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977 topics in this forum
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This will be of interest to those of you putting on your Director and Cinematographer hats and moving into production. Animation World Network is hosting a series of videos with a emphasis on Staging and Blocking and at this point there are about a dozen or so short lessons online. More is to be added over time. While the Poser-like quality of blocking may be a bit of a turn off there is a lot of information covered and those patient enough to watch all of the videos will begin to understand how to apply some of the lessons to their own projects. Subjects such as Deep Staging will be of particular value as they allow the camera to gain the best vantage point i…
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 0 replies
- 716 views
IMO this is one of the best kept secrets in the animation biz... It's still small enough to be personal and isn't overly commercial as of yet. http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com/ Is there anyone from the A:M Forum planning to attend? I haven't heard that Hash Inc is considering setting up shop but if they are I'd be even more likely to attend. Dates are: November 16th through the 18th. Location: Burbank, California I know some folks that have attended and they thoroughly enjoyed being able to interact with artists and animators of like interests.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
- 824 views
In another thread about compositing, Rodney kindly supplied a link to a talk about the subject. I followed up the link provided and it asked me to update the Flash player. I did that and installed it but, when I went back to try the link again it still wanted me to install the latest version... This has happened before with other things, notably on Youtube, so I suspect it may be part of the Apple - Adobe battle I've heard about? Is anyone else using a Mac having this problem and, if so, does anyone know a solution ? I'm using OSX 10:68 with Safari regards simon
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 2 replies
- 745 views
http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/10/02/compe...ake-a-3d-human/ It wouldn't be for me but some of the better modellers out there might be interested in this competition run by the magazine 3D World ? simon apologies, I just read it properly and its for other software, My mistake. I don't know how to delete the post. Sorry.
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 5 replies
- 1k views
Pretty amazing stuff. As amazing as this is we can come pretty close to that stuff where they draw on top of the guys hand and it inbetweens the rest automatically with A:M's new 'Snap to Surface' feature. Of course there is a lot more going on than just the matching of animation lines to surfaces in 'Paperman'...
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 7 replies
- 1.4k views
I'm not smart enough to get A:M data into it but I'm sure there are some folks out there that are. Dreamworks Animation recently released one of their proprietary tools: http://www.openvdb.org I found this while researching a project management program that I'm hoping will work well with A:M.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 reply
- 792 views
I'm on V16b and am trying to import an image sequence. On the images folder I and select Import Image Sequence. The problem is I don't get a file open dialogue displayed. This happens on both the 64 and 32 bit apps. I'm running on a win7 box. Any thoughts??
Last reply by Rodney, -
Circularise
by Malo- 8 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello, There is there a plugin or a function that transforms a closed spline in a circle?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 3 replies
- 999 views
I know we can export Lights to a python script but... Can we reimport that script back into A:M or is this for external usage only? (If not I know the workaround... perhaps more direct route... is to simply save the Chor setup and import that back into A:M. I do note however that editing the script to create lights is easily readable via the python script) The same appears to be true for exporting Choreographies to python scripts.
Last reply by johnl3d, -
Unite
by jakerupert- 1 reply
- 895 views
For those interested in gamedevelopment there are some very interesting insights from the upcoming Unity 4.0 gameengine and its userconference at Amsterdam: http://unity3d.com/unite/#6947115
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 3 replies
- 942 views
The best way to show you is with a video... sorry my poor english again erro.mov
Last reply by Xtaz, -
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- 779 views
More SIGGRAPH 2012 related postings... This by itself is very cool and interesting but I'm already wondering how the tool can be extended. Rather than take multiple shots of a chrome ball to capture lighting, duffuse, mirroring/reflection, specularity etc. some folk decided to pursue the idea of having one single ball to capture all the sampling needed. http://gl.ict.usc.edu/Research/SSLP/A_Sing...IGGRAPH2012.pdf This has bigger more colorful imagery: http://gl.ict.usc.edu/Research/SSLP/ Now what I'm thinking is how we can use this idea to capture the environment that exists inside a manufactured 3D scene. There are obvious problems with this (…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 19 replies
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Hello, I ask myself some questions about the history and evolution of the polygonal subdivision in Hash patches after reading this link from pixar, which reminds me a lot with AM patches : http://www.opensubdiv.com/?page_id=84 - When was the last consolidation made on patches? - When was made the triangle patches? - When was made the quad patches? - When was made the five sides patches? - Is that the subdivision of polygons in the interior of patches has evolved since the beginning? - Martin Hash did he actually abandoned his baby, or does he think back on it later? - Stephen Gross, does it have the right to change the code of the constitution of t…
Last reply by Malo, -
- 16 replies
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Another quick question. What is the deal with the timeline? While trying to setup phenomes shapes for the animation I can select a particular part of the text on the dope sheet and then hit the curve button to edit the curve and all I can see is the graph of the sound file. No matter what I do I can't find the curves for the phenome shape? There has got to be an easier way to do this!!!!!
