New feature:

Weightpaint drawing now allows to define your own range of colors;
using a ColorBand, available in the User settings.

Log:
http://www.blender.org/development/current-projects/changes-since-244/animation-features/

source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_DerivedMesh.h

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ struct Mesh;
 struct EditMesh;
 struct ModifierData;
 struct MCol;
+struct ColorBand;
 
 /* number of sub-elements each mesh element has (for interpolation) */
 #define SUB_ELEMS_VERT 0
@@ -395,6 +396,9 @@ void DM_interp_face_data(struct DerivedMesh *source, struct DerivedMesh *dest,
 
 void DM_swap_face_data(struct DerivedMesh *dm, int index, int *corner_indices);
 
+/* Temporary? A function to give a colorband to derivedmesh for vertexcolor ranges */
+void vDM_ColorBand_store(struct ColorBand *coba);
+
 /* Simple function to get me->totvert amount of vertices/normals,
    correctly deformed and subsurfered. Needed especially when vertexgroups are involved.
    In use now by vertex/weigt paint and particles */

source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_texture.h

@@ -52,8 +52,11 @@ int test_dlerr(const char *name,  const char *symbol);
 void open_plugin_tex(struct PluginTex *pit);
 struct PluginTex *add_plugin_tex(char *str);
 void free_plugin_tex(struct PluginTex *pit);
+
+void init_colorband(struct ColorBand *coba, int rangetype);
 struct ColorBand *add_colorband(int rangetype);
 int do_colorband(struct ColorBand *coba, float in, float out[4]);
+
 void default_tex(struct Tex *tex);
 struct Tex *add_texture(char *name);
 void default_mtex(struct MTex *mtex);

source/blender/blenkernel/intern/DerivedMesh.c

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 #include "DNA_object_force.h"
 #include "DNA_object_fluidsim.h" // N_T
 #include "DNA_scene_types.h" // N_T
+#include "DNA_texture_types.h"
 #include "DNA_view3d_types.h"
 #include "DNA_screen_types.h"
 #include "DNA_space_types.h"
@@ -61,20 +62,21 @@
 #include "BLI_editVert.h"
 #include "BLI_linklist.h"
 
-#include "BKE_utildefines.h"
 #include "BKE_cdderivedmesh.h"
 #include "BKE_customdata.h"
 #include "BKE_DerivedMesh.h"
+#include "BKE_deform.h"
 #include "BKE_displist.h"
 #include "BKE_effect.h"
 #include "BKE_global.h"
+#include "BKE_key.h"
 #include "BKE_material.h"
+#include "BKE_modifier.h"
 #include "BKE_mesh.h"
 #include "BKE_object.h"
 #include "BKE_subsurf.h"
-#include "BKE_deform.h"
-#include "BKE_modifier.h"
-#include "BKE_key.h"
+#include "BKE_texture.h"
+#include "BKE_utildefines.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_VERSE
 #include "BKE_verse.h"
@@ -2268,10 +2270,10 @@ void weight_to_rgb(float input, float *fr, float *fg, float *fb)
 		*fb= 0.0f;
 	}
 }
-static void calc_weightpaint_vert_color(Object *ob, int vert, unsigned char *col)
+static void calc_weightpaint_vert_color(Object *ob, ColorBand *coba, int vert, unsigned char *col)
 {
 	Mesh *me = ob->data;
-	float fr, fg, fb, input = 0.0f;
+	float colf[4], input = 0.0f;
 	int i;
 
 	if (me->dvert) {
@@ -2282,29 +2284,41 @@ static void calc_weightpaint_vert_color(Object *ob, int vert, unsigned char *col
 
 	CLAMP(input, 0.0f, 1.0f);
 	
-	weight_to_rgb(input, &fr, &fg, &fb);
+	if(coba)
+		do_colorband(coba, input, colf);
+	else
+		weight_to_rgb(input, colf, colf+1, colf+2);
 	
-	col[3] = (unsigned char)(fr * 255.0f);
-	col[2] = (unsigned char)(fg * 255.0f);
-	col[1] = (unsigned char)(fb * 255.0f);
+	col[3] = (unsigned char)(colf[0] * 255.0f);
+	col[2] = (unsigned char)(colf[1] * 255.0f);
+	col[1] = (unsigned char)(colf[2] * 255.0f);
 	col[0] = 255;
 }
+
+static ColorBand *stored_cb= NULL;
+
+void vDM_ColorBand_store(ColorBand *coba)
+{
+	stored_cb= coba;
+}
+
 static unsigned char *calc_weightpaint_colors(Object *ob) 
 {
 	Mesh *me = ob->data;
 	MFace *mf = me->mface;
+	ColorBand *coba= stored_cb;	/* warning, not a local var */
 	unsigned char *wtcol;
 	int i;
 	
