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Hash, Inc. Forums > Technical Direction and Development (Learning Animation:Master) > A:M Tutorials and Demonstrations > Animation > Reusable Motion

ZachBG

Jan 13 2005, 06:39 PM

Hello, all:

Well, after some consideration, I decided that creating a Reusable Motion video tutorial out of my "Soap Opera" movie wouldn't be a good idea. Most of the stuff I did in there isn't very well organized. So, instead, I'm going to do a tutorial on an entirely different project.

Thus far, I plan to cover:

transitions in and out of a walk cycle
keeping feet from slipping during walk cycles, on paths both straight and curved
using and abusing Action objects
using Add to finesse transitions
using Action Ease
troubleshooting problems along the way
creating cycles with offset keyframes

and probably other stuff that I haven't thought of yet.

What should be added to that list? I'm not guaranteeing that I know about it, but I'll try to include what people want to see.

In addition to the movie, I'll post the project file, which will only use Hash Rig characters for easy re-use.

Oh... and I hope everyone likes Duke Ellington...

Malaclypse235

Jan 13 2005, 07:02 PM

Zach,

I know this aint too useful, but I will happily watch any tutorial you make on any A:m related topic. I am a newbie and know nothing about reusable action, so would be particularly pleased if you started with the basics, but anything is great.

Thanks for doing this,

Mal

RemoteViewer

Jan 13 2005, 08:13 PM

*Deleted*

luckbat

Jan 13 2005, 10:52 PM

I'd sure love to see a general "Troubleshooting common problems" segment.

Oh, and thanks for doing this.

ZachBG

Jan 14 2005, 04:17 AM

QUOTE (luckbat @ Jan 14 2005, 01:52 AM)

I'd sure love to see a general "Troubleshooting common problems" segment.

Any common problems in particular?

I have a memory like a sieve, so my problems tend to be per-project by default...

QUOTE (RemoteViewer)

It would be nice if you could include what you know of BVH file use in AM.

Hmmmmm.... I'll try. Actually, that might be a good thing to start with, as a separate tute, just to make sure I can get this all working.

Keep those suggestions coming.

luckbat

Jan 14 2005, 04:33 AM

QUOTE

Any common problems in particular?

Oh, you know. Those weird twitches that can show up where one motion blends into another.

Or when a bone that's got keyframes in three different layered actions just sits there, motionless.

Or when two perfectly nice-looking motions combine to create crazy double-jointed spasms.

Stuff like that. I know it sounds boring and trivial, but those kinds of problems are what always wind up consuming 80% of my animation time...

vf124

Jan 14 2005, 05:37 AM

QUOTE

Thus far, I plan to cover:
• transitions in and out of a walk cycle
• using and abusing Action objects
• using Add to finesse transitions
• using Action Ease

Hi Zack,

For me, this is one excellent start ... (I'm so glad your balloon head feeling is gone

), so now you can crank out some fine tutorials. Maybe something like Indy Shaggy or more Super Shaggy ...

I've been battling with "Transitions" for months now ... getting a "small" handle on it ... but would really like to know more about "Add" in smoothing things out.

On pg. 190 of Wm Sutton's Tech Manual, there's Thom with a bone sticking out of his head (a la Tech Talk Series) ... Dynamic Constraints ... a small prj. file would be great for this one (hint) ...

As always ... I enjoy your work & mostly, I enjoy combing thru your prj. files ...

The Duke is great, however, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Sonny Boy Williamson (I & II), Little Walter, Sonny Terry, Jimmy Reed ... ah hell, let's just do some "Super Zack Tutorials" ...

pixelmech

Jan 14 2005, 06:03 AM

Restraints and kinematics

luckbat

Jan 14 2005, 06:32 AM

QUOTE

Restraints and kinematics

Pixelmech, you are so kinky!

ZachBG

Jan 14 2005, 07:03 AM

QUOTE (vf124 @ Jan 14 2005, 08:37 AM)

On pg. 190 of Wm Sutton's Tech Manual, there's Thom with a bone sticking out of his head (a la Tech Talk Series) ... Dynamic Constraints ... a small prj. file would be great for this one (hint) ...

Hmmm... this one is somewhat outside of my range of expertise... I probably know less about Dynamic Constraints than you do.

QUOTE (pixelmech)

Restraints and kinematics

I assume you mean constraints?

vf124

Jan 14 2005, 08:11 AM

QUOTE

Hmmm... this one is somewhat outside of my range of expertise... I probably know less about Dynamic Constraints than you do.

I don't think so ... as my son would say, you're so not funny dad

...

After watching all the Tech Talk Vids, numerous forum searches & experimenting for days ... I've finally made some progress with dynamic constraints ...

robcat2075

Jan 14 2005, 08:55 AM

QUOTE (ZachBG @ Jan 13 2005, 08:39 PM)

What should be added to that list?

Actually, I wanna know about the button that makes the cool ideas.

Godfrey

Jan 14 2005, 09:17 AM

How about one on keeping feet from slipping during a walk cycle? That one has always plagued me...

ZachBG

Jan 14 2005, 09:26 AM

QUOTE (robcat2075 @ Jan 14 2005, 11:55 AM)

Actually, I wanna know about the button that makes the cool ideas.

I've edited the list up top to reflect some of these ideas...

vf124

Jan 14 2005, 09:40 AM

QUOTE

How about one on keeping feet from slipping during a walk cycle?

Great choice ...

sculptorpro

Jan 15 2005, 01:16 PM

Just copied some ideas from a post couple weeks ago-

"I am just looking for short simple step by step instructions like "to add an action before a walk cycle do this... To add an action during a walk cycle do this... to add an action at the end of a walk cycle do this... to add subtle movements throughout the sequence do this...use add when you want to... use replace when you want to... use ease to do this"

Any tutorials you do that can throw light on this subjectwill be most ppreciated.
Thanks

vf124

Jan 24 2005, 06:38 AM

QUOTE

"I am just looking for short simple step by step instructions like "to add an action before a walk cycle do this... To add an action during a walk cycle do this... to add an action at the end of a walk cycle do this... to add subtle movements throughout the sequence do this...use add when you want to... use replace when you want to... use ease to do this"

bump

ZachBG

Jan 24 2005, 08:00 AM

I know, I know... it's been busy here.

another

Jan 25 2005, 10:55 AM

bvh export from AM to.. fbx for example. Actuality.

pixelmech

Jan 25 2005, 11:40 AM

Not sure where you are with this Zach, but one thing I would find really helpful as a beginner is how to spline and effective mouth and set it up for making the set of sounds.

I've looked through the models on the CD and I've done the AI sound in the manual, but it has not really clicked.

I'm thinking a tut where you just build an animate a mouth on a plain head - an egg even - and set up a couple sounds would really be a help.

Tom

ZachBG

Jan 25 2005, 11:53 AM

QUOTE (another)

bvh export from AM to.. fbx for example. Actuality.

As far as I know, this isn't actually possible.

QUOTE (pixelmech)

I'm thinking a tut where you just build an animate a mouth on a plain head - an egg even - and set up a couple sounds would really be a help.

That's somewhat beyond the scope of Reusable Motion. I'm not saying I'd never do such a thing--just that it's not in the works currently.

Have you investigated Anzovin's Animating a Face tutorial?

pixelmech

Jan 25 2005, 11:57 AM

QUOTE (ZachBG @ Jan 25 2005, 02:53 PM)

Have you investigated Anzovin's Animating a Face tutorial?

An, no I have not! Thanks for the pointer!

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