Reuse an Actor?

[bclark]

If it is a diffrent set of markers on a diffrent character then the actor save did not get you any thing.

If you have lots of capture from the same person that is mapped to the same actor then you can reuse that saved actor and just do minor adjustments for the diffrent days of capture.

This is an important step to get right before targeting data on to a final character.
There are ways to speed this up with python I believe and other diffrent kinds of solvers deal with the marker solve differently but there are not very many shortcuts if the data changes between marker sets.. number of markers/actor size, marker location.

** once you have the markers mapped though, you can import the other marker animations in to the file as diffrent takes so you don't have to keep making actor maps for each marker file if they are a set.

[aforetaste]

Thank you, Brad.
You really do know your Motion Builder!

PS. Your training is worth every penny!

[aforetaste]

Okay... I understand this in theory but when it comes to import/merge new C3D data, I get the new take but I can never get the existing actor to recognize it (use it).

And yes, it is the same human mocap actor and same naming conventions on the markers.

Is there something I'm missing on the import options?

Thanks in advance.

[Neill]

Okay... I understand this in theory but when it comes to import/merge new C3D data, I get the new take but I can never get the existing actor to recognize it (use it).

And yes, it is the same human mocap actor and same naming conventions on the markers.

Is there something I'm missing on the import options?

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

in c3d merge dialog, check if merge radio button is in active state... hope this helps.

[aforetaste]

Thanks, Neill

I have made sure that merge is selected rather than open. Still no luck.
I'm using MoBu 2009 (if that matters).

Any other ideas?

[Neill]

Thanks, Neill

I have made sure that merge is selected rather than open. Still no luck.
I'm using MoBu 2009 (if that matters).

Any other ideas?

Try to import c3d to the new scene and save it as fbx, then merge your scene with this fbx file in a new take.

p.s. in c3d import options dialog try to set "Ignore model type"

[aforetaste]

Oh, clever, Neill.
I wouldn't have thought of that.

AND... it does seem to work!
Almost. I've only got a few parts of the existing actor that doesn't like the data. Meaning, that one of the actor's feet is screwy (misplaced) and it's hips are upside down?
I'll keep working on this to see what's happening.

Thanks again!

[aforetaste]

Ah, ha!
A new idea... from what Neill kindly offered (for all of you who search out this thread in future need).


I've opened a new project in MoBu.
Imported all the C3D files that I've recorded (for a particular project).
THEN created an actor and new marker set (for an one of the t-poses found on any one of the takes--it didn't seem to matter which one you picked).
This one actor now works with all the takes that I have imported.
Then imported/merged my OBJ model and linked them to the actor.
Wha-la!
Hope that helps someone.

[gozzer]

I've opened a new project in MoBu.
Imported all the C3D files that I've recorded (for a particular project).
THEN created an actor and new marker set (for an one of the t-poses found on any one of the takes--it didn't seem to matter which one you picked).
This one actor now works with all the takes that I have imported.
Then imported/merged my OBJ model and linked them to the actor.
Wha-la!



You've just described the same workflow we, and probably most others, use when moving mocap data into MB. So, thumbs up :)


PS: the Actor is linked to a particular hierarchy of markers, and if you later wish to add more takes to this same Actor mapping, you must make sure your imported take merges into the correct marker hierarchy. It's probably labeled something like 'c3d:optical'. In case that's relevant to your situation.

[aforetaste]

Thanks, gozzer!

That is helpful!

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