rusty

John, Are we seeing 'this'? Rusty

David, I don't know why I didn't think about that. Breathing is important to me and my characters always breath in and out using the chest and the nostrils (don't think I saw a nostril flare in your face rig) -- its of course subtle but 3D characters must always move in some way. Did I see mechanisms for arm and leg muscles too? Also, even though I'm not using the face until later, the continuous motion in the throat/neck when a character speaks is also important to me; does your face rig have mechanisms for this? Or, while I'm asking, cheeks in/out, ears down/up, tongue in cheek, eye tick, swallow, sniff or face jiggle or anything else out of the ordinary (if that has a definition)? Re an FAQ, I'll try. I have (I guess we all have) a lot of irons in the fire. Bit it should be easy really and I'll run it by you before its released (the wiki and pinned post I'd imagine). Cheers, Rusty Edit: Re faq: as I ask questions and you answer its just a matter of copy/paste into a document. However, this will only catch questions from myself. A search of the forum would capture questions from others and your answers -- in the past. I will 'try' to find the time for this. However, this won't catch questions and answers coming from others in the future. You are really the right person to do this though; because you (and Mark) will get the questions in the future and its just a copy/paste and also because you are the answer part. I can't search the forums on a continual baseus. Perhaps, you could ask people to update the wiki faq with their q and a's? Or, if I start it, you take it over just copy/paste as questions come in to you. I know you do enough as it is so perhaps asking the people asking questions to do it is the way to go. After all, that's what a wiki is for, no? Cheers, Rusty

Hi David, Tonight I started the CP assignments… perhaps not the best timing because I’m exhausted and my mind has turned to clay at this point. Anyway, I usually start this process in the area of the hips. The first thing I ran into here was a geometry bone I have not seen in any other rigs; stomach_IO_geom. In looking at what CPs are assigned to it in the v13_Squetchy_Sam_06_15_2007 model, what I see is a lot of weighting between it and other bones. The problem here is initially I need to just assign some CPs to it and not knowing what it does this is hard to do. Then eventually I’ll need to put it in an action and play with probably the control bones (or ???) to see if it looks right and weight it until it does look right. The problem here is that I have no idea what stomach_IO_geom is there for, what it will eventually do or, what bones to manipulate in an action and, LOL, what to look for when I do! Oh dear. Info on this particular bone will get me by this and that will do for a day or so however, I will run into more of this and I know it. Is there any more documentation on this phase anywhere? If not, perhaps we can baby me through this process and in doing so create an FAQ on this phase for others. What do you think? Thanks, Rusty Edit: BTW on that "automated" reset compensates... my site is full or I would have uploaded it for you by now. However, I must go through and clean up things before I can do it and this is taking time. Sorry.

Oh oh... user error. Gulp! Sorry. Obviously an error in my automated reset compensates process. Rusty

Hi David, Somehow we both missed the right leg -- I guess the arms distracted us because I went back and checked and it was there. I'm assuming you may still have the model or can re-download it. If not let me know. This could be user error but given that one leg is okay I'm thinking it is probably a bug. If it is user error -- some compensate done wrong or neglected, please let me know. I've been using my 'automated' reset compensates contraption and it may be a bug there (though I've looked and don't see it). Cheers, Rusty

For seeing a video with your model in: 1. A modeling window 2. An action Window 3. A chor window While in the front view, right click on an empty area of the window to bring up the context menu. Select New->Rotoscope->Other and then select the video from disk. That should do it but if you have problems in an action or chor window select the rotoscope in the PWS, expand it and locate the frame number. On the action or chor frame zero (or whatever frame you want the video to start on) place a zero in the rotos frame number. Advance the action or chor's current frame number to where you want the video to end and then place the last frame of the video in the rotos frame number. or Import the video into the PWS image area. Drag and drop the video from the PWS to the window where you want it and drop it. In the menu that comes up specify 'rotoscope'. If needed set the roto frame number as discussed above. I do this all the time to help animate a character (I video tape myself doing it). Sometimes it takes a moment for the video frame to appear after you change it but kick the tire a few times and it works. Rusty

David, I need you help again. I redid the shoulders so that, with the arms out, the shoulders did not roll up (shrug) -- in this way the shoulder bone is level... with 18 models to rig I need to make things as easy and as 'normal' as possible. Then I redid everything up through the compensation adjustments However once again the arm control bones are not right. I'm doing something wrong and need to know what it is. I can't send every model to you for shoulder adjustments LOL. Maybe I need to remodel the arms to be straighter... or maybe I'm not aligning the install bones correctly... I hope you can figure it out. The password is the same as before. Again, thanks for all of your help! Rusty 000_Target_Model.zip

