bodypaint.. a must?

[AdamT]

You can unwrap in another program, save in .obj format, and Cinema will import the mapped object. I think mapping is also preserved in .3ds and .lwo formats.

The real benefit of BP, aside from UV mapping, is the ability to paint directly on your models, rather than on a 2D image. It's also nice to have everything in one program.

[LucentDreams]

Uhm hard choice between BP and mocca ATM. Uhm one thing I would consider, is BP is on sale right now huge pricecut, and it leaves you with a cheaper upgrade option for when BP 2 is eventually release rathern then havig to pay for the whole new BP.

But its hard to say which is more important. you can do a lot of stuff capable in each without the moduls, the modules just make things a heck of a lot easier.

[madrabbit]

hello,
i don't know uvmapper. i can only list a few features that makes bp so great for me.
- bp is full integrated in c4d ( thats saves a lot of time )
- unlimited access of the uv-coordinates
- realtime feedback of your manipulations in the mat-channels (specular, bump etc. ) in a rendered view (maxons raybrush technologie)
- good paintingtools, layers
test the demoversion and build your own opinion;)
greets
mad

[grstovell]

I downloaded BP demo (played with it quite a bit) as well as MOCCA's manual...

hands down - MOCCA is in my shopping list! BP looks great! (and you can't beat the price- for sure!) but I'm dying to see what MOCCA can do!

so, thanks for the info.

-g

[pit]

There is another route you could go: get BP and Kaydara Motionbuilder - it´ll be the same amount as the Mocca module. My bet (and hope) is that the FBX plugin will be out at Siggraph. I can only recommend you have a look at Motionbuilder. It´s an AWESOME piece of software. Have played with it the last couple of weeks - mindblowing!

www.kaydara.com

[AdamT]

Originally posted by pit
There is another route you could go: get BP and Kaydara Motionbuilder - it´ll be the same amount as the Mocca module. My bet (and hope) is that the FBX plugin will be out at Siggraph. I can only recommend you have a look at Motionbuilder. It´s an AWESOME piece of software. Have played with it the last couple of weeks - mindblowing!

www.kaydara.com
Hey Pit, you're starting to sound like me. :beer:

[pit]

Hey Pit, you're starting to sound like me.

LOL !! AdamT2 - doesn´t sound bad at all - has a good ring to it!

Afterall - if you don´t get hooked on MB instantly, you´re missing animator blood in your veins.

:beer:

[dg3d]

I think that getting BP is an addition worth getting for texturing, the ability to do it directly on the models sounds much better at tweawing what you want.

I saw MB in action at a show here in Montreal and i say MB really rocks.

[grstovell]

hmmm.. interesting.

I do have the DIGIT version of Motionbuildre but since I have no manuals (and not a lot of time lately) I haven't used it that much.

Here's a q...

- if you have C4D 8 and Mocca, should I be able to set up bones even withou mocca, then use mocca for ik's and sik's and animation? or does mocca add to the 'setting of bones' (in other words, what is mocca for? Just ik and animation or also for rigging?)

-also... What about Motionbuilder? I think it can do (at least some of) the rigging for you. Is this true?

-g

[dg3d]

If you have your character rigged you can import it to MB and it will do the rest, but you need to do some tweaking until Cinema 4D support the FBX plugin that will bring C4D and MB to work more closely.

MOCCA = MOtion Capturing and Character Animation

From Maxon web site " MOCCA works in concert with CINEMA 4D R8's powerful attributes manager and XPresso tool to provide a simple and easy to use interface for most character animation tasks. MOCCA's Soft-IK system supplies a framework for advanced character rigging that can be affected by dynamic forces. Powerful tools allow you to interactively morph and animate transitions between different character poses. The Cappucino tool captures animation in real time as you play your scene, while a keyframe reduction tool helps to clean up motion capture data for further editing. "

For more info on MB visit there web site, the link is given in the previous post.

[grstovell]

Not sure I understand this correctly..

You said that if I have my character rigged I CAN import it into Motionbuilder?When you say rigged, you mean:
with bones,
with bones and weight maps
with bones, weight maps, ik's and targets?

and if this is possible... HOW? (I've tried... no luck yet)

-g

[pit]

It´s not possible yet - you´ll need the upcoming FBX-im/export plug-in to do that. What is possible is: to LEARN Motionbuilder. so you´re ready to animate your C4D- made characters when the plug comes. And the incredible 100$ (well-200$ if you want the permanent license) will end July 31th - go get it before it´s to late! You´ve got a tough choice to make - Mocca is a very, very nice tool indeed.

[AdamT]

I learned the other day that you *can* create bones and bone weights inside of MB! So you can export your own mesh from Cinema and animate it in MB. Of course you won't be able to get it *back* into Cinema until the fbx plugin is released (unless you also have LW and the LW import plugin).

For bone creation within MB check the manual/docs under "Elements".

[dg3d]

AdamT you heard right and that is what i meant, you can import the character into MB and to the Mocca there. But for the moment i think its better to wait for the fbx plug-in.

Edit: One thing, you can model anything in C4D and textures it with BP or another and then import everything in MB and do the rest there in the software, rigged and IK and mocca.

[pit]

I stand corrected - thanks! Which fileformat to use then? 3ds,Wavefront or DXF? Did you try it, Adam? dg3d? Anyone?

Sorry, Rev - didn´t mean to hijack your thread!

[AdamT]

Originally posted by pit
I stand corrected - thanks! Which fileformat to use then? 3ds,Wavefront or DXF? Did you try it, Adam? dg3d? Anyone?

Sorry, Rev - didn´t mean to hijack your thread!
No, I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

[grstovell]

no hijack worries here...

so, MB sounds good...

I do have DIGIT's free version of MB... if I want to upgrade to a permanent license... when is the deadline?

-g

[dg3d]

Sorry pit i didn't try it yet.

The Rev: if you buy the $100 MB Personal Edition and wait until August 1st you will be able to upgrade it to the new MB Standart edition and if i remember $100 more for a regular license. I am not certain on the last one.

But i know to be exact that to get the standard edition it will be "August 1st to December 31st".

Edit: if you see the cinematic in the new Lara Croft game, all the animation was created in MB before returning to Maya. The work has been done by Attitude Studio who also did all the rig, IK and mocca in MB for the new Terminator 3 game.

[pit]

Rev - same deadline on the Digit version. My advice is to forget about the Digit deal and buy a copy at Kaydara or 3DBuzz for 100$. That will come with the printed manual, all VTM´s from the 3DBuzz site and the option to upgrade to a permanent license from August through December (Motionbuilder 5.0 Standard Edition (normal price 995$ !)- the info about the Standard Edition will be revealed this coming week). The Digit version will cost 200 $ to upgrade and you will not recieve the printed manual - you can buy it at Kaydara for another 100$.
On a sidenote: if you decide to buy Motionbuilder be sure to register at 3DBuzz and download the Clipart CD - very usefull stuff on it.

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