Question about keyframing/autokey
 

First time posting here...hello:)

I've downloaded the VTM's over at 3dbuzz and i'm still having some issues....

I'm using the 5.0PLE first off. I've been using Lightwave for about 7 years so i'm not new to 3d. When animating a character in LW, all the IK nodes/handles are already keyframed at 0...or in your basic "T" pose. I can pose the character at frame 1 and hit the back button and it will return to the "T" pose. In Maya....when I go to frame one and pose my character and hit the back button this doesn't happen. Do I need to key all of the IK nodes/handles on 0 first? And if so.....is there a quick way to select them all and do this or do I have to select them all individually and hit 's' to key them?

Thank you for your patience and help.:)

Also....when exporting from LW as an obj file extension and trying to load it into Maya...it gives me an error message saying 'unrecognized file type'. Is the a better type I should export to...and do I need to do anything in the plug-in manager in Maya to recognize this type? Thanks again:)

obj should work.

Yeah, you'll have to key them manually.

Thanks for the quick response:) But....

For some bizarre reason it gives me that error though. (is this a PLE issue?)

And as for keying them manually...is there a way to key them all at once....or do I have to do it one by one?

if you selectc all of the Ik handles and go to the channel box highlight all the channels you want keyed they all will key at the same time.

here is a quick screen shot

Thank...above the call of duty there....that's great.:)

Any ideas on the importing from LW matter? Still wanting to use my own model so I can learn rigging:)

I would export as obj. as lightwave only give 6 options 3 forget them:p which leaves obj dxf 3ds. since you cant load plugins in Maya ple forget 3ds so obj it is. have you tried it yet?

.obj is the file format that is giving me issues.....when I try and load....using 'Best Guess' in the popup for import....it gives me an 'unrecognized file type' error....i'll get a screen shot here in a sec...any suggestions? thanks again:)

screen 1:

screen 2:

select to option box next to import and see if obj if a valid type in Ple

screen 3:

In the options panel it says:

File Type Specific Options:
No Options Available

Thanks for your patience 3djoe:) It's truely appreciated.:D

you dont have any of these

ahhh yes...I have those...but OBJ isn't in there....is there a way to get it in there?

Going to go get my laptop...i'll be back in a few...never give up..never surrender:)

3djoe...i've officially made you my goto man:)

you could try to go to window/settingsprefs/plugin manager and see iif there is any plugins not loaded.

Ya was just going to say the plugin manager as well make sure it checked on that should do it.

Agreed. If that doesn't work, then I'd have to assume obj import was taken out of the PLE for whatever reason.

I'm thinking the obj import was left out of PLE....that's just great. When I opened the plugin manager it's not in there...so...hmmmm...guess i'll just have to use a free model to learn rigging and animation...thanks for your help:)...greatly appreciated from all of you and mostly 3djoe:)

what types can you import to? send me your model and I can import it to maya and send you the maya file. Maya Ple 5 will open Maya 5 files.

email
joe@mayafx.com