BSODWarrior
11-02-2003, 07:45 AM
I'm creating a Pixar-esque lamp for animation... I'm running into a few problems that I've worked around, however I'm wondering if there's a better way (which there always is, its just, do I want to take that path :) )
So I can illustrate what I currently have set up, I'll post some pictueres:
http://www.3dfightclub.com/~bsod/uploads/lamp.jpg
This is a test scene with the lamp.. it has slightly changed in lighting since this shot, but I thought it was kinda a cute shot... now for some more usefull pics...
(it didnt let me post all the images, i'll have to come back and post the others)
(Other links... http://www.3dfightclub.com/~bsod/uploads/lampdriveby.avi )
The structure is made up of a few groups.. the heirarchy looks (simplified) something like this...
Lower Stand
|
|-Upper Stand
| |
| |-Lower Pole
| | |
| | |-Upper Pole
| | | |
| | | |-Shade
| | | | |
| | | | '-Shade Lights and Geometry
| | | |
| | | '-Upper Pole Geometry
| | |
| | '-Lower Pole Geometry
| |
| '-Upper Stand Geometry
|
'-Lower Stand Geometry
(Characters) Lamp
|
|-Upper Stand
|-Lower Pole
|-Upper Pole
'-Shade
(Yes, that was done by hand)
The character is attached to the lower stand group.
The sub-characters are attached to their respective group.
I then have a simple skeleton setup with expressions telling the groups to match the angle that each joint has. That way, the groups follow the skeleton.
If there's any way you know of to do this more efficiently, I would love to hear how... I was thinking of possibly making a simple GUI to ease animation, but I dont really know MEL...
Thanks in advance... pictures to come...
So I can illustrate what I currently have set up, I'll post some pictueres:
http://www.3dfightclub.com/~bsod/uploads/lamp.jpg
This is a test scene with the lamp.. it has slightly changed in lighting since this shot, but I thought it was kinda a cute shot... now for some more usefull pics...
(it didnt let me post all the images, i'll have to come back and post the others)
(Other links... http://www.3dfightclub.com/~bsod/uploads/lampdriveby.avi )
The structure is made up of a few groups.. the heirarchy looks (simplified) something like this...
Lower Stand
|
|-Upper Stand
| |
| |-Lower Pole
| | |
| | |-Upper Pole
| | | |
| | | |-Shade
| | | | |
| | | | '-Shade Lights and Geometry
| | | |
| | | '-Upper Pole Geometry
| | |
| | '-Lower Pole Geometry
| |
| '-Upper Stand Geometry
|
'-Lower Stand Geometry
(Characters) Lamp
|
|-Upper Stand
|-Lower Pole
|-Upper Pole
'-Shade
(Yes, that was done by hand)
The character is attached to the lower stand group.
The sub-characters are attached to their respective group.
I then have a simple skeleton setup with expressions telling the groups to match the angle that each joint has. That way, the groups follow the skeleton.
If there's any way you know of to do this more efficiently, I would love to hear how... I was thinking of possibly making a simple GUI to ease animation, but I dont really know MEL...
Thanks in advance... pictures to come...