Comp 22 ( Mess it Up)

[BiG ToE-3DT]

_Mess It Up_

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g129/DJBiGToE/onelasttime3d.jpg
(Steven Stahlberg)
The idea,
Ok, so this should be fun. Take an everyday situation and show how it could go wrong. In other words take a simple, ordinary thing and mess it up. Example, a man walking across the street, what could happen to him that would just mess up his day? This competition will be open, in terms of what you can and cannot do. Example, if you want to animate a man/lady sexing each other up in a grassy field, then a baby falls out the sky, do so. Or, if you want, you can animate an apple, then show it getting crushed by a PC. But be tasteful. Sounds are up to you, have fun with it. If you don’t have a character to animate, you might be able to find one on the net, or just check the animation links thread (let us know you didn’t model it).


Rules

- The due date is June 3rd, a Sunday, 12 midnight (GMT). Voting will be on that following week. Post your final entries in the Final Entry Thread.

- Minimum animation: your animation needs to include a minimum of 5 seconds, with or without music, do more if your bored.
-
- Recommended screen resolution in 320x240 (you can do 640x480 if you want, but why would you). I will.

- You can post W.I.P.s but you are only allowed one complete entry. That link is also final. You can and should post your wip’s to get help.

- Websites where you post your finals is up to you. (megaupload.com)

- Remember, it's about animation, use your time for animation, not to get the best render possible, unless you can afford it.

- Use of plug-ins not allowed. Must be key framed (hand animated)

- Use QuickTime. It will allow everyone to view your hard work, plus it gives everyone the chance to go through your animation frame by frame to see how you did what you did

- You must post a render of some sort with your final entry post; also include a screen grab with key frames.

- Voting will be as follows -
- Vote on what best displays the motion -

First place (3) points
Second place (2) points
Third place (1) points



Good luck!


BiG ToE

[Honki]

Sounds like heaps of fun. I might have a go at this one ;)

[BiG ToE-3DT]

good, good. Trying to get a front page plug on this one, so we need to bring the heat.

[Honki]

Oh, I'ma bring IT.

[DerekSc]

The Heat

Will

Be

Brought.

(BAM! Just got an idea... yep, I'm going with it, writing it down now... the fuse is lit.)

[BiG ToE-3DT]

oh yeah, big daddy Derek is in the house, and packing much heat. :dance:

[Honki]

Before I start Bringin' Da MoFo'n Ruckus,

What is the Gayest (yes, as in homosexually inclined), most sickly-sweet, happy cheerful song in the world?

[Vailias]

Even though plugins are out can we use script-tools we've written to help out? I need to finish a facial animation mel helper I started anyway, and a comp like this could be a good acid test for it.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

Honki: you may want to look into some childern cartoons.

Vailias: depends on what the script is for. The idea about plug-ins is that you can't use them for the main animation. But they are all good for background stuff and the like.

[Vailias]

it basically duplicates the function of maya's "set driven keys" command, but using a node based archetecture so it always updates in real time and is a bit less cumbersome than the set driven keys interface. The end animation is still keyframed, but rather than have to move 15+ bones for the face each frame you can keyframe attributes on a controller object.

Same way the Hogan character's facial animation setup is done, but for bones rather than blendshapes.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

sounds good to me.

[Honki]

it basically duplicates the function of maya's "set driven keys" command, but using a node based archetecture so it always updates in real time and is a bit less cumbersome than the set driven keys interface. The end animation is still keyframed, but rather than have to move 15+ bones for the face each frame you can keyframe attributes on a controller object.

Same way the Hogan character's facial animation setup is done, but for bones rather than blendshapes.
I'm out of my depth here.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

I think he said, instead of using blendshapes(maya) he is using bones to do the facial animation. So, instead of moving each bone by hand, he has a script that will allow him to control more than one bone at a time.

[Honki]

I think he said, instead of using blendshapes(maya) he is using bones to do the facial animation. So, instead of moving each bone by hand, he has a script that will allow him to control more than one bone at a time.Thanks BigToe. I actually didn't understand what he wrote. He confused me. Baffled me even. Hence the reason I am out of my depth. I just learned what a dope-sheet does today. *sparkle fingers*

[Vailias]

Yeah thats basically it. What it comes down to is that blendshape animation is expensive for a realtime environment, and its often not readily supported, like in the recent versions of the unreal engine. So if you want lipsynch or other facial animation that is easily useful in a games existing skeletal animation blending capability, you'll have to animate with bones.