 	wtcol = MEM_callocN (sizeof (unsigned char) * me->totface*4*4, "weightmap");
 	
 	memset(wtcol, 0x55, sizeof (unsigned char) * me->totface*4*4);
-	for (i=0; i<me->totface; i++, mf++){
-		calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, mf->v1, &wtcol[(i*4 + 0)*4]); 
-		calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, mf->v2, &wtcol[(i*4 + 1)*4]); 
-		calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, mf->v3, &wtcol[(i*4 + 2)*4]); 
+	for (i=0; i<me->totface; i++, mf++) {
+		calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, coba, mf->v1, &wtcol[(i*4 + 0)*4]); 
+		calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, coba, mf->v2, &wtcol[(i*4 + 1)*4]); 
+		calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, coba, mf->v3, &wtcol[(i*4 + 2)*4]); 
 		if (mf->v4)
-			calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, mf->v4, &wtcol[(i*4 + 3)*4]); 
+			calc_weightpaint_vert_color(ob, coba, mf->v4, &wtcol[(i*4 + 3)*4]); 
 	}
 	
 	return wtcol;

source/blender/blenkernel/intern/texture.c

@@ -238,13 +238,10 @@ void init_mapping(TexMapping *texmap)
 
 /* ****************** COLORBAND ******************* */
 
-ColorBand *add_colorband(int rangetype)
+void init_colorband(ColorBand *coba, int rangetype)
 {
-	ColorBand *coba;
 	int a;
 	
-	coba= MEM_callocN( sizeof(ColorBand), "colorband");
-	
 	coba->data[0].pos= 0.0;
 	coba->data[1].pos= 1.0;
 	
@@ -281,6 +278,15 @@ ColorBand *add_colorband(int rangetype)
 	
 	coba->tot= 2;
 	
+}
+
+ColorBand *add_colorband(int rangetype)
+{
+	ColorBand *coba;
+	
+	coba= MEM_callocN( sizeof(ColorBand), "colorband");
+	init_colorband(coba, rangetype);
+	
 	return coba;
 }
 

source/blender/include/BSE_trans_types.h

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 
 struct Object;
 struct MDeformVert;
+struct ColorBand;
 
 typedef struct TransOb {
 	float *loc;

source/blender/include/blendef.h

@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@
 #define B_UITHEMEEXPORT		324
 
 #define B_MEMCACHELIMIT		325
+#define B_WPAINT_RANGE		326
 
 /* Definitions for the fileselect buttons in user prefs */
 #define B_FONTDIRFILESEL  	330

source/blender/makesdna/DNA_texture_types.h

@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ typedef struct CBData {
 } CBData;
 
 /* 32 = MAXCOLORBAND */
+/* note that this has to remain a single struct, for UserDef */
 typedef struct ColorBand {
 	short flag, tot, cur, ipotype;
 	CBData data[32];

source/blender/makesdna/DNA_userdef_types.h

@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@
 #define DNA_USERDEF_TYPES_H
 
 #include "DNA_listBase.h"
+#include "DNA_texture_types.h"
 
 /* themes; defines in BIF_resource.h */
+struct ColorBand;
 
 // global, button colors
 
@@ -184,6 +186,7 @@ typedef struct UserDef {
 	char verseuser[160];
 	float glalphaclip, pad;
 	
+	struct ColorBand coba_weight;	/* from texture.h */
 } UserDef;
 
 extern UserDef U; /* from usiblender.c !!!! */
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ extern UserDef U; /* from usiblender.c !!!! */
 #define USER_LMOUSESELECT		(1 << 14)
 #define USER_FILECOMPRESS		(1 << 15)
 #define USER_SAVE_PREVIEWS		(1 << 16)
+#define USER_CUSTOM_RANGE		(1 << 17)
 
 /* viewzom */
 #define USER_ZOOM_CONT			0

source/blender/src/buttons_editing.c

@@ -5290,7 +5290,6 @@ static void editing_panel_mesh_paint(void)
 
 static void editing_panel_mesh_texface(void)
 {
-	extern VPaint Gvp;         /* from vpaint */
 	uiBlock *block;
 	MTFace *tf;
 

source/blender/src/ghostwinlay.c

@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@
 #ifdef __APPLE__
 #include <OpenGL/OpenGL.h>
 #define __CARBONSOUND__
+  /* XXX BIG WARNING: carbon.h should not be included in blender/src code, it conflicts with struct ID */
+#define ID ID_
 #include <Carbon/Carbon.h>
 
 /*declarations*/

source/blender/src/space.c

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
 #include "BKE_colortools.h"
 #include "BKE_curve.h"
 #include "BKE_depsgraph.h"
+#include "BKE_Derivedmesh.h"
 #include "BKE_displist.h"
 #include "BKE_global.h"
 #include "BKE_group.h"
@@ -86,6 +87,7 @@
 #include "BKE_mesh.h"
 #include "BKE_node.h"
 #include "BKE_scene.h"
+#include "BKE_texture.h"
 #include "BKE_utildefines.h"
 #include "BKE_image.h" /* for IMA_TYPE_COMPOSITE and IMA_TYPE_R_RESULT */
 