Last reply by Ilidrake, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 2.5k views
This topic is for those interested in belonging to (or leading) A:M Users Groups. To go beyond the discussion and join a User Group follow this link: Animation:Master Users Groups
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 1 follower
- 23 replies
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I'd like to open a discussion on budgeting for projects. The primary bias I have going into such a subject is that I equate the outlay of a budget with the establishment of the project's priorities. As an example of this, lets say that you are allotted 10 bazoozas in which to apply to a production. These bazoozas are all that you have at the moment to pay forward toward the final product. You have considered approaching the producer but he's already complained that you are on a tight budget and you think you might actually be able to pull off preproduction on a 10 bazooza budget. The only guy signed up on your team as of this moment suggests the following …
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 2 replies
- 863 views
Rather than add to the other topic that focuses on Phonemes I'll start a new topic where I hope others will feel free to explore A:M's Dopesheet. The Dopesheet has gained a bad name over the years and that is unfortunate because it can be used to do a lot of laborious work quickly. It can be used to block out stories, set up scenes and pose characters rapidly and without much effort. Folks see A:M's Dopesheet as only being good for Lipsync but perhaps it can do more than that...
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 13 replies
- 1.4k views
So I would like to get some feedback from the animators on this subject. How does one "block" in the animation poses using AM? I ask because doing so causes some issues with AM's auto curve of the timeline. How do you guys do it?
Last reply by Rodney, -
as you know I'll seek a sponsor for my project "Trem do Pantanal 2020", the first step is to concept a good demo reel to be presented to them... well for this I'll need your inestimable help as always. Please .. can you guide me ?? I'm thinking in this intro... does it work ?
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 8 replies
- 1.2k views
Is anyone up on the specifics/requirements regarding creating images for Mac Retina Displays? I've read a few articles but lost the one that I thought outlined it best. For those that haven't heard of this before it's related to how Mac displays are now produced with pixels spaced closer together which allow for crisper displaying of shapes and lines. This has ushered in a requirement for higher resolution images because the lower rez (normal pictures found all over the web) now look blurry by comparison. Has anyone seen a definitive guide?
Last reply by thejobe, -
- 4 replies
- 1.2k views
I just recieved a note from Sherm Cohen that he'll be removing his Storyboard Q&A video to make room for his next online class. So go see it now or you may miss it. http://storyboardclass.com/q-and-a/ Note: I haven't purchased his DVD set (yet) but it's a great deal. Highly recommended.
Last reply by largento, -
Some ideas
by Malo- 3 replies
- 933 views
Hi, I don't know if it can interest somebody, but just in case, I post anyway. It is just some ideas and reflections about imagination's tools to help to model and rigg more quickly in AM. The idea, is to regroups modeling, armature, weigts and fan bones in a few clicks. I write the ideas in a PDF with pictures. PDF
Last reply by Malo, -
- 11 replies
- 1.6k views
Hello! Importing 3D models from polygons application, 3D scanner, or sculpt application pose many problems in AM. The high-definition models are too dense to be exploited, others require to be re-examined in the topology In reality it was better and faster when it is rethinking the topology in AM as a whole (patches, hooks, UV, joints, etc ....). Hence the usefulness of rotoscope, it is possible to import 3D informations: - By drawings (which requires a good knowledge of perspectiv) - With photos (with some imperfections because of the position shooting) - Or to import 3D models (scanner or other soft 3D) as props to make rotoscope. …
Last reply by Malo, -
- 1 reply
- 886 views
Hello, My ignorance on the subject and my bad english, may explain a topic off-topic. From what I understood, It was not possible to use Visual C + + express with the SDK, because this version does not come with the MFC and don't support it. While surfing, I found a link that explains How to compile MFC code in Visual C++ Express :. I do not know if it's useful, and if it is sufficient to create plugins for AM ( I do not know Visual Basic C + + express, C++, and neither the SDK), but by ignorance and by any chance, I give the link. http://www.codeproject.com/KB/MFC/MFCinVis...dioExpress.aspx
Last reply by pixelplucker, -
- 0 replies
- 924 views
Since XML format, it is possible to read the MDL file by a text editor. Here is some information about the MDL format, that I could understand. Hope this can help someone. The CP: The splines : I have not found meaning the first number. Hooks: Patches : I have not found meaning the first and last number for patches. UV, Stamps:
Last reply by Malo, -
- 1 follower
- 14 replies
- 4.1k views
Hi, Some time ago, I tried to find a way to use Roadkill ( http://www.pullin-shapes.co.uk/page8.htm ), a free standalone program, to autounwrap mdl model. And there is a way! ... I tried to do it, with help of PHP scripts... But as I am not a programmer, the script is heavy, slow, it has "Undefined offset", problems with big models,and it is not a plugin in AM. But don't be worry, the principle works better than my scripts to download the scripts: the order to use the scripts: step 1: translate the mdl model in a obj model ( by the "MDL 2 OBJ for roadkill" script. ) step 2: import the obj in Roadkiller, and unwrap it. Then export it. step3:…
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 0 replies
- 849 views
Found a pretty neat program that creates seamless textures from Spiral Graphics ( www.spiralgraphics.biz ). There is a free program called Wood Workshop that allows you to create seamless wood textures with an almost limitless control over color, texture, pattern, etc. You can create the texture in just about any size you want, then export it to a .jpg, .png, .etc. They also have a program called Genetica 2.5 which allows you to create all sorts of other seamless textures, like brick, marble, cloth, wood, stone, metal and lots of others. The Pro version also allows you to create atmosphere and hair textures. They have a downloadable 30 day demo of Genetica. …
Last reply by Tralfaz,