First EIAS3D Software Release

#1

Check out Tomas’ post and a download link here…

http://www.eias3d.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=102

#2

Congrats EIAS3D. Its a good and logical choice of expansion.

#3

WOW!!!

Do you know what this means? :buttrock: :bounce: :thumbsup: :applause: :beer:

#4

Maybe a multiple target morph tweener is on the way? :smiley:

#5

That is great news!

I hope they create an MDD exporter for EIAS. not having opened the new plug… MDD can be used to blend animations… adds huge power to the tool.

Cj

#6

Hi,

So I don’t like to sound like a dummy, but what’s so good about MDD?

-Craig

#7

MDD is a vertex caching system. The current application, you can animate a model in another application, using whatever tools you wish. Export the animation data as the MDD and then render that animation inside EI(including CA, cloth, fluids, etc). Another benefit of MDD is that it takes a lot of render overhead time to calculate the bones and skinning. So using the MDD vertex caching removes that overhead and speeds up the render time significantly.

Additionally, as I noted, you “can” with future features… export a library of vertex animations and then edit them later to create NLA (non-linear animations). Think of the process like morphing, but adding the time factor of animating. It can be very powerful in the right hands… bwaaaaaa

Cj

#8

Hi Craig,

With the current lack of strong character animation tools in EIAS, a methodology of bringing animated vertex information over into EIAS from other applications is required. This will allow an artist to construct a deforming mesh in one application and bring them into EI. (And thus render with Camera) Vertex caching records the position of every vertex for a model for every frame of the animation. Essentially, this is the lowest common denominator for exporting animation from one application to another. It has no rigging or compatibility issues between platforms. It will be very good to export facial animation or potential organic animation that Animator is incapable of duplicating within its own toolset.

A number of companies utilize this approach. Its normally called vertex or geometry caching. MDD is just one format of caching information. While MDD is a good call (its compatible with a number of applications like Lightwave’s PointOven) I personally would have taken a look at Autodesk’s XML / Cache system so EI could have been directly compatible with Autodesk products.

Now if one wants to export something out of Maya into EI, a Maya owner would have to get a plugin to write out MDD files. Something it doesn’t do normally because it has its own format instead.

#9

Brian,

What plug would I need for Maya and how much will it cost?

This is idea because once geometry is cached down only to vertex animation, it can be rendered by multiple EI users.

Also, it’s ever better than FBX animation and exporting and rerigging bones. I’m looking forwarding to getting the instructions from Tomas.

#10

Alonzo,

Try looking into Point Oven. http://www.ef9.com/ef9/PO1.5/Maya/PointOven_maya.html

#11

Oh yeah, forgot about point oven. Are you on PC or Mac Brian? Any news for a 64bit Maya OSX?

Again thanks.

#12

I’m on a PC for Maya. However, I find the 64bit version of Maya less stable. I don’t have any information on 64bit Mac version.

#13

Alonzo, Point Oven is not currently working with Maya 2010 on Mac. Contact Mark Wilson at Framestore-CFC to get and update on development.

MDD also works with Blender… Here is my little test:
http://www.rdnmultimedia.com/eias/MDD_Blender.mov

#14

Hey Richard,

I don’t have any familiarity with Blender. So MDD export directly out of Blender is possible? Then import via the plug?

I’ll look into other MDD solutions.

#15

yes it is, and add in Collada import from open source human model makers like Makehuman.org and you have yourself a very easy, route from model to final render from makehuman-(your modeling apps of choice for tweaking)-blender-EIAS/Camera.

I am very psyched about this. Great Job EIAS! Blender’s CA features are pretty cool, the reusable actions is pretty amazing actually…still trying to wrap my head around the possibilities…

Nice happy alien guy Richard! I like his cheerfulness…

#16

Nice Joke. Rich so that’s only moving geo in EI? no bones. Cool.

I havent seen a price for PointOven yet.

#17

Yep, a set of vertex moving according to their position in the mdd file. No bone. Empty shell like my head!
Point Oven is 99$ per seat.
http://www.ef9.com/ef9/PO1.5/PointOven_Order.html

#18

Thanks for your help there Rich, don’t know why it just didn’t bite me. :slight_smile:

#19

Hey Rich,

What does the animation look like in the FCE are the curve viewable anywhere?

#20

There should be no curves since the animation is associated with vertices not groups.