What the mel script I've got working does is that it allows you to pose your bones into how you want, like for a phoneme or expression, then record those values for those bones into a variable in a controller object like a locator and control that expression from 0 percent to 100 percent with a channel on the locator, just like its native XYZ position etc. Multiple expressions can be blended together just by setting their sliders at differing values and all the blend work is taken care of auto-mathematically. ;) I just need to extend the script so it works on all 3 types of transformation and of course test it to find simple bugs, but whenever I get it done I'll post it up around here for use/comments/crits/suggestions and whatever else to make it a robust and useful tool.

[Diabolos]

With four weeks, I will try to step up and animate some pixels.........

I have just been under a ton of work lately.........

D,

[BiG ToE-3DT]

let me know if you need a shovel. I got your back. Unless its school work, then your on your own.

[Diabolos]

let me know if you need a shovel. I got your back. Unless its school work, then your on your own.

Thanks for the support BiGToE, and no it's not school work, I finished school when Kurt Cobain was still alive...... :xx:

D,

[BiG ToE-3DT]

You mean you don't teach. What's up with that.

[Diabolos]

You mean you don't teach. What's up with that.

Man, you crazy :crazy:

[arneoog]

I AM going to enter this time too! :smug:
Hopefully I'll participate everytime from now on! :D

Still working on my idea..
Good luck, everyone!

[ItsaMystery]

Maybe if I get around to actually making something this time, I will try to incorporate groin-kickage awesomeness/brutality.

[Diabolos]

how about some "Conan-ness"

[Honki]

Maybe if I get around to actually making something this time, I will try to incorporate groin-kickage awesomeness/brutality.
Don't you dare. :grr: :grr:

[ItsaMystery]

how about some "Conan-ness"
Oh ho ho...touché. I like your thinking. ;P

Honki - Oh, I dare. ;)

[Diabolos]

Looks like things are finally slowing down for me a bit or I am catching up (the helping vibes from BiGToE), man work sent me through the "Gauntlet" like twice - so I have a date with a glass of vodka RedBull on Saturday and will spend Sunday on the couch, so why not animate while I am recovering..................

D,

[BiG ToE-3DT]

that is a good idea, can't wait to see what a hung-over Diabolos pulls off.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

alright, I figure it's time I bring him back, so if I can find a workable file, I'll be messing up this guy's day
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g129/DJBiGToE/Portfolio/042.jpg

[arneoog]

I will start to animate after next/this Tuesday :D
Cause then I'll have lots of time :dance:

[DerekSc]

Models are being worked on. Teaser coming soon!
All new models! All new rigs! All new ACTION!

[Diabolos]

A-TEAM - back in action - I pity the fool who doesn't Animate......


SHUDDUP FOO'!!

[Diabolos]

Hannibal Smith - DerekSC - just 'cause and I miss the gentlemen's clubs in Vancouver, Canada soooooo you are it.
Face - Arneoog - It's a Norwegian thing
Mr.T - BiGToE - Based on various comments in various threads.....
Murdock - Diabolos - he's just crazy
Amy - ItsAMystery - since kuriouz is not around someone needs to play the part and I volunteer YOU, FOO' LOL LOL mmuuhhhahahahahahhaha


**EDIT** - The villain - HONKI - that long running joke between brits and aussie's - (but I like Australia better than England, so I am on HONKI's side)

D,

[DerekSc]

Ahhh, gentlemen's clubs. I love it when a plan comes together. *puffs on cigar*
:)

[BiG ToE-3DT]

I would love to come up to Canada and hit the clubs, but I hate flying.

[Diabolos]

I've got a glass of milk for you.

[Honki]

Hahahahaha! Diablos, when did you grow a sense of humour?!
Cool. Can't wait to see the evil Honki.

And you're right to take sides with me. Pom's suck.

[Diabolos]

Hahahahaha! Diablos, when did you grow a sense of humour?!
Cool. Can't wait to see the evil Honki.

And you're right to take sides with me. Pom's suck.

