AVTPro Update: Mocap System and Rig DVD Pre-Orders

[AVTPro]

You make it, I buy it. Fancy cover or not…
My character preference would be human. Am I wrong to think that if I can rig a human I can rig a cartoon or a human looking robot? Robots with “inhuman” body joints capabilities and form are clearly something else.
I was tempted with the current DVD but as I have very little time for training I would prefer a more “to the point” approach even though I know I might be missing some troubleshooting points.

Hey Rich, the cover is a real PITA, but at least it works out better for purchasrs. Maybe I should go with female poser model? It’s doable but I don’t like their geometry.

Actually if you can rig the Deformer Rig, you can rig anything:) But if you can rig human, yes, you can rig an toon. Robots are not the same as human tho.

Yes, there’s a lot of great tips…Much of the info is why "EI does this or Does that’ which which will be valuable in many different circumstances. That’s not so much theoritical is it is technical. Theory comes in with stuff like bone placement. Soon as a see a hand with mechanical looking fingers it red flags me. http://youtube.com/watch?v=D0-7Vehe1_k
It’s shows me a lack of understand of anatomy. It’s something basic business clients would look for but most people can feel when something is not right with a humanistic character.

What I have noticed from DVDs I study like “Light in Maya” theory is often presented first…then pushing buttons later. It’s a good foundation. I use to study Keith Langos VTS. It was like 6 months before I began animating and two years before he got near lip sync…my credit card expired before then

Anyway, now that the foundation has been laid I can do a more direct tutorial without full explanations of buggy stuff

[AVTPro]

Hi, ALonzo
Nice to see ya again. I will put myself in the list; human rigs, please.
And when you test your new Motion Capture System: OptiTrack, could be great if you make some comments about how it works with EiAS, your experiences and tests…
Are you doing a movie? That is interesting, too! can you elaborate a bit?
Good luck

FelixCat

Hey Felix.

Human it is.

Forgot to mention, pre-orders are payable throught PayPal. Same as before $70
just punch in my email.

athreet@adelphia.net anyone needing an letterhead invoice let me know. Been a bit slow at some of the peripheral stuff, but DVDs always go out immediately.

Yes, sorry I havent been more open with some of older projects.
I want to post the stuff I did for the IDEA award but we were in limbo with the client approvals. The Puma stuff is already very public and PR is probably good for their business.
I would like to do a full making of featurette for the movie. I have been trying to let people know that there is a fully infra-Red Mocap system available at a price of an good Octo.

So there’s other things that has to do with the film that I am laying in place. Yes, I want to keep the door open on it. Who knows, I will probably be looking for EI RigTechs to help out

[AVTPro]

I’m going to save the robot for the next study
But I’m want to show you just a few of the many peculiarities in rigging of a robot.
Of course I wouldn’t be rigging the PUMA Robot again (BTW is a real robot model) but take a peek at the arms and legs. There’s four parts to the arms and three parts to the legs. The shoulders a very offset. There’s several pistons and cranes to the neck. The wrists spin completely around. Some of the rigging controls for this character I have never done on a human. Some other robots I have rigged have mechnisms, tubing, wires, pistons, hatches and doors that you wouldn’t find on a human…I hope

[img]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f190/AVTPro/AVTPumaPose.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f190/AVTPro/DJPumaTestPose1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f190/AVTPro/PUMAcranes.jpg[/img]

[AVTPro]

Hey Folx.

I found a really good base mesh for the sculpt. I like to start my models from scratch but I’m Just trying to save a little on time. What I like about using another modelers base mesh is that it allows me to explore with something different than my own. The model is by Proton as free modles. The name is Comic Book Guy…I guess he would make a good EIAS super hero. I’m happy with the shape I derived from it but I am still hashing out texture Ideas. I am not going to do final textures but because I’m tryng to stay short and sweet with this first “Basic Humanoid Rig”.

