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Bommel
05-16-2004, 07:40 PM
Hi
I wanna begin a movie in messiah (animating in messiah, rest in Lightwave). The protagonist should be a matchstick. The movie shoul look kind of comic and kind of abstract. I think I sould animate the stick by IK. When the matchstick jumps, it should squeeze down and gets then long (sry for my english).
My question is, how can I link the vertical-position of my null to the "squeezingfactor" of the stick by expressions. I think the expression itself isn't so hard to set up but I can't find the right one.
Another question: if I'm ready with a "jump-cycle", how can repeat this cycle??

thx a lot


Phlip (website (http://www.phlip.de.vu))
Julez4001
05-17-2004, 02:53 AM
I think you need to re-explain what youu want the rig to do..maybe a better example.
Bommel
05-17-2004, 02:27 PM
OK
I hope these 3 images are enough:

First the matchstick itself:
http://abakus-halle.de/matchstick2.jpg

Ok here is the rig (I think this one would be the best ??):
http://abakus-halle.de/matchstick1.jpg

and here is the jump-cycle:
http://abakus-halle.de/matchstick3.jpg

So, and I want to know how to write an expression for the null, which controls the IK of the matchstick, which should also control the stretchfactor of the bones. And how to repeat a fully animated jumpcycle.

Ok thx


Phlip (website (http://www.phlip.de.vu))
chikega
05-17-2004, 03:11 PM
How about the use of muscle bones which can have squash/stretch enabled? Just an idea. :)
Sil3
05-17-2004, 04:50 PM
Dont forget that Messiah IK is only 2D (only bends to one side).

What i would do is:

Make a Bone Chain

Place a Null on top of the Chain (just like the IK)

With Expressions, tie the Bones rotations of those bones into the Null rotations channels.

Make two new Expressions (Moveto and Align) so that the null is on top and aligned to the last Bone (the top one)

Then finnaly add the Scale channels of the Bones into the Null Y channel, so that when u move the Null down the bones will Squasch, some experimentation is needed, or just like Chikega said, use Muscle Bones that automatically Squasch and Strech.

Hope it helped :)
Bommel
05-17-2004, 06:32 PM
Thx

I think I'll try the musclebone method at first to animate the stretching of my character.
But can you give me plz an answer of my second question. how to repeat motions of my character or how to fade one motion to another one?!

cya


Phlip (website (http://www.phlip.de.vu))
chikega
05-17-2004, 07:48 PM
Use Compose which is messiah's answer to Non-linear animation (NLA) . Refer to the beginner and advanced Compose tutorials in the messiah.html docs.:)
Bommel
05-18-2004, 12:54 AM
Thx a lot , :buttrock: I'll try

mfg



Phlip
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