Its Diabolos - he is taking over - like in the Dark Half................... :xx:

M,




HELP ME

[ItsaMystery]

Sweet, I'm a chick.

http://www.ateamshrine.co.uk/gallery/pub4.jpg

[arneoog]

Oh, man, that got me laughing! :haha: :p

..Still having some problems coming up with a good idea.. :dunno:
..Kinda wondering how brutal/violent I shal be, hehe

Should I just go with the crazyest idea I have..?
It kinda involves a kid getting smacked in the head :)

I'll do some more thinking :smug:

Cheers, gentlemen! ;P

[Diabolos]

can't forget the villain

[Honki]

Just don't make me look like a poof.
Coz that guy looks like he wants to dry bum someone.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

sorry Honki, but I don't think Diablos was going to make an A Team animation, yet, he was just saying we are the A Team of Animation. I pitty you Fooo.

[Honki]

Haaa.. Well. Don't I feel like a right spannerhead.
Why I gotta be the villian and you get to be Mr. T?
No fair. Not playing anymore :cry:

[BiG ToE-3DT]

you don't have to get all, Maggie on me. Show us who you feel in an animation. You can use a few "balls" if you like.

[Honki]

you don't have to get all, Maggie on me.hahahaha, Oh you're grounded.

I haven't even started yet. I'm still trying to learn all about rigging a biped. As I said before, I only just learned what a ****** dope-sheet did! May be a bit ambitious taking this on at the moment, but I think I'll give it a go ;)

Here was my idea....

There's this guy. His name is Julian. He's a raging poof.
He's 'fluttering' down the footpath, sniffing flowers and twinkling his fingers.
He get's booted in the gonads really really hard and it's funny.
The end.

[Diabolos]

no animation from me today

Honki - since I personally enjoy pictures with my stories, I thought I would add a slight touch to your story:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m34/diabolosgermany/a_kick_in_the_nuts.jpg

the end.

[DerekSc]

That, right there, is one sweet looking nut-shot. I mean that guy's going to have to bungee jump from his neck at least a dozen times before those two drop back down.
Hmm... new idea for a comp: bungee jump gone wrong.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

DerekSc, thats what up. I'm writing that down. Sounds like a great idea.

and know that I think about, a good nut shot animation could be fun too. :evil:

[Honki]

Hahahahahaha, that picture's awesome.
Serves him right for wearing his socks out in the street.

[Diabolos]

BiGToE - just noticed on the front page under the image. Ummmm that image is clearly Steven Stahlberg :hmm: shame on you....

....or maybe it was a joke, because he is soo well known.

D,

I am trying to think of something to animate and mess up...or maybe I will also do the kick in the jewels (already animated once, but second time around should be better, if not theres always that charm of the third try) lets see what Diabolos wants to do.

[Mikademius]

So you're still fighting with frames :)
Mr. Big: Artist unknown for the intro picture?? Does Stahlberg ring a bell? ;)
Honki: As for the gayest song out there... Search for "what what in the butt" over at youtube.

[Diabolos]

Yo! Mikademius - who let you out of your hole? Welcome back!? you gonna animate something with us?

I now commence you as the dude in the town who needs the A-Teams help, so you do not feel left out.

D,

[arneoog]

WooHee, Mikademius!^^

Hope you're going to animate something! :D
Now there's two Norwegian guys here! :p


Still kinda struggeling with what to animate... :dunno:
But I will animate an entry!!! :smug:

[Diabolos]

WooHee, Mikademius!^^

Hope you're going to animate something! :D
Now there's two Norwegian guys here! :p


Still kinda struggeling with what to animate... :dunno:
But I will animate an entry!!! :smug:

..and he didn't even say hi to the rest of us :xx:

D,

[Mikademius]

Hi everyone! :wave:

After several months of isolation under the earths surface surviving by eating my shoes and clothes I finally managed to fight my way back! It was hard, but worth it.

I don't have time to participate any contests now. I have 4 jobs and no life. Just wanted to check out how you were doing :)

[DerekSc]

4 jobs and no clothes. Jeez, I'm fully clothed and had trouble finding one job!
... clothing, eh? ... hey, maybe that's the problem!
Look out world, you're going to see a new side of me tomorrow! (the backside)

[ItsaMystery]

d00d. Everyone's totally stealing my groin-kick idea.

Maybe I should have claimed it by animating it.

Oh well.

That would rawk to have it be a contest in and of itself...heheh. Now we just need to find a willing volunteer for video reference...>___>

[Diabolos]

That would rawk to have it be a contest in and of itself...heheh. Now we just need to find a willing volunteer for video reference...>___>

<inconspicuously shoves BiGToE forward>

WOW! BiGToE, that is so nice of you to volunteer - now thats pure leader quality :smug:

:halo: D :evil:


I have 4 jobs and no life.