[AVTPro]

Ok. This is the edit. I tried to keep a comic book anatomy. Maybe I pushed it a little more than I planned. Zbrush is so addictive it would take me away from my rigging

I didn’t think about it but the arms on this model is down, and not in a T-pose which is easier to rig. I’m trying to keep the DVD short so I don’t want to do a non-standard T-pose. It would drive the time and the price of the DVD up. Maybe I may look into a simpler model.

[AVTPro]

I roughed out the texture maps but I didn’t do a UV layout. I just want to get an idea if an EIAS super hero is cool or hoaky I already have one Big Foot EI Hero. I don’t want to put too much time into texture painting because it’s a job by itself. People just want to do fast rig to get things moving

He’s look a bit complex and overkill, but I’m not sure yet.

[AVTPro]

I separated the head, hand and feet but I wish I started from scratch. The mesh could use a little honing. I’m trying to avoid remesh, it looks flexilble enough. Anyway the texture is a little less ornate. I may have to buidl UVs but I prefer to start rigging. I’ll give it a little time to decide first. Input is welcomed, Thanks.

[AVTPro]

I always enjoyed Proton’s Free Speed Model. I don’t have the link but they can be found on CGtalk.

The resolution looks OK, the design just doesn’t have much muscle definition. I don’t think he had this kind of repurposing in mind when he did his sketches. Maybe will just leave the texture out.

[futagoza]

I always enjoyed Proton’s Free Speed Model. I don’t have the link but they can be found on CGtalk.

Hi Alonzo,

not easy to find this guy. (I stepped over him accidently, while surfing Softimage´s XSI Gallery…)

http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=1115&page=

He´s in the 2nd folder, if i remember correctly.

Regards
Stefan

[AVTPro]

Yes, that’s him. Love his work.

They have so much character. Thanks for the Link. I wanted to write him about usage but I resculpted “Comic Guy” so it’s not concern. Besides, they are post as royalty free gifts.

Wow…hope everyone takes advantage of this resource. Those models are HOT!!

Thanks again Stefan, you must be fierce at Easter Egg hunts

Happy Easter All.

[futagoza]

Thanks again Stefan, you must be fierce at Easter Egg hunts

Happy Easter All.

He, he, not really. Easter Bunny delivered his goodies directly on my table!

Happy Easter to you and all others as well!

Regards
Stefan

[AVTPro]

I’m going to UV this thing, and probably put in those muscles edge loops. I would like to do a better design of the texture as well. So I will come back to this one a bit later.

[AVTPro]

I haven’t worked on the DVD a bit but I wanted to put this out there. I’m pretty sure this has been floating on line for a bit. I didn’t think about it before, but anyone who would like a cover to the DVD can use this. I still can’t find the source file. Last date I have is 03-24-04.

Printable cover: http://homepage.mac.com/avtpro5/.cv/avtpro5/Sites/.Public/coverart.psd-binhex.hqx

[AVTPro]

I haven’t worked on the DVD in a bit but I wanted to put this out there. I’m pretty sure this has been floating on line for a bit. I didn’t think about it before, but anyone who would like a cover to the DVD can use this. I still can’t find the source file. Last date I have is 03-24-04.

Printable cover: http://homepage.mac.com/avtpro5/.cv/avtpro5/Sites/.Public/coverart.psd-binhex.hqx

[AVTPro]

Hey Guys,

Had a problem with getting on CGTalk. Couldn’t get on for like two weeks straight. Then I got distracted. I haven’t moved on this project at all. I didn’t get any prepays so no damage done.
I’m sure if I even like this model anymore. I’ll try to get my momentum/interest back soon.

AVT

[AVTPro]

Hey Folx,

A couple of quick notes.

1. I just had a breakthough with some rigging techniques that I have wanted to bring to the EI camp for years. More of this later.