I report the bad links every so often but nothing happens... not sure why. Here it is.... well, for version 13 (I think its the same for all versions): InstallRig.zip Cheers, Rusty

David, For the following item: In the "Animation_Controls/Leg_Controls/left_knee_orient_like_foot_IK" pose, reset the compensates when the pose is at 100% and 0%. With the pose at 100% I set the enforcement to 0, clicked on compensate mode and reset the enforcement to 100%. I then set the pose to 0% and copied all of the off-set values over. However, when I move the pose from 100% to 0% the off-sets change. That is to say they are the same at 100% and 0% but somewhere between 100% and 0% a key frame must be set because the off-set values change before going back to the same off-set values at 0%. I tried setting the 100% pose off-set values at 50% but this did not do the trick. Is this change in off-set values as the pose goes from 100% to 0% (yet being the same at 100% and 0%) okay? Thanks, Rusty Edit: It is only the 'y' value that changes.

Be ready for a good laugh! I think in most cases it will take you longer to do using this -- for myself my PC opens AM very fast and it's maybe the same speed but with less eye strain. Oh oh... the zip is 20 Mb... too big... I'll put it up on an ftp somewhere and let you know. Rusty

I'll tidy it up and also document one part that is not working for some reason and send it to you. For myself, this helps, for others, it may be break even. In a day or so. Rusty

See here.

Automating ‘Reset Compensates’… sort of… I have a folder called ResetCompensates. I save my model to ResetCompensates/TargetModel.mdl. Within the ResetCompensates folder is ResetCompensates.bat, I click on it. In general what happens then is an AM project file starts up. In it a bite size section of the reset compensate instructions is in the top window, in a lower window is action window or your model in an edit relationship window… the relationship you need to edit for the section of instructions your working on. Each instruction has a reference number. In the PWS are filter tabs each named for one of the instructions. I read the instruction and click on the corresponding filter tab where I find either the constraint I need to reset the compensate on or, a small group of constraints that contain the one I need. I reset the compensate. If the original setting of the enforcement is not 100%, this also is found in the tabs name. I move to the next instruction and then next tab. When I do them all I save and exit and, another project opens with the next group of instructions. If each project opens and saves quickly this does save some time and makes it easier. I have a lot of this – all but the face parts because I don’t need these yet. Any interest? Thoughts? Cheers, Rusty

In the following: 3.08 In the "Rig_Components/leg_constraints_folder/legs_SQUETCH" Pose a. right_knee_geom ("orient like right_calf_geom" and "orient like right_thigh_geom") b. left_knee_geom ("orient like left_calf_geom" and "orient like left_thigh_geom") Can we assume that “right_calf_geom” should now be “right_calf_bow_0_geom” and so on for each constraint name? In the following as well as the 3 steps that follow it… 4.02 In the Animation_Controls/Arm_Controls/right_arm_maintain_orientation_chest_controller" pose reset the compensates on right_bicep_with_shoulder ("orient like chest_controller") at 0% of the Pose. The pose is an on/off pose – do you mean ‘off’ instead of 0%? The following, where you want to reset the compensates at pose setting 0 and 100 is odd in that the pose starts at 50% and, the constraint enforcement follows the pose percentage. I set the pose to 100% (ergo enforcement 100% as well), zeroed the enforcement, turned on compensate mode and then entered 100 again in the enforcement. I then copied the Rotate offsets from the 100% setting to the 0% setting. I wondered if I would get some jitter between the due to interpolation but, no, looked smooth to me. Only question is… did I get it right? Too many 'bow' adds not reflecteed in redo compensates to mention... seems clear which is meant. I automated the process to a degree but too criptic to release... value questionable. Rusty

David, To resolve a problem I had with arm measurements and proportions I rolled the shoulders up when the arms were stretched stright out. I didn't need to do this and now its come back to haunt me. I future rigs I won't do this but I'm hoping that on the attached rig you'll know how to get the arms aligned. This rig has just been through the 'redo compensates'... BTW I posted a few questions under that thread. Hm... I don't want this model out and about before I use it... okay... feels weird to do this but I've put a password on the zip file which I'll PM to you. Sorry people... its nothing real great believe me! I just want the look under wraps for now. Rusty 000_Target_Model.zip

Me again... Question 1: ------------------ Instructions like the following are curious... In the "Animation_Controls/Leg_Controls/right_knee_orient_like_foot_IK" pose, reset the compensates when the pose is at 100% and 0%. ...if the enforcement is at zero, what are we compensating for? How would you even do this? Click the compensate icon before you change from 100 to 0? Question 2: ------------------ Do these instructions change often? Or, have these instructions changed much? And do you think they will change much as we move down stream? Rusty

Damn, you're right... its the pose you're editing! For some reason I thought it was a different pose. Thinking too much LOL. r

