Character animation - Polyloop

JakalDesign · 15th September 2006, 22:52

Just thought I would post some progress of this character I am working on for some animations that are going to go into my portfolio (I need work very badly

).

This first image is of my character with a control panel that I made for easy facial animation.

This is the rig.

Here are some quick poses to test out the wieghts and rig at the joints.

moxstudios · 15th September 2006, 23:59

wow looks nice JaKal!! Foward to se it in action.

Jolran · 17th September 2006, 20:40

Nice setup! Did you use the shape manager and link with for the costum parameter?

JakalDesign · 17th September 2006, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolran

Did you use the shape manager and link with for the costum parameter?

Yes, I linked the parameters to the shape managers sliders. For the eye's rotation I linked those sliders to the local rotation (after I set a neutral pose).

All works well and is much easier to key from the control panel than digging through the explorer or having the shape manager taking up much of the work space.

Jolran · 18th September 2006, 19:46

Aha! Havent tried that eyes setup. So you prefer this setup instead of using a null in front of the eyes with a direction constraint?

Looks like you have been very busy shapemodeling

How do you go about closing the eyelids? Got any tips? It frustrates me alot.

I get problems if I dont do the closing in 2 moves/shapes. In other words the eyelids go through the mesh at some point, solution for me is I close the eyes halfway for 1 shape. And from there to closure I create another shape.
Unfortunatly I have to do 2 shape animations for such a simple thing.
Could probably do a "link with multiple" and "relative value" setup thing maybe?

JakalDesign · 18th September 2006, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolran

Aha! Havent tried that eyes setup. So you prefer this setup instead of using a null in front of the eyes with a direction constraint?

For myself I prefer this method. That way all of the facial animation is under one control panel and less keying on nulls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolran

How do you go about closing the eyelids? Got any tips? It frustrates me alot.

For this character the eyes are relativly flat against the face so I didnt run into that problem. With a character that has very round eyes, I can see where you would run into that problem. I havnt tried it before but I am sure you could write an expression to where it activates one shape after the other is finished. Then attach that expression to a custom parameter.

medeamajic · 19th September 2006, 09:43

Jackaldesign,

I like it. It is great to see the screen shots of XSI for figure animation. Is XSI using morhps for the facial animation? It looks a little like Carrara's morhing controls. I do not go as in depth as you. I have a few eye and ear morhps but that is about it. I guess I should try better facial animation with vowel sounds and eye brows.

Thomas · 19th September 2006, 17:20

I WANT FREE TIME !
pff...
Jakal: you are motinvating me

JakalDesign · 19th September 2006, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by medeamajic

Is XSI using morhps for the facial animation? It looks a little like Carrara's morhing controls.

Yes, XSI uses basically the same princables as morph targets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

I WANT FREE TIME !
pff...
Jakal: you are motinvating me

Well, unfortunally... this freetime has the side effect of me not making money

But I am glad this is motivating you.

medeamajic · 19th September 2006, 21:16

Thanks for the info. XSI looks good from the screen shots. Like many others I want to see what Carrara 6 has to offer before I give up on it.

JakalDesign · 7th March 2007, 16:52

Hi everybody... sorry I havnt posted here in a really long time. I havnt done any updates to this charater setup... he is still ready to go for animating and some day I will get to it.

The thing is that I got my first 3D job making game asset models for huge name game studios (Lionhead Studios & Microsoft Games). So that is taking up most of my time.

I will have down time between stages and hopfully then work on some stuff.

Till then

Thomas · 7th March 2007, 18:21

Congratulation on your new job Jakal!!

moxstudios · 7th March 2007, 21:26

WOW!! nice Jakal a dream come true

congratulations man, I wish I have a Job Like that,

now am doing flash banners all day.

JakalDesign · 20th March 2007, 15:30

Thanks guys... it is a dream come true of mine. About 8 years of work learning the apps and the gaining the skills I needed finaly paid off.

I do have to say that it is probably because of XSI that I got the job. Lionhead uses nothing but XSI in thier studio so that gave me the upper hand when I applied for the job.