2. Instead of building my own geometry, I used ZB to repurpose some really cool basic meshes to save time. However, though I like the look of the model, i am not as enthusiatic about the topological flow lines from the original form. It’s not bad, and I love Proton’s work, it’s just that I have a different expections of what the loops should look like on this new character. The problem is the topology would work if the original toon was rigged as is, but that fact that I pushed it into a more realist design, I now want more realistic edge loops. Also, because this is a model for a rig demo, the topo should be optimum.

So there’s two strikes against why I don’t want to use this model for rigging.

1. The topology was intended only for a cartoon character and not a psuedo-real super hero. So now the topology doesn’t match the design of the character.
2. Topology for the DVD should be optimal for demonstration purpose.

The solutions are simple. Get another model or retopolize (remesh) this model.
Those are my option which I haven’t made a decision yet. Honestly, if I retop the model, I would like to use it in Maya not EI It’s just cool.

I would also like to use another model but if it’s Poser, it probably wouldn’t have a great surface either. The last one didn’t but I almost want to reuse that one again.

I tell you, the small stuff is so easy to get hung up on.

Anyway, I’m re-evaluating some rigging techniques that are going to make animation in EI big fun. I’m really happy that I didn’t get heavy into the DVD until I went back and found some of these old techniques. It’s really going to step CA in EI up a 3 or 4 notches.

I’ll keep you posted. Nothing like a “good plan”.

[FelixCat]

Hi, Alonzo, sounds good. I will be listening…
FelixCat

[richardjoly]

Mighty interesting mate! EIAS CA up 3-4 notches? That is good news.
Is the character really so important? We will use this rig technique(s) on all kinds of models.
Does a less then perfect character impair the functionality of the rig?
Anyway, you are making the DVD and you have to feel good about it. I can wait, I already have a lot to learn…

Another point, make a posting really clear as when and where we should do the pre-orders. You talked about it but it’s buried in the thread. Maybe a new thread announcing the product with description and order info? It would attract more users.
I think.
I might be wrong.
Or right.
Anyway…

[AVTPro]

I think you have a very good point “again” Rich and thanks for the detail letter you sent a couple of weeks ago. That had a lot do with why I’m sticking with this model.

OK. I might be stretching it a bit…I’m just really happy about the new set up. It’s not in any of my previous rigs, but something I wanted to apply all along. It may be only 2.5 fold better ,) . Maybe if I go with an FK-IK then it may be 3-4 better. I’m just not fond of FKIK setups unless it has an auto On/Off in the IK itself (one arm vs. three arms). Otherwise, it’s too much work for too little pay off.

I am, however, still studying the practical uses of it so, still in deliberation. The only logistic application I see is if you have to bend the arms backwards at the elbows…and then in that case it’s cartoon, not realistic.

Anyway, I don’t care how good I get at rigging, modeling or art, there will always be something new to learn. Fact is, I’m still trying to learn some of the old stuff too (rigging and modeling) I’m just being picky with the model. I don’t even have to “finalize” the geometry loops until before I skinned. So your right, I will drop it for now. I have some more studying this weekend and then I can start rigging.

That’s the plan I have had for years. Take what I learn in Maya and apply it to EI. Well, it’s more of a reality now, that I know Maya rigging well enough to go back and translate them. With EIU, I learned from Julian Love “Mr.Willis-rig”. However, his EI rig was just that…an EI rig with some very cool Maya-ish principles, like Icon controls. I remember he and I talking about different set ups. Even what he considered antiquated back then is still hot for EI now. Yes there’s certain things I won’t attempt in the rig because of the EI’s interface just wouldn’t make it sensible…like attributes with interactive sliders. Yes, with XP a GUI could be fashioned, but that’s more overhead that I personally deem necessary for my application.

I can’t wait to demo with a YouTube preview.
Definitely I will start a new thread on how to prepay. Really it’s just athreet@adelphia.net on paypal. I think it was $100 for earlybirds. Final is $120. (that I know)
I have a two hug rig jobs coming so I will do as much as I can before they start. Just need to see what my schedule is going to look like in the next 2-3 weeks.

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