...........................but one fat @ss wallet to bring in the sunshine ;P

[Mikademius]

DerekSc: You live in the wrong country ;)

ItsaMystery: lol, next contest will be a groinkicking one :)

Diabolos: Well, that's the worst part. I don't make more than about $14k pr. month. It's not really worth it. I won't be able to continue working like this over time.

[MaggieQue]

I'll join this time challenge. Here's my scenario:

A girl's dancing lousily on stage, then the audience throw rubbish to her. Have I done out of topic?

[Honki]

Will she get kicked in the nuts by a member of the A team?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

nope, your dead on topic Maggie. Now you just got to animate it.

[MaggieQue]

I haven't using angle deformer to adjust the muscle around joints. Looks like I really need to do it.

Haven't design her costume yet, looks like Wild Horse huh?

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/maggieque/challenge/c022a.jpg

[MaggieQue]

Some lame dance.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/maggieque/challenge/c022b.gif

[MaggieQue]

I'm very weak at jumping animation, can anyone tell me how to do it?

I'm sorry it's animated gif. These 2 files are 646KB.

Front view:
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/maggieque/challenge/c022c.gif

Left view:
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/maggieque/challenge/c022d.gif

[BiG ToE-3DT]

the problem with your jump is the timming. You need to take a look at someone jumping, then match it.

Example, your feet are leaving the ground before they should, then they are moving too fast on the up and the down. Plus, when the feet reach the top of the movement, they should pause there for a few seconds. Also, you help show weight, the arms should give the impression that they are helping in the jump. They should come down before the jump, and start moving up over the head as the feet start to leave the ground.

[MaggieQue]

so how do u learn animation? Learn theory from book or just directly use video as reference?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

both, then mix it all up in a in your head and apply practice. Let sit till cool, then eat.

[ItsaMystery]

Alright, I'm probably not going to whip anything out for this round 'cause I'll be getting ready for graduation stuff, but if we do groin-kickage next time, I'm def. in for sure. :cool: :evil:

[BiG ToE-3DT]

ok, I changed my mind, think I'll be using this dynamic duo:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g129/DJBiGToE/005.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g129/DJBiGToE/028-2.jpg

[MaggieQue]

beautiful Big Toe. The snake looks sexy.

Basically I've finished my animation (haven't done skin morph and facial expressions yet), but I've problem for her clothing. I've found that we cannot use "cloth or softbody reactor" for the character clothes.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

MaggieQue: well, the thing about not using plug-ins was to practice the keyframing animation, not just telling a plug in what you wanted it to do and then sit back and watch it do all the work. So the idea is to animate by hand, which you did, so adding a cloth modifier to the clothes would be fine.

you also might want to post up a wip of your animation, just in case. We may see something that needs fixing, that you haven't or didn't see.

[MaggieQue]

I tried Reactor Cloth, Reactor SoftBody, Skin modifier (used spine bones), Flex with UDeflector (character body) etc with SO MANY times, at last I've found the best way to let my already rigged character wearing cloths :) Very fast and easy to setup. Most important is, it looks flawless, the cloths has no penetration with the body.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/maggieque/challenge/c022e.gif

Anyone interested to listen my "animating character cloths" experience?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

stop teasing Maggie and tell the world how you got the clothing to act like, well, clothes.

[MaggieQue]

Apply Skin Wrap modifier at cloth object, add character body under Parameters, choose "Face Deformation" for Deformation Engine.

[DerekSc]

Dear God put some underwear on that woman! What kind of site do you think this is?
:D :D :D

[MaggieQue]

Do u like my skin morph?

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/maggieque/challenge/c022f.gif

[BiG ToE-3DT]

it looks like it hurts. My question is, why did you rigg up that mesh, when your not done modelign it.

[MaggieQue]

Modelling of what? Clothes?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

the main mesh(body). looking at the back, you have several 5 sided polies. Maybe it's the game artist in me, and thats why I can't stand looking at a 5 sided polly, but, then this is an animation comp, so 5 sides is ok, I guess.

[MaggieQue]

why we cannot use 5 sided polies?

I Have a question, if I go back to the lower Edit Polygon stack and connect the vertices, will I spoilt the higher stack "Skin Modifier"?

[MaggieQue]

I've found the answer by myself. Removing/Adding edges (connect vertices) at the lower Edit Polygon stack, DOES NOT affect the higher "Skin" modifier stack.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

good, you figured it out. As for the 5 sided thing. They cause pinching, sometimes when you smooth it)meshsmooth/turbosmooth). 5 siders are bad for games because the game engines have trouble triangulating them, and can cause the engine to crash.