I don't know if I'd go that far LOL. I just posted a couple of questions on the contents of the resetting_all_compensates_06_15_2007.txt file. The 2nd question I became completely sure of as I typed it in but newer folks might need this level of instruction. The work you've put into this! Cheers, Rusty

David, I've opened this thread for questions on the instructions within resetting_all_compensates_06_15_2007.txt -- there's a lot there! Also, to help me track though it all I've copied and pasted the contents of this text file into an EXCEL file, scooting stuff around a bit and adding check boxes. The current version of this EXCEL file is here for anyone who wants it. I'll post any new versions here. First question: 1. Is this file for both the regular install and the 'Posable' install? Thanks! (And thanks for all the hard work you've done), Rusty

I needed to push forward so I went back to your wonderful Squetch_Installation videos and found where you reset the compensations. Here you do in fact edit the relationship before doing the . So regarding your reply that I should "edit the relationship after resetting the compensates", I'm going to have to gamble for now and edit the relationship 'in order to' reset the compensates. If I have to go back and redo them I'll be right were I'd be at if I'd waited for your response and anyway, I can see no other way to do this anyway. Cheers, Rusty Maybe I misunderstood you, Rusty...what I meant was, you should reset the compensates before tweaking the enforcements. I'm guessing that is not what you meant. I still don't think I understand what you meant, but the way I did it in the tutorial is what I mean. :-) No worries. A lot of our exchanges go this way, I think its comical. And I still don't think I understand what I mean either. "Tweaking the enforcements"? Would not have thought of this. Do you get into this on the videos? (if you remember). If I can only get my models to move as well as the TWO models I'll be ecstatic. r

Hi David! This is a continuation of this post where I respond to your statement: I needed to push forward so I went back to your wonderful Squetch_Installation videos and found where you reset the compensations. Here you do in fact edit the relationship before doing the . So regarding your reply that I should "edit the relationship after resetting the compensates", I'm going to have to gamble for now and edit the relationship 'in order to' reset the compensates. If I have to go back and redo them I'll be right were I'd be at if I'd waited for your response and anyway, I can see no other way to do this anyway. Cheers, Rusty

Whoops... I meant to attach it. Here you go. All I did was take the text file, select all, copy and then paste into EXCEL. I pulled things around and added or deleted columns then put borders on some cells. It was quick and dirty and I have not tested it yet. Cheers, Rusty

I have copied David's list and placed it in an EXCEL spread sheet with check boxes by each item. I'm attach this. If you do not have EXCEL let me know and I can place this list in an jpg image and you can use hardcopy. Cheers, Rusty

David, I guess I'm going to have to look like an idiot (I hate it when that happens). I tried LOL; I thought about it for 24 hours and even conducted some tests before replying because... your statement makes no sense to me at all... unless... a) Resetting the compensates should be done while in the 'posable' action before you export to a model or, I don't understand what you mean by 'resetting the compensates' or, c) my understanding of how things work is off and, the current version of AM has a bug or, d) I am missing something or misunderstanding you. If 'a' then, this should be added to the posable instruction steps before he has you export the model from the action (or its there and I missed it) or, If 'b' [and zeroing out the 'Enforcement', clicking on 'Compensate Mode' and resetting the enforcement to the original value] is not what you mean, what do you mean? If 'c' then, you seem to be inferring that one should reset the compensates in either a modeling mode or in an action (what else is there? In a chor?)... If modeling mode then, this makes no sense to me for many reasons plus, the latest version of AM won't let me adjust the enforcement. If an action then, how does this get placed in the model. If 'd' what am I missing? In any case I'm going to feel stupid. Red in the face, Rusty

David, I got past the problem area with the install plug-in and am now working my way through the instructions in the 'resetting_all_compensates_06_15_2007.txt' document. I think that it goes without saying that for each compensate that needs resetting we must edit the appropriate relationship before we can do any resetting. Let me know if there is some easier way. Also once your down the instruction list a ways, it is quite tedious reading the instruction then, going to the PWS and finding and adjusting the compensation then returning to the instruction sheet, again finding your place (sometimes double checking what step/sub-step you're on to be sure) then reading the next step and repeating the process over and over. Not only is this tedious but it is prone to error. My brain has been working on ways to make this nicer and therefore faster. First I copied the instructions into a spread sheet so progress could be tracked and its much easier to see things in a table and thereby return to where you left off easier; you put an 'x' in front of the step to indicate you've completed it. Second, for determining and editing the proper relationship, perhaps we could edit all of them upfront! Finally, for making the constraints that need adjustment easier to find and get to, a unique tag could be added to the name and a PWS filter could be created to better isolate each one. What do you think? Don't forget my question in the first paragraph on editing the relationship. Cheers, Rust