Adding a new dimension

[VenM2]

I don't know but I'm sure of one another way.

[VenM2]

Yeesh. I have done much on CG Millie but I am running into frustrating problems: Rigging. The model is done but now the hardest part is to rig the model for animation. Now it has hit a snag. The physics engine won't animate Biped Animations. What does that mean? What it means is that the pre-made bone structure that can be used to rig a human like character won't work with the physics and so I have to create a custom rig which will take far longer and will be far more confusing and messy. However the advantage to making custom bones is that it will be smoother to animate with no hitches however I can say good bye to automated walking, running, and jumping.

[The Donmeister]

Why won't the pre-made bone structure for humans work?

[VenM2]

Their animation stuff is weird, thats why. When I try to keyframe an animation that animation is not used in the physics. I'm pretty sure if I used a custom bone structure it would work but take much more time.

[The Donmeister]

I wish I knew what that meant. I assume it means it won't work properly. Nevermind, I'm sure you'll work it out eventually.

[VenM2]

Bigger problem now. For some odd reason the school's computers can't run 3D Studio because they can't find the license. It is obviously a network error since every computer is affected and 3ds won't work. Now I'm angry, very angry. I came all this way to work on Millie and skin a Mech and now it doesn't work

[VenM2]

Well the school fixed the problem and I got back to work. So far I figured out a way to make the eyes work without that much effort. The eyebrows on the other hand is a mystery. The human biped structure still won't work with the physics so I will eventually create a hand made skeleton structure instead. I have 2 new pics for you all. I have here millie walking around and sees something icky on the ground. Though the overalls use the physics, they are not simulated with the current posture.



I have another pic. If there is anything wrong with the physics simulation is that it made Millie's tail hole bigger in the overalls. Basically from the right angle you can see her butt.

[The Donmeister]

I know what's wrong with the eyebrows - they're not there.

It's looking good Donnie, but would it be possible to bring her overalls a bit closer to her body?

[VenM2]

It is a strange bug but I'll try to fix it. Btw I figured out the animating problem. All this time I had Millie's body set as a RIGID body and not as an active deformable body. That means the simulations didn't use any deforming animations in the physics tests. Today I'll fix that.

[VenM2]

Well I fixed the problem and another smaller problem comes about. The simulations now have Millie actually moving and the overalls too. However my first test was very weird. After 12 frames the overalls just crumbled up and was launched off Millie. I am quite familiar with this problem and hate it greatly. At least the animations work, thats for sure. I adjusted the overalls and am simulating a new animation right now. We'll see if it made a difference.

[The Donmeister]

It sounds like it's coming along nicely, Donnie. Keep up the good work!

Edit: This will probably demonstrate my complete lack on knowledge in 3D animation, but couldn't you bind the overalls to Millie somehow, so they move together?

[Richard K Niner]

After 12 frames the overalls just crumbled up and was launched off Millie. I am quite familiar with this problem and hate it greatly.

What problem, mud puddles?

[VenM2]

It sounds like it's coming along nicely, Donnie. Keep up the good work!

Edit: This will probably demonstrate my complete lack on knowledge in 3D animation, but couldn't you bind the overalls to Millie somehow, so they move together?

Indeed it is 100% possible . But it has risks such as the legs merging through the pants unless the rigging is absolutely precise and tedious. Physics will deform the overalls automatically depending on the pose. In essence I am trading work time with processing time. Rigging the overalls will take a lot of work to get it right while physics will take longer for the computer itself to do.

My latest attempt got the overalls closer to the body and gave 24 frames before the overalls crumbled and launched off again.

2 latest image:

Millie is thinking

Millie: Wow, look at the polygons!

[Arloest]

the overalls just crumbled up and was launched off Millie. I am quite familiar with this problem and hate it greatly.

I hate it too. I mean its really embarrassing when I'm out in public.



(couldn't resist mate)

[VenM2]

LOL, very true but you have never seen geometry do anything like that.