Face Animater - Page 2 - Simply Maya User Community

# 16 16-06-2003 , 01:02 PM

Registered User
Join Date: May 2003

Location: Finland

Posts: 5

low-cost solution for motion capturing finally available! unbeliavable software! user added image

so, motion capturing is cheating? oh behave!
and only way to draw graphics with computers is to do it by pixel by pixel without using any other methods... user added image

Quote

# 17 16-06-2003 , 04:09 PM

Subscriber
Join Date: May 2003

Location: Ventura California

Posts: 966

When I saw this software, it right away reminded me of a thread I read about on the forum about a month ago (forgot the product name of the software) where there’s pre-made models and using them would be cheating? And thought that this might not be, as long as you use your own Stuff. But then, what the Hell do I know. user added image

Quote

# 18 16-06-2003 , 06:39 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: Seattle, WA

Posts: 1,154

Some people would say that all 3D animation is cheating. You set the keys and let the software do all the inbetweens. You specify the parameters for the dynamic simulations and let the computer crank away. You plug in fur and cloth information and just let things move automatically. The list goes on...

It's all a matter of perspective. If you don't like the idea of these programs, don't use them. They're not designed for hobbyists and noobs. All of these "automatic" programs have their uses in production. Sure, if you're only animating 1 or 2 characters, you can do all the facial animation by hand. But, when that number goes up to 5, 10, 20, or more, you either have to hire more animators (which is really expensive and time consuming) or get some technology that will help you finish things faster. It's all about cost vs benefit when you're in a production. Artistic integrity doesn't factor in to this very much. Frankly, artistic integrity goes out the window when you're meeting a deadline, satisfying a client's or publisher's needs, and getting your paycheck.

Wow, I really came off as extremely jaded and cynical there. Or maybe just a realist... :p

Danny Ngan
Animator | Amaze Entertainment
my website | my blog | my job

Quote

# 19 16-06-2003 , 06:48 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002

Location: St. louis Mo

Posts: 1,580

I would definetly say a realist. user added image

I have definetly Been there and done that... Sometimes you really just don't have the time to do it the "right" way and you have to cut corners... As long as you can keep your level of Qaulity and still meet the deadline, then thats all that matters. Look at what I do, I animate these huge HRSG's (a bunch of Piping) and how they are put together. Not very artistic user added image

but atleast it pays the bills.
Brian

Please check
My (old) website!

Quote

# 20 17-06-2003 , 12:26 AM

Subscriber
Join Date: May 2003

Location: Ventura California

Posts: 966

If you were to use this software in a movie, would you have to pay royalties to the company. user added image

Quote

# 21 02-07-2003 , 07:41 AM

Subscriber
Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: Denmark

Posts: 338

Hi,

I wouldn't call it cheating... unless it is in a competion... and the rules say it is not alowed to use any stuff like that...

there are many helpful things out there for different 3D programs...

there is also AlterEgo from Face2Face...
https://www.f2f-inc.com/creationCG.html
https://www.f2f-inc.com/
which can be used with Maya...
here is an article about Face2Face software..
https://www.digitalproducer.com/aHTM/..._animation.htm

there is also proFACE[complete]... -->
https://www.famous3d.com/3d/products/...Ecomplete.html

Puppet Works also has a plugin for Facial Animation... -->
https://www.puppetworks.com/

some of the techniqes they are using for this Face tracking technology I think you can find here... "Animation of Synthetic Faces in MPEG-4"-->
https://www.research.att.com/~osterma...ad/joern2.html
Synthesis of Photo-Realistic Talking Heads...
https://www.research.att.com/~osterma...Head/eric2.htm
and Dynamic Facial Performance Capture
https://users.pandora.be/3ddesign.be/adapt.htm
just a little corner behind the theory I think... user added image

but there are more helpful/timesaver plugins out there

how about "the setup Machine for Maya"... -->
https://www.anzovin.com/setupmachine/...chinemaya.html
(here is an review https://www.10secondclub.org/reviews_...ne_part_1.html )

and how about e.g. Motion Capture,. would that also be cheating then... e.g. if you use this equipment from Animazoo...
https://www.animazoo.com/
convert the movement to e.g. the the *.BVH format and get it into Maya...

you could properly also use Poser to make some of it... there is also BodyStudio 2.0 for Maya... which make it posible to use Poser files with Maya... -->
https://www.reiss-studio.com/
you could still use poser thou by following the tutorials on this site from Soto's... -->
https://sotos-digital.cjb.net/
(click on the "image" and in the new pop-up flash windows click on tricks... then there is 2 tutorials)
besides you can make *.BVH files with Poser...

or how about MotionBuilder from Kaydara... -->
https://www.kaydara.com/
or Lifeforms from Credo... -->
https://www.credo-interactive.com/

it is posible to use BVH in maya... e.g. with this script... "BVH to MEL skeleton conversion"... -->
https://www.accad.ohio-state.edu/~mlewis/Mocap/
or some of the BVH import scripts on highend in these two categories... -->
https://www.highend3d.com/maya/mel/?section=utilities
https://www.highend3d.com/maya/mel/?section=animation

or Motview... -->
https://www.cs.wisc.edu/graphics/Cour...rdner/motView/
which also can export to Maya...

there is also somekind of CharaterStudio for Maya... -->
https://tbyf.w15.dns110.com/dxawvf/csformaya.htm
some info in chinese... -->
https://www.hxsd.com.cn/web/yjdt/CSforMAYA002.htm
chinese to enlish translator can be found here... -->
https://world.altavista.com/

Mark Snoswell said at the 3D Festival that they are working on getting their "Absolute Character Tool" in a Maya Version... looking really forward to it... -->
https://www.cgcharacter.com/

some MEL scripts also save's you a bunch in some matters... is that then also cheating?

there are many other things out there than just mentioned here... for 3dMax is also a bunch... e.g. the Head designer plugin... -->
https://www.applied-ideas.com/paramet...d_designer.htm

I'm currious about when these will be released, or if they allready are or will be...
https://www.meshproject.com/
as I understand it, it is for Maya...

you could of cause make your own company... but you would however properly end up with either make your own software/plugins that could do something like it (somekind of inventing the wheel for a second time)... or buy the ones that allready exist...

there would properly be more satisfaction in making it yourself... however this might become much more expensive than buying one of the solution which allready exist...

because you need time to develop it... in this time you won't earn much...

these plugins can help a long way down the road... but they still need humans in the process... user added image

regards

Strarup

------------------------------------------------
Alex V. U. Strarup

One mistake can ruin it all...

Quote

Posting Rules Forum Rules

Similar Threads

Topics

Free Courses

Full Courses

VFX News