I can't find the software(s) so no screen shot - but I'll look if I still have them. A number of fractal/graphics generation software that I recall had a way to toggle on/off certain parameters using a similar ui to "breed" or generate new samples from a preset. You could use a check box to turn off "Julia" lets say, if you wanted to exclude that from the samples generated, and check multiple functions to keep or exclude. I wonder if something similar might be possible with the mighty MSG Evolution editor (an abstract artists best friend : ) I don't claim to know how you would categorize the presets for this, nor do we know what's involved with coding it. So, just an idea.
There's an older Linux program called Evolvotron that also lets you lock a frame or frames from changing if you want to keep that as part of the set that regenerates - I don't know if this is currently possible in SA?
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You can lock individual parameters or whole processors in the MSG Advanced Editor. So then when you randomize those parameters or processors will not be mutated.
Are you saying you want to restrict specific processors or presets from the evolution process?
Oh great! Is there a tip about how to do this, or in the user guide?
Yes, the thought was to be able to include and/or restrict certain types or categories of processors in the evolution process. Not an extremely important feature I wouldn't think, but could be useful?
Just set the appropriate Lock popup to On for whatever parameter or processor you want to lock.
Locking the processor locks all of it's internal parameters.
great thanks! This evidently would lock it out of being used in the Evolution Editor, just to make sure from what you're saying?
Any parameters or processors that are locked are not changed. So any randomization or mutation is not affecting those locked parameters.
When you say lock a frame, do you mean lock one or more of the evolution previews in the evolution editor?
Yes John, that is what I mean - the previews.
It's a feature i've thought about adding before. I was afraid it might make things a little more confusing for the average person. Maybe i can add it via context menu commands to keep the interface clean? I'll think about that.
I imagine it would be a challenging ui issue. One of the programs I mentioned did exactly that.. used right click contextual menus to allow the user to make those selections.