@@ -140,6 +142,7 @@
 #include "BSE_headerbuttons.h"
 #include "BSE_editnla_types.h"
 #include "BSE_time.h"
+#include "BSE_trans_types.h"
 
 #include "BDR_vpaint.h"
 #include "BDR_editmball.h"
@@ -3895,22 +3898,46 @@ void drawinfospace(ScrArea *sa, void *spacedata)
 			(xpos+edgsp+(5*mpref)+(5*midsp)), y1, mpref, buth, 
 			&U.texcollectrate, 1.0, 3600.0, 30, 2, "Number of seconds between each run of the GL texture garbage collector.");
 
-
+		/* *** */
+		uiDefBut(block, LABEL,0,"Color range for weight paint",
+			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)),y6label,mpref,buth,
+				 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, "");
+		
+		uiDefButBitI(block, TOG, USER_CUSTOM_RANGE, B_WPAINT_RANGE, "ColorBand",
+					 (xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)),y5,mpref,buth,
+					 &(U.flag), 0, 0, 0, 0,
+					 "");
+		
+		if((U.flag & USER_CUSTOM_RANGE)==0) {
+			vDM_ColorBand_store(NULL);
+		}
+		else {
+			rctf butrect;
+			
+			vDM_ColorBand_store(&U.coba_weight); /* also signal for derivedmesh to use colorband */
+			
+			BLI_init_rctf(&butrect, (xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)), 
+					  (xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)) + mpref, 
+					  y3, y3+30);
+		
+			draw_colorband_buts_small(block, &U.coba_weight, &butrect, B_WPAINT_RANGE);
+		}
+		
 		uiDefBut(block, LABEL,0,"Audio mixing buffer:",
-			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)),y3label,mpref,buth,
+			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)),y2label,mpref,buth,
 			0, 0, 0, 0, 0, "");
 		uiBlockBeginAlign(block);
 		uiDefButI(block, ROW, 0, "256",
-			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)),y2,(mpref/4),buth,
+			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)),y1,(mpref/4),buth,
 			&U.mixbufsize, 2.0, 256.0, 0, 0, "Set audio mixing buffer size to 256 samples");
 		uiDefButI(block, ROW, 0, "512",
-			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)+(mpref/4)),y2,(mpref/4),buth,
+			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)+(mpref/4)),y1,(mpref/4),buth,
 			&U.mixbufsize, 2.0, 512.0, 0, 0, "Set audio mixing buffer size to 512 samples");	
 		uiDefButI(block, ROW, 0, "1024",
-			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)+(2*mpref/4)),y2,(mpref/4),buth,
+			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)+(2*mpref/4)),y1,(mpref/4),buth,
 			&U.mixbufsize, 2.0, 1024.0, 0, 0, "Set audio mixing buffer size to 1024 samples");		
 		uiDefButI(block, ROW, 0, "2048",
-			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)+(3*mpref/4)),y2,(mpref/4),buth,
+			(xpos+edgsp+(2*midsp)+(2*mpref)+(3*mpref/4)),y1,(mpref/4),buth,
 			&U.mixbufsize, 2.0, 2048.0, 0, 0, "Set audio mixing buffer size to 2048 samples");			
 		uiBlockEndAlign(block);
 
@@ -4105,6 +4132,13 @@ static void winqreadinfospace(ScrArea *sa, void *spacedata, BWinEvent *evt)
 				MEM_CacheLimiter_set_maximum(
 					U.memcachelimit * 1024 * 1024);
 			}
+			else if (val==B_WPAINT_RANGE) {
+				addqueue(sa->win, REDRAW, 1);
+				if(OBACT && (G.f & G_WEIGHTPAINT)) {
+					DAG_object_flush_update(G.scene, OBACT, OB_RECALC_DATA);
+					allqueue(REDRAWVIEW3D, 0);
+				}
+			}
 			else do_global_buttons(val);
 			
 			break;	

source/blender/src/usiblender.c

@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
 #include "BKE_mball.h"
 #include "BKE_node.h"
 #include "BKE_packedFile.h"
+#include "BKE_texture.h"
 #include "BKE_utildefines.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_VERSE
@@ -365,6 +366,8 @@ static void init_userdef_file(void)
 		for(btheme= U.themes.first; btheme; btheme= btheme->next) {
 			SETCOL(btheme->tv3d.editmesh_active, 255, 255, 255, 128);
 		}
+		if(U.coba_weight.tot==0)
+			init_colorband(&U.coba_weight, 1);
 	}
 	
 	/* GL Texture Garbage Collection (variable abused above!) */