[MaggieQue]

Thankyou BigToe.


I've ever heard that we should avoid using triangle during modelling.

So "2 of 4 sides polygons" is better than "2 triangles + 1 of 4 sides polygon".
Below is my character's upper arm, but I feel that it looks better in "2 triangles + 1 of 4 sides polygon". So what should I do?

[DerekSc]

The other problem with 5 sided polys is they can render strangely as well (part of the whole odd deformation thing). When you render something that has deformed in a bad way, you usually get dark shadows or streaks along the edges the program has interpreted. Another good thing to avoid is the "starfish". This is where your polys may be fine, but they all meet in the same place (so you have a lot of edges coming out of one vertice).
Maggie, I like what you did in the second picture up there, cleaner and you have a better idea where it will deform when you bend it. For shoulders I tend to put more polys on top and less on the bottom, since most of the time the arms are lower than in the T position and there is more muscle to define on top. This also helps reduce the number of polygons that need to compress when the arms are lowered.
Oh, and triangles are ok, but quads are easier to model in. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think most game engines (and Maya and Max?) will convert quads to tris before rendering anyways.
Just my humble opinions.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

looking at the two images Maggie, as far as pollies goes both are fine. But like DerekSc said, the second one has a better flow. The flow of the mesh plays a big part in the way it will deform. A smooth edge loop should give a nice smooth deformation.

[MaggieQue]

Thankyou DerekSc and Big Toe, U Guys Are GREAT!

[ItsaMystery]

Just to back up DerekSc's post, typically you want to model in quads, but triangles are okay because when you want to export the character into the game, you will want to triangulate it anyway.

If you have a 5-sided poly and you try to triangulate, you will end up with a 'spiderwebbing' effect that could potentially be problematic for rigging, animation, texturing, running in-game, etc.

[MaggieQue]

Thankyou ItsaMystery.

Maybe I will late submitting my entry, because during skin morph I messed up 2 hands controllers. I spent too much time in skin morph (upper arm, thigh & knee), and now my right hand has repetitive injuiry (playing too much computer games and 3ds max).

when maximize/minimize viewport and saving max file, my PC becomes very slow......

I go animating now.....

[MaggieQue]

Everything was done, except

animate her skirt (use reactor and FFD)
rig & animate some simple facial expressions
clothes material
rubbish particle system material


I used reactor generates skirt animation, but having penetration problem, so I'll use FFD adjust the skirt later.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

a quick test. Need to work on the overall movement as well as the timming.
two links, same file. Trying a new hosting site

test 1.mov - 0.69MB (http://www.zshare.net/video/2083925b707e5f/)
http://media.putfile.com/karate-chop

[MaggieQue]

looks like we have only 2 entry. Big toe and me.

[Honki]

I wanna play too. But I just can't seem to find the time to work on it.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

whens the due date, forget it , I'll just go all the back to the first page and find out myself.

[DerekSc]

I'm still in this, but I have to go away this weekend, so I won't get a chance to really shine it up. Not as hot as I originally had planned (stupid life).
Actually, I did change it from the original thing I had in mind, it was waaay too complicated and had too many characters.
Next month is official "get some crap done for a demo reel" month. Wish me luck.
:)

[DerekSc]

Actually BT, if you want to do the "extend the deadline" thing again, that would be cool too. Would be a lot less stress for me, that's for sure.
Honki? Think you can get something done with an extra week?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

yeah, I think I can do that. an extra week it is.

[DerekSc]

Thanks BT. I think you just added a few years on my life.
Oh, and you're definitely going to see something hot for sure now! Hell yeah!

[MaggieQue]

I'm using "extreme" settings in reactor, substeps/key: 1000, cloth internal step: 100.

13 hours already (need to generate skirt 120 keys), it's too slow, and I can't "maximize" the max window, now the lighting strikes and storm is coming, I'm afraid our house main electricity switched off automatically, then my 13 hours waiting will be wasted.

[Honki]

Cheers Toe. I'll get something together.

Actually I've almost finished modelling my character, I just gotta learn how to rig him now.

