs are?

I'm 80% done, I'll be testing within the next 2 weeks depending upon my full-time work commitments, before releasing.

But yeah, just wondered if anyone would bother and if so what ideally they'd like it to have.

Thank you.

2BL.

[2bitlabs]

As a quick update, I wanted to share screen captures of the app in it's current state, and the exports it currently achieves.

I can't upload any images for some reason (invalid image error) so here is a link:

[2bitlabs]

No responses, wondering if this app is pointless? I did say free, as in no charge, no ads, 100% free

[re1mon]

Looks like a fun app to have, keep it up with the good work.
What about adding a function to share alphas with other "app" users? (like sketchclub app)

cheers!

[malc2304]

Could be interesting will the app allow you to set an export folder or will it be a case of messing about copying them from where ever itunes sticks them to the desired location if I end up having to mess around relocating files from my ipod to random folder from random folder to desired location I probably wouldn't bother but if I can just run the app while my ipod is connected and it sees that files need copying and does it it would appeal more.
It could be good to have a feature for making tiling textures at a later date as the ipod cameras improve and removing shadows and highlights

[2bitlabs]

Hello.

The app will export to a specific folder, meaning when you sync with your computer the images will stay together. In the preferences you'll be able to name both the folder and set the naming conventions for the images. Speaking of which, here are some test exports (half size and compressed for the forum).

https://public.blu.livefilestore.com...rts.jpg?psid=1

[jBogh]

This is great! I like that you are sticking to the kiss principle (Keep it simple stupid)
Keep going with this, I will download it for sure!

Now if someone would just get going on a .ztl viewer for iOS!

[2bitlabs]

Quick update, the app is now working fully on the device. I'm testing memory use and stability, and tweaking the settings on the export of the images. Depending pun Apple the app should be on the store in 7-10 days.

[Totyo]

For the Alpha creation, is it a simple greyscale conversion or a real depth extraction like you can see in CrazyBump ?

[2bitlabs]

Hello.

Both, you can turn it on or off to get a simple greyscale with bumped up contrast and/or an image which uses a Sobel operator. This is the export which needs the most work currently, tweaking it to get nice results. It may end up being a blend of the Sobel plus the Greyscale combined.

After the app goes up I'll see how people find using it, and adult as required. But the app allows you to tweak the settings yourself to a degree also.

2BL.

[Totyo]

OK, then not a simple geyscale conversion, it's good

[2bitlabs]

OK, then not a simple geyscale conversion, it's good

I'm so close to getting this finished, I have another freelance gig so it's had to take a back seat. It's basically done, I'm now just tweaking settings. I'm also going to be looking for testers, although I don't know how to get the app to people before release so I need to look into that.

I found out today, due to a strange and never to be fixed bug with the iPhone 4 (not 4S, or iPad2 or iPad 3) the maximum export size on tweaked images in 1936x1936. Although that should be big enough for an alpha?

[2bitlabs]

Hello.

A quick update, it's been a while since I could work on this due to my paying jobs, but the app is now finished. I'll get some example files up for you ASAP along with some screen captures of the files used in ZBrush. The app is going through the submission process, if they accept first time around it should be with you in 3-4 days. If they don't, well, that's another story

Due to memory limitations on the iPhone 4, the maximum file size is limited to 1800pixels square.

The app exports colour, simple greyscale conversion, and blended edge/depth detection maps with or without a circular alpha bleed. I already have things in my he'd I want to improve so I think there will be a V2, so please let me know of anything you want it to do.

1 thing I had to scrap because Apple won't allow it is custom naming of the exported images. They do however sit in a app specific folder on your device, making it easy to keep them together when you import them onto your system.

[2bitlabs]

Very quick test, it's too hot to be inside doing this stuff.

The image on the left is a simple greyscale conversion with contrast and sharpness tweaked, the image on the right is a ramp from the depth/edge detection and the greyscale, and the image I'm the middle is how it looks in ZBrush.

[normanyclark]

I think number of applications available for the contrast of your photo on your mobile like photoshop. They have all facilities which are mentioned by you here. So please refer in internet for that type fo applications which you want to found.