Particles

Interface

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Section contents

With Particles a new GIG user interface is being introduced. Increased tool functionality and camera handling are the main features of the new interface while the interface interaction is as much as consistent with the original core.

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Interface layout

There are three camera windows (one large and two small windows). Each camera can be controlled from the menu bar of each window. Each camera window can be resized, and extra camera windows can be generated at will.
Displayed as well is an animation frame scroll bar.
Interface buttons are similar in color to prior GIG products, but now provide a clearer visual representation of their functions.

Menu buttons

There are the following types of menu buttons :

Input and status boxes

Input boxes have a recessed light gray background. Status boxes have a dark gray background. The input boxes can be selected by clicking the left mouse button in the box. The mouse cursor will disappear and input kan be typed in from the keyboard. The normal edit buttons can be used to edit, like Esc, Delete, Backspace, Home, End, abd the arrow keys. With a left mouse button click or with an Enter or Return the input can be confirmed. The input can be cancelled with a right button click or Esc.

Selection Lists

Selection lists are indicated with a light gray background and have a slider bar on the right side. Make a selection by clicking twice on a list item.

Scroll the list by clicking on the slider bar with a left mouse button click. The mouse cursor will disappear and while holding the middle mouse button pressed the slider bar can be moved. With a left mouse click the scrolling is confirmed, with a right mouse click the scrolling is restored.

Scroll wheels and Step buttons

Scroll wheels are used to vary values.

Scroll wheels have the appearance of wheels, illustrated by vertical lines.

To use scroll wheels, click on the wheel with a left mouse click. The mouse cursor will disappear and while holding the middle mouse button pressed the wheel can be rotated either right or left to increase or decrease values. With a left mouse click the new value of the wheel is confirmed, with a right mouse click the original value is restored.

Step buttons are used to increment values and are indicated with '+' or '-'. Clicking the step button will either increase or decrease values by a fixed step value.

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