[MaggieQue]

Derecksc: I've put a skirt and a tiny pants on her body. Waiting for ur entry too.
Honki Boy: Are u using biped to rig ur character?
BigToe: I've finished my animation! Now rendering, 220 frames, each frame costs at least 4 minutes to render, output size is 640*480. My animation is a bit lousy. How's ur progress?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

well, I got 320 frames. And with the new deadline, I'm playing around with motion blur. This also means that the time per frame has gone from 6 minutes to 18. But its all good. I'll just use the blur for the parts that need it.

[Rachel vd M]

I'm using "extreme" settings in reactor, substeps/key: 1000, cloth internal step: 100.

13 hours already (need to generate skirt 120 keys), it's too slow, and I can't "maximize" the max window, now the lighting strikes and storm is coming, I'm afraid our house main electricity switched off automatically, then my 13 hours waiting will be wasted.

did you know that if you open the taskmanager and rightclick on 3dsmax in the first tab, you have the option to bring to foreground (or someting i have dutch version) if you click that windows forces 3ds max to appear, i use it a lot!

[BiG ToE-3DT]

more test, need to change the fall angle and speed. let me know if you see anything else.
karate chop test 1.mov - 2.61MB (http://www.zshare.net/video/2116022e6a909c/)

[MaggieQue]

Thankyou Rachel. I'm viewing ur animation now big toe.

Here's my face rig. Only eyes blinking, frown and mouth.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/maggieque/challenge/c022h.gif

[BiG ToE-3DT]

not sure how you went about doing that, but it's cool.

did you use the soft selection when you moved the verts. It will help in the areas where it looks kinda stiff. Like the mouth and anywhere else that is moving.

Also, the attributes, is making that the same as making morph targets.

[MaggieQue]

Here's MaggieQue's entry:
http://two.xthost.info/maggieque/mymovies/c022.htm (http://two.xthost.info/maggieque/mymovies/c022.htm)

File size: 1.918MB


more test, need to change the fall angle and speed. let me know if you see anything else.
karate chop test 1.mov - 2.61MB (http://www.zshare.net/video/2116022e6a909c/)
I like the way he falls down. But I think he should close his left hand fingers at the beginning. Maybe need to add some motion for right hand?



not sure how you went about doing that, but it's cool.

did you use the soft selection when you moved the verts. It will help in the areas where it looks kinda stiff. Like the mouth and anywhere else that is moving.

Also, the attributes, is making that the same as making morph targets.

Thankyou, u've given me great tip. You could find more "Custom Attributes" information from the help file. I did wire the custom attribute value to the morpher modifier. So I don't have to go down to the stack when animating the value of morpher modifier.

[MaggieQue]

Give me CRITICAL advice!

Don't forget to tell me how to improve it.

[Honki]

Cool entry Maggie.
The way she jumps is a bit off. The legs should be fully extended before she leaves the ground.

Yes, I learned how to unwrap UVWs yesterday. I learned how to rig a full biped today.
In both instances, I would say the results I got were very substandard. But it's my first time, so I'm excited.

I used the new 3dTotal tut for unwrapping. Very informative.
I used this tut for the rigging stuff.
http://cal3d.sourceforge.net/modeling/tutorial.html

[MaggieQue]

Thankyou Honki. U really did give my great advice!

But it's my first time, so I'm excited.
I could give u a lot of first time if u like. But I don't know how to use vray.

max_reference.chm
3dsmax_t.chm

I always search information from this 2 files when using max.

[Honki]

Thanks, yes I always refer to the help files.
But seriously, I knew NOTHING about rigging and stuff as of about 5 hours ago.
I'm a technical modeller, and all this character stuff is new to me.
I really needed a 'walkthrough' on rigging, and that one above seems to do the trick. They're pretty rare on the net actually.

[Honki]

Everybody.

Please meet Julian.
He is SOOOO gay he's flaming.

But it's not his fault, no no no. He just had these feelings when he was young, that he was, well, different.

That doesn't mean he's not in for some SERIOUS punishment as I learn to animate.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t150/HonkiDan/Julian.jpg

[MaggieQue]

LOL!!!!

I like gay.

[Honki]

I guess I don't MIND poofs. After all, I spent the best part of 2 days trying to model one.

[Honki]

Here is a walk-test.
I have a little problem with the envelopes around the neck area. It looks like the link is manipulating the vertices in the chin area. I've checked all the weights and stuff, and nothing except for the head bone should be affecting anything from the neck up.

Any suggestions?

