Beta versions are not as thoroughly tested as stable
New sub-layers feature; effect compositor updates; bug fixes
09 November, 2021 ()
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Notes
In this release we're excited to introduce a new feature: sub-layers! These allow you to add layers inside other layers in the Layers Bar, making a tree of layers. You can use this purely for organisation, acting like layer folders. However things get more interesting when you add effects to a layer with sub-layers. In this case the effect will alter the appearance of the layer and all its sub-layers. This can help process effects efficiently - for example previously if you wanted the same effect on 3 consecutive layers, you'd need to add the same layer effect to all 3 layers, and then the effect would have to be processed repeatedly as well. However now if you add the effect to a single layer with 3 sub-layers, it runs the effect just once altering the appearance of all the sub-layers - saving the need to process the effect repeatedly. Further it also unlocks more advanced effects, such as by having a stack of background sub-layers and a stack of lighting sub-layers which can all be combined with effects on the parent layers. Take a look at the updated Shadows: blending multiple lights example to see how that can work. We're excited to see what new creative possibilities you can come up with using this!
Work on the new effects compositor has also continued, fixing several issues that have come up, and also improving support for different display densities. We have some more work lined up on the new effects system so stay tuned for some more updates in this area, and as ever let us know if you notice any effects working differently in your projects.
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Launch r271
New Features
Sub-layers: use nested layers like folders, or for composing more sophisticated effects
Changes
Layers Bar: change to 'Insert layer above/below' menu items when a layer is right-clicked
Update 'Shadows: blending multiple lights' example to use sub-layers
Bug Fixes
Effects could render inconsistently on devices with different display pixel densities
Possible crash disabling effects at runtime (regression r270)
Layout View: objects could disappear if effects used (regression r270)
Layout View: background could turn black in some circumstances (regression r270)
Layout View: 'translucent inactive layers' did not always work with layer effects (regression r270)
Event Sheet View: dialogs could incorrectly lose focus in some circumstances
Event Sheet View: expression autocomplete not always hidden when backspacing inside name
Event Sheet View: search results in expressions could display twice (regression r270)
'On object clicked' not always picking correctly in OR block sub-event
Project bar: duplicating a file did not add an undo point
Project bar: search results could collapse when changing tab
Pin behavior: 'Destroy with pinned object' state not saved in savegames
Tweens: tweens not restored properly using the system load action (regression r264)
Particles plugin: "One Shot" particle systems not properly restored using the system load action
Work around bug in Safari 15 that could cause incorrect display of alpha in images
SDK updates
Add devicePixelRatio uniform for effects
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