Rodney

Steve, It looks like we have something in common. I definitely need to dig into rigging so there is at least some hope that I might animate some of my own characters some day.

The Workshop might um... work... a little like this: We try to rig our models... We make really ridiculous mistakes... People laugh at us... We all learn. Something like that. David could probably tell us whether it would be wiser to rig the same model so we could compare notes or if rigging different models should work well enough.

If there is enough interest we might even do a Rigging Workshop where we all grab a character of our choice and rig it with the Squetch Rig. It's something I know I'd enjoy doing and it would be even more fun and educational with others joining in. I might even rig a model for the Extra DVD in the process.

Everyone still with us on the Squetch Rig Installation? Need a little more time to absorb the information before moving on to Part 3? Let us know!

Mark (Niels, Gerard and everyone else), While not a full solution one possible assist you may get in the rotating of your pivot is the Pie Cutter feature in A:M's Chor window. I mention this because the feature works with all bones (root and otherwise) as well as groups of objects in the Chor. To assist in lathing... nah this won't do anything for you. You might be able to control some more precision with lathing using Emilio's Sweeper plugin though. A related note of importance that sneaks by many an A:M user is that Named Groups store your Pivot settings. If you don't name your group the pivot location is disregarded but if you name your group A:M will remember the settings of translation, rotation etc. for that Group within the Object. I've noticed what appears to be improved control of these Named Group pivot settings in Grouped Objects in the choreography objects area of the PWS. Attached image just shows the Pie Cutter increment feature displaying the degree of rotatation (in this case via the root bone) in a Chor. In my case I've got it adjusting in 5 degree increments but (as has been mentioned) you can change the increment in TOOL/OPTIONS on the UNITS tabs. I believe the smallest increment available is 1 degree which is about all the precision I generally need. I guess I could wish for Mils but who else would use them?

Outstanding work Cory. Color me impressed. Your demo includes a lot of things I'd never seen from you. The last time I saw a collection of quality animation shorts like this was from some guy named Victor Navone... wonder whatever happened to that guy? In other words... Keep on animating! Look forward to seeing you in the movies.

The chime sounds like the one from the A:M Community. You can either log out of the Community or turn the Bell off in the chat window by clicking on the speaker icon. I don't know about your script error.

A great question. Be advised that you can spend a whole lot of money on books and still not really 'get' CGI. To understand CGI you've got to experience CGI. Obviously this forum will be bias toward Animation:Master. A:M has a loyal following because it 1) Is easy to use 2) Very Intuitive 3) Has great support. I definitely recommend A:M. Now... books. The books I have had out on my table the most recently are as follows: The Art of Animation:Master (TAoA:M) - Hash Inc's manual that comes with A:M. It contains 20 exercises designed to get new users up to speed and animatng. Free with A:M. Character Animation In Depth (Doug Kelly) This book is almost 8 years old. The majority of its 1000 pages are still more than relevant and the focus is on designing, creating and distributing your comptuer animation. $59.00 cover - I found it for $4 online! Comes with a really cool CD. Animation: The Mechanics of Motion (Chris Webster) This is just a great book that covers all the basics of traditional animation that can be applied to computer animation. $36.95 Acting for Actors - Revised Edition (Ed Hooks) I'm enjoying this one but for me its a tough read. Its approaching animation from an angle I've never really experienced... acting. Thats what makes it both fun and frustrating. It may also be that every time I've picked it up I've had a headache. $21.95. Be advised: The included CD is pretty much worthless. *Animation:Master - A Complete Guide (David Rogers) I haven't ordered this edition so its not yet on my table. I do have a space reserved on my shelf. Edit: Folks here in the forum have started to receive their copies so it is out! Principles of Three-Dimensional Computer Animation (Michael O'Rourke) Out of Print I consider this the treasure of all the books I picked at Powell's Books while at Hash Bash. (I also picked up 5 great Disney books on the cheap too but this book really is a treat) Thanks to Ken Baer for the tour of Powells! $55.00 cover/$14.95 through Powells There are hundreds if not thousands of other books that can be used with CGI. Don't look only at CGI books or you are bound to feel cheated. Unless you really love books you can probably save a lot of money by just digging into the program. I'm rather fond of books so I buy them when I can. Learning the tools is important but its what you do once you've learned the tools that will really count. Besides that if you ask the questions here you are pretty much guaranteed to get an answer. In many ways that is better than any book.

I'm in full agreement here... VERY spiffy. Now that is an action scene. The time you've been putting into this has really paid off. Outstanding work Mike!

Call Hash Inc and they'll get you hooked up. Address Hash Inc. 400 West Evergreen Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98660 USA Phone: (Technical Support and Customer Service) (360) 750-0042 E-Mail: support@hash.com

I've added the 2004 Keekat to the first Exercise. I'd be interested in finding out if anyone has problems with the foot with that version. Everything seems to be working fine in v13 Beta 4. Edit: Working for me in v12 too. Exercise 1: You're the Director (Now with fixed Keekat)

Mike, I'm certainly not opposed to that. Anyone who wants to work on the solution will receive gratitute from me. At a minimum it might be wise to send an email to Hash Inc (say: steve@hash.com) to make sure they get a fixed Keekat on the next A:M CD. If someone has already fixed Keekat I'm not aware of it. I suspect that eventually (read: several years from now) Keekat will move into the Squetch Rig. You are right, the fix is beyond the scope of the exercise. Then again, technically so is the foot. I'd guess that is why its never been an issue for me. Thanks for the input. Anything that gets enough attention generally gets fixed. Rodney