They told me experience XSI users are very hard to come by... so to all those XSIers out there.... I would start looking if you want to get into the industry... expecially you Mox... you are very talented, you should have no problem.

15th September 2006, 22:52	#1 (permalink)
JakalDesign Extrusion Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Idaho Falls, ID Posts: 174	Character animation Just thought I would post some progress of this character I am working on for some animations that are going to go into my portfolio (I need work very badly ). This first image is of my character with a control panel that I made for easy facial animation. This is the rig. Here are some quick poses to test out the wieghts and rig at the joints.

19th September 2006, 17:20	#8 (permalink)
Thomas Always learning new stuff Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Merignac, France Posts: 11,092 Images: 93	I WANT FREE TIME ! pff... Jakal: you are motinvating me __________________ Polyloop owner & Administrator - no support by PM or email. Polyloop [EN/FR] - Meuuh [FR +16 ans] - Totyo [FR] - Pixologic [JOB] - Le ZBlog [JOB] - La3dpourlesnuls [FR]

7th March 2007, 18:21	#12 (permalink)
Thomas Always learning new stuff Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Merignac, France Posts: 11,092 Images: 93	Congratulation on your new job Jakal!! __________________ Polyloop owner & Administrator - no support by PM or email. Polyloop [EN/FR] - Meuuh [FR +16 ans] - Totyo [FR] - Pixologic [JOB] - Le ZBlog [JOB] - La3dpourlesnuls [FR]

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

15th September 2006, 23:59	#2 (permalink)
moxstudios Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 438 Images: 16	wow looks nice JaKal!! Foward to se it in action.

17th September 2006, 20:40	#3 (permalink)
Jolran NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 118	Nice setup! Did you use the shape manager and link with for the costum parameter?

18th September 2006, 19:46	#5 (permalink)
Jolran NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 118	Aha! Havent tried that eyes setup. So you prefer this setup instead of using a null in front of the eyes with a direction constraint? Looks like you have been very busy shapemodeling How do you go about closing the eyelids? Got any tips? It frustrates me alot. I get problems if I dont do the closing in 2 moves/shapes. In other words the eyelids go through the mesh at some point, solution for me is I close the eyes halfway for 1 shape. And from there to closure I create another shape. Unfortunatly I have to do 2 shape animations for such a simple thing. Could probably do a "link with multiple" and "relative value" setup thing maybe?

19th September 2006, 09:43	#7 (permalink)
medeamajic Now, I learn animation Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,026	Jackaldesign, I like it. It is great to see the screen shots of XSI for figure animation. Is XSI using morhps for the facial animation? It looks a little like Carrara's morhing controls. I do not go as in depth as you. I have a few eye and ear morhps but that is about it. I guess I should try better facial animation with vowel sounds and eye brows.

19th September 2006, 21:16	#10 (permalink)
medeamajic Now, I learn animation Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,026	Thanks for the info. XSI looks good from the screen shots. Like many others I want to see what Carrara 6 has to offer before I give up on it.

7th March 2007, 16:52	#11 (permalink)
JakalDesign Extrusion Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Idaho Falls, ID Posts: 174	Hi everybody... sorry I havnt posted here in a really long time. I havnt done any updates to this charater setup... he is still ready to go for animating and some day I will get to it. The thing is that I got my first 3D job making game asset models for huge name game studios (Lionhead Studios & Microsoft Games). So that is taking up most of my time. I will have down time between stages and hopfully then work on some stuff. Till then

7th March 2007, 21:26	#13 (permalink)
moxstudios Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 438 Images: 16	WOW!! nice Jakal a dream come true congratulations man, I wish I have a Job Like that, now am doing flash banners all day.

20th March 2007, 15:30	#14 (permalink)
JakalDesign Extrusion Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Idaho Falls, ID Posts: 174	Thanks guys... it is a dream come true of mine. About 8 years of work learning the apps and the gaining the skills I needed finaly paid off. I do have to say that it is probably because of XSI that I got the job. Lionhead uses nothing but XSI in thier studio so that gave me the upper hand when I applied for the job. They told me experience XSI users are very hard to come by... so to all those XSIers out there.... I would start looking if you want to get into the industry... expecially you Mox... you are very talented, you should have no problem.