MEL Animation tools

[bbparis]

Hey guys,

I'm a character animator that recently started studying rigging and that got me into programming. I have worked on a few MEL scripts for Maya. Just so you know, I have no intention of becoming a programmer. These are basically animation tools that help me speed up my work flow. If there's interest, take a look, test it if you will and let me know what you guys think. Please do not distribute these. And use them at your own risk.
I also have some other WIP like a Make Pose/Get Pose combo to create a pose library for characters and an auto-rig tool. I might finish them soon.

Anyway, if you have any ideas for a tool that could be useful for an animator, let me know. Maybe I can do it.

Here is a description of the tools:


Interactive Motion Trail - A regular motion trail curve with controls to adjust the curve
Curve Pose - Attaches controls to a hand drawn curve (good for secondary animation)
Invert Curve - Inverts an animation curve (or specific keys)
Invert Pose - Copies pose from one side to the other, inverting desired parameters
Match Translation/Rotation - a little influence from XSI
Isolate Top Parent - Isolates the selected object's top parent
Stretchable IK Handle - to automatically make stretchable chains

You can find the tools on my blog: http://michelbidart.com/

Direct link to the post:
http://michelbidart.com/blog/2009/07/my-mel-scripts.html

Cheers,

Michel Bidart
Character Animator

Hello mbidart

First of all nice work, it's really interesting for me because I'm learning also MAYA to be able to model and animate a cartoon character. I visited your website and I found your work interesting, but a question about your post here:

you talked about a script, and I downloaded your script and found many MEL files, I know that MEL is the programming language of MAYA, but I don't know how you can integrate a script ?? so I have to open your script and past it in MEL window and execute it ??

can you explain for me please, or if It's possible to show me a MAYA file includes your script ??

Best regards,
Bill

[mbidart]

To execute the scripts, copy them under your Scripts folder (under your maya folder). From maya, source the script you want to use (you will probably have to do it just once) by typing on the MEL command line, for example: source michelMatchTranslation.mel;
Then you can run the command by just typing the command name on the MEL command line (michelMatchTranslation, for example) or by making a shelf button out of it.
The only script that has a different command name is the michelMakeStretchy. To run it, run the command makeStretchy.

[bbparis]

Hello

I'm new to Maya, so I will give a try and come back with my feedback. a question to you please, what you think about digitaltutors.com (http://www.digitaltutors.com/store/product.php?productid=3485&cat=0&page=1) video learning, to learn and animate a cartoon character in MAYA ??

Best regards.

[Libertine]

Would the motion trail manipulator tool work on say the wrist joint of an arm which had existing FK keyed animation on the shoulder and elbow joints?

[mbidart]

It will just correct the translation values to match the position of the orbs. It will not correct the rotations if that's what you are asking. That's the job of an IK Handle and I would have to create an IK solver of my own to implement this feature on this script. It might work if the wrist FK control's translation values are not locked under the FK hierarchy, but I don't suggest you use translation AND rotation values to control an arm for more than a few frames because it can easily get out of control.

[Frelp]

Oooo.. interactive motion trail looks pretty awesome fella. I'll be sure to have a play with that and let you know how I get on :)

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.