There is no 'fixed' Keekat. He refuses to go through that procedure. As its fairly easy to tweak the foot and position it as needed in the exercise I've seen it as a good introduction to adjusting the basic rig. Now animating Keekat with that foot... hmmm... that could be a little more problematic if we don't fix his foot. Mike, If you follow the link in the very first post of Exercise #2 you'll find the discussion and download for the Knight. Knight's Knees Problem The exercise post is 'stickied'. The easiest way to get a post ignored is to 'stickie' it I'm told so that may be why people are missing it. I increased the font size to emphasize it a bit more. There are similar links in the other exercises that use the Knight too. We'll try to provide a more visible means of identifying the fix but the best means I can think of is to read through what others have done before. People have reposted the Knight several times so I know continue to miss the initial links. The best I can do right now is say 'Thanks' to everyone for keeping the issue in the public eye. Thanks! Rodney

Andy, What Ken said. You are free to take the exercises to the extreme. Just remember there is a point to each and every one of them. If you nail that part of the lesson you are welcome to do anything you'd like. Great to see you back.

Yup Mike. If you look in the individual threads for each exercises you'll see more information about these oddities. In some cases you'll find links to working models. Everybody does read those things right?

This is particulary for New Users but new and old forum vistors alike often miss some of the useful features found in the forum. As the A:M Forum grows and more and more posts are circulated, topics can get lost rather easily. There are a lot of ways to track topics down. One of the easiest ways to keep up to date is to start from the top. View New Posts You don't have to search for 'Useful Links' to see new posts however. The link is right up there on every forum page. Right next to 'My Controls'.

The next tutorial in David's Squetch Rig Installation series has been released. Squetch Rig Installation (Part II) or directly download it here: Squetch Rig Installation Part II 40.9MB Zip file with H.264 encoded MOV. Requires Quicktime 7.

Presenting Part II in a series of tutorials on Squetch Rig Installation by David Simmons. If you have not yet reviewed Part I please download and view that first. Squetch Rig Installation (Part I) ...and now on to Part II: Join David Simmons and others as they discuss the fine points of bones, contraints, expressions and more in this series. Explore the new hand gizmo and setup FACE controls. Leverage the power of the Squetch Rig in your own character animation. Commentary and exploration is always encouraged. A thorough understanding of the Squetch Rig will have your characters performing in no time. Squetch Rig Installation (Part II) with David Simmons (40.9MB Zip file) Presentations are in MOV format encoded with H.264 which require Quicktime 7. Other formats will follow. Let David know what you think about the Squetch Rig! ---------------------------- Additional Information ---------------------------- Did you remember to download the Install Rig Plugin? If you didn't you can find it HERE. The Rigging and Relationships forum has an onongoing discussion of the Squetch Rig. There you will also find the plugin and files used with these tutorials. See Also: There you will also find the plugin and all files used with the tutorials. Thanks to David for taking the time to put these tutorials together. Thanks also to all who have put their effort into creating, refining and documenting the Squetch Rig. Enjoy! -------------------------------- Additional Information -------------------------------- Don't forget to download the Install Rig Plugin! You can find it HERE. See also: - Squetch Rig Installation (Part I) - Squetch Rig Installation Part III

I'd say its become something of a tradition. That doesn't explain why new users with little interest in tradition seem to choose Thom to assist with testing. Maybe Thom just volunteers.

The next installment in the Squetch Rig Installation series is coming up. Has everyone had time to digest the information in the first one? Should we wait a little longer before posting the next tutorial?

Very nice! You really set that whole scene up and choreographed it well. I was already enjoying a lot when the rockslide began. At that point I was fully entranced in the scene. Almost like I was there about to get pounded and pummeled to death. Good thing you didn't end the scene just before the final piece otherwise I'd still be in shock wondering what my fate (or rather of those guys) might have been. That I suppose would be my one suggestion if you ever went back in to change anything. I think after the impact of the rocks a short span of darkness perhaps dissolving to the last scene with dust disipating would add additional opportunity for empathy with the plight of the diggers. Just my impressions... not really suggesting you change anything. It was just such a great scene that it easily sucked me into the story. Now you've got me wanting to know more. Well done! That is of course the most amazing aspect of it all! Rodney

Credit where credit is due here. David Simmons, (whose Squetch Rig Installation Tutorials you should immediately check out, clued me into www.box.net. Thanks David! I don't share a lot of files back and forth (yet) so I haven't really been able to take advantage of it. I need to use the webspace I already have more effectively.

www.box.net provides storage space for free but not for hotlinking/viewing the files... more for downloading. There is a paid version as well. You'd have a whole lot of space to link people to your files. From their site: A hard offer to beat. http://www.box.net/

Good Luck ptahhotep! You'll need it... um I mean... break a leg... no....er... I mean... Welcome to the A:M Community!

I'd probably have to see a comparison of the two before I could say for sure. The dictionary.dic file is what tells A:M what phonemes to use for a given word. Change either the word in the dictionary.dic file or the phoneme pose and you'll get a different result. I guess I really should dig into all this lipsync business soon. I see no reason why a dopesheet couldn't run a lipsync pass with the new squetch rig (with the FACE rig based on Jason Osipa's work) and help the animator get the basic pose in place. Fine tuning and character quirks added thereafter I think we'd have nice fluid animation. Since I have nothing to show to prove how successful it can be I'll shut up now. If I understand what you are looking at I would say no... there is nothing to choose from. The phoneme breakdown is created from what is in the dictionary.dic file. The A:M Phoneme set is based on the Preston Blair lip poses and so the phoneme values should match those that Preston Blair is best know for.