Anyway, here is the gayest walk I could conceive.
walk_preview.mov - 0.25MB (http://www.zshare.net/video/2124338975db6b/)

[BiG ToE-3DT]

the walk:
add a small amount of rotation from side to side and the same amount of rotation going up and down as the legs raise and extend and you got yourself a walk.

the weighting:
if you used the skin mod, then check the vert option at the top of the skin mod menu. Then hit the edit thingy, and select each bone in the list. Do each bone, one at a time, click the bone, then hilight all the verts you know you dont want the bone messing with. Then look for the exclude button in the skin md menu. Should be a face with a line going threw it.

Do that with all the bones and the end result will be that the head verts shouldn't have any influence from any other bones.

[Honki]

Cheers Bigtoe.
How would you do it using the physique modifier?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

haven't really used it, but there should still be a vertex option. After you check it, you will be able to select one vert at time to get into those nasty areas.

[Honki]

I figured it out. It was a falloff problem with the envelopes.
I converted that particular link to 'rigid' and now it works.

This animating stuff is tricky. Here's my walk updated.
Now his bum pokes out when his legs are at full stretch. That's probably an edgeloop thing.

Q: If I cut an extra edgeloop, will it mess up the mapping?

walk_preview2.mov - 0.20MB (http://www.zshare.net/video/2127500beaac6f/)
edit: Fixed the bum problem. It was weighting.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

if you click on the uv unwrap in the stack, right click on it, select collapse to, that will save the unwrap to the mesh. Then you can go back and add loops and what-not without worry.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

make sure your physique doesn't get collapsed.

Also, make sure you are saving out new versions of the file every 30 minutes or so.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

hey my people, the forum will be going down for updates sometime Monday. So don't freakout, keep working on your stuff and if everything goes as planned, the site will be back up and better than ever in a day or two.

[ItsaMystery]

Rock on. :haha:

[Honki]

hey my peopleYou sound like Moses. Or Martin Luther King.

[BiG ToE-3DT]

because of the site being down, should we do a week more of extra time, or are you guys good to go.

[Honki]

I honestly don't think I'll have time to finish and submit an entry on this one Toe.
Just had some dramas at work that'll see me at the rigsite for most of the month.

[DerekSc]

I don't think I need another week, but it may be a day late (I work weekends, so I'm burning the candle at both ends). Sound would greatly benefit mine, and I'm not sure how long that is going to take. Plus, the essentials are done, it's a matter of doing the little touches that I never quite get to.
BUT, it will be done this weekend, so don't extend it on my account (I need to move on to other things anyways). It'll be up by Sunday night latest.
I hope this thunderstorm doesn't cause any prob

[BiG ToE-3DT]

My Final Entry: Karate Chop, Gone Wrong

karate chop.mov - 15.60MB (http://www.zshare.net/video/21971023d02c84/)
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g129/DJBiGToE/001-6.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g129/DJBiGToE/karateChopkeyframes.jpg

[MaggieQue]

Nice one bigtoe.

[MaggieQue]

did you know that if you open the taskmanager and rightclick on 3dsmax in the first tab, you have the option to bring to foreground (or someting i have dutch version) if you click that windows forces 3ds max to appear, i use it a lot!


Thankyou Rachel *3* Recently I try it, it works perfect!

[DerekSc]

It is finished! Check it out at the link below!

dereksc_mess.mov - 6.93MB (http://www.zshare.net/video/2223892be5531e/)

[MaggieQue]

U're number1 Derek.

I like the music and soundfx u used.

[DerekSc]

Thanks Maggie!
I finally got the time to take a look at yours and BTs. Both are very good and really funny! :)
Maggie, I love the expressions you put on the girls face and her hand gestures, very well done. The things being thrown at her could have gone a little faster, but everything else was perfect!
BigToe, I should start calling you UPS because you always deliver. The hit in the head was excellent, nice fall too. My only crit are the wind ups, could have gone from a short wind up to a long one to add more anticipation (short wind up, then looooong slow wind up, then a bigger wind up but a big pause at the top, etc...). It would be easy to adjust in the graph editor probably. Nice job overall!

Soooo... what's next?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

I think its time we start kicking some balls.

Just watched the animation Derek, loved it. The camera movement, and timing was great. Can't wait to see those two kicking eack other in the nuts. :evil:

[MaggieQue]

bigtoe, what is the title for the next challenge?

[BiG ToE-3DT]

"I'm gonna kick you in the Nuts"

[ItsaMystery]

Roflmao. Awesome animations, guys. 8D Looking forward to the next one!