expression animating

[johnl3d]

used a set of simple expressions to move the tentacles and change the shape of the model which is then followed by the camera both on circular paths

 

 

expresscreature.mov

mp4 version:

 

 

 

expresscreature.zip

[fae_alba]

Just wondering...is it possible to use expressions to create a walk cycle, instead of using an action and path constraint? Sort of like walk to this xyz coordinate, starting at this xyz, take so many frames to get there....

[robcat2075]

Just wondering...is it possible to use expressions to create a walk cycle, instead of using an action and path constraint? Sort of like walk to this xyz coordinate, starting at this xyz, take so many frames to get there....

 

Possibly, but animating the motion of all the bones that have to move to make a walk via math expressions would be a very daunting task, rather like CG animation was done 40 years ago.

[fae_alba]

Just wondering...is it possible to use expressions to create a walk cycle, instead of using an action and path constraint? Sort of like walk to this xyz coordinate, starting at this xyz, take so many frames to get there....

 

Possibly, but animating the motion of all the bones that have to move to make a walk via math expressions would be a very daunting task, rather like CG animation was done 40 years ago.

 

I admit that I'm not nearly knowledgeable on what the full extent/purpose of expressions is. I can't help but imagine a plug in that could record a bones motions and use as the basis for the expression, much like a spreadsheet macro recorder.

[robcat2075]

I admit that I'm not nearly knowledgeable on what the full extent/purpose of expressions is. I can't help but imagine a plug in that could record a bones motions and use as the basis for the expression, much like a spreadsheet macro recorder.

 

What would this do that we are not already doing?

 

That's really what an action is for. Reusable, repeatable motion.

 

Expressions are for when you want to take the value of one property and use it to drive the value of another. A classic example is making toon line width decrease as an object's distance from the camera increases.

 

An idea I've been toying with is using expressions for crowd simulation where characters would do different actions semi-randomly based on how near they were to other crowd members.