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Importing animation data
I’m trying to import some character animation by means of a .bvh file, or a Collada .dae file. I’ve found on the web some skeletons with short movements that I’d like to try to use with a figure. I imported the skeleton and a figure and read in the documentation this:
“To combine the bones with the 3D model, first move, scale and rotate the model to fit the bones. This is much simpler than the reverse, i.e. adapting the bones to fit the model, due to the bones’ keyframes. Now place the bones and model in the same hierarchy, and the bones then control the model.”
I’ve tried various combinations of hierarchy organization, and the skeleton moves, but the figure stays put. The skeleton looks like a series of bones, and I’m sure there must be a way to link these things up, but I don’t know how. I haven’t really delved into Mocca much yet, because most of the animation I do doesn’t need it. Is there a simple way to use these animated skeletons with a figure, or a tutorial about how to do it?
The figures I’ve imported are usually in the arms-out position, but the skeleton is not, it’s in a pose that is the start pose for the movement it will be making, so I’ve only been able to scale the figure by eyeballing it so the height of the figure is approximately the same as the skeleton.
I’m using Cinema 11 on my Mac, OS 10.5.6.
thanks,
Jack -
2 Replies
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The easiest way to do it is probably to create a new skeleton with the same structure and naming conventions as the bvh skeleton, weight it to your character, create a skin deformer, and then use a transfer tag to transfer the bvh animation to your character rig. So I guess the short answer is that there isn’t a really easy way to do it. 😉
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Damn, I was afraid you would say that! Thank you, Adam, I guess it’s time for me to learn a little bit about rigging. If I do this, I think I’ll save the rigged figure for future use, just in case.
thanks,
Jack
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