Re: Non Destructive Character Workflow

["Tim Leydecker" <BauerOink(at)gmx.de>]

Hi Adam,

out of interest, I hope I don´t butt into the thread...

would you think it possible (for a novice like me) to use GATOR
for transfering Blendshapes from a seperate headmodel to a final
rigged singlemesh character without too much hassle?

How about mixing this with allready existing animation (on the
character, the one lacking the facial animations)?

Cheers

tim


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adam Sale" <adamsale(at)shaw.ca>
To: <XSI(at)Softimage.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 7:13 PM
Subject: Re: Non Destructive Character Workflow


> Hey Frank.. what you say is all possible and is something we try to utilize on all 
> of our projects to minimize the amount of repetition in character work.
>
> GATOR works very well for passing assets such as envelopes,shapes,  UV's and 
> textures back and forth between different res characters.
>
> XSI also gives you the ability to save out .preset files of uvs, weight and shapes 
> that you can drag and drop onto other characters.
>
> The main thing to keep in mind with swapping out deformers like quat for FK spines 
> in your example is to establish a naming covention that works for you, as well as 
> ensuring that the deformers initial kineState is the same between old deformers you 
> are replacing and the new ones..
>
> You could also look at reference models for utilizing a non destructive workflow 
> between low, med and hi res characters that all share the same skeleton and rig.
>
> The workflow is there to be taken full advantage of, however you still have to 
> follow some fundamental steps to ensure flexibility further into your production 
> schedule.
>
> Adam
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tim Leydecker <BauerOink(at)gmx.de>
> Date: Monday, May 15, 2006 9:24 am
> Subject: Re: Non Destructive Character Workflow
>
> > Hi Frank,
> >
> > I haven´t touched the Animation mixer in XSI, nor animated at all
> > so far but currently try to setup a PassSystem that should allow to
> > move the Lighting stage infront of the Texturing.
> >
> > Basically, I do the lighting in greys plus a colored environment
> > bounceand later add a flat textures pass plus a selfoccluding
> > reflections pass
> > from with the same colors.
> >
> > Here´s a breakdown of passes I´m playing with, I´m 75% there:
> >
> > Incident angle (camera position), no shadows/spec/refl/lights.
> > Environment sampled occlusion, as above
> > Ambient occlusion
> > Fake shadow pass using a white Lambert material (not just shadows)
> > (env) Reflections, via an amb_occ spread=0
> > Optionally, a global broad specular pass to determine bounce area.
> >
> > For setting things up:
> >
> > The Incidence controls the amount of reflections with the viewing
> > angle,facing get´s less reflections...
> >
> > The environmentsampled occlusion is used as the main filler, replacing
> > a FG pass (to prevent flicker). You can try incidence and brad
> > specularas the mask and take whatever you prefer.
> >
> > The Shadowpass is multiplied using a mask of the env sampled occlusion
> > (multed over the incidence if you like).
> >
> > The stanadard occlusion is used to shade down caveats where
> > neccessary.
> > Boiling things down, the incidence brings the most *filmic* effect
> > and makes
> > it a joy to play around with front/backlights, e.g. the amount of
> > fill and bounce.
> >
> > It´s a bit difficult for me currently to squeeze the colors in
> > correctly without
> > flattening out the tonalrange but as I said, I´m just ~75% there.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > tim
> >
> > P.S: You could also check out a SSS pass (for the textures) looks
> > quite good.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Daniel Bachmann" <dbachmann(at)mediagenerator.ch>
> > To: <XSI(at)Softimage.COM>
> > Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 12:12 AM
> > Subject: Re: Non Destructive Character Workflow
> >
> >
> > > hi franky,
> > > actually i think this is a good idea to compile a workflow fact
> > sheet.>
> > > as newbie on xsi i cannot tell anything about that at this time
> > but since i have
> > > started to work on my new short that involves a lot of parallel
> > working i can state
> > > about my thoughts and workflow from time to time.
> > >
> > > so any pro hints are welcome about the non destructive workflow.
> > >
> > > daniel
> > >
> > >
> > > Frank Lenhard wrote:
> > >> Hello XSIlers
> > >>
> > >> i finally got a bit of time between projects and try out what i
> > >> actually bought xsi for :) the ability to have
> > >> modelling/texturing/rigging/animation in an almost paralle
> > workflow.>>
> > >> now my steps are rather small and slow at the moment but i
> > would like
> > >> to hear if ppl out there really using the promised flexibility
> > and if
> > >> there are traps and downfalls i should be aware of.
> > >>
> > >> i checked the xsi4 production series, which has some good hints
> > here>> and there. i read the manuals on the topic. but i didnt
> > found a
> > >> "ready" workflow somewhere. like its advertised here
> > >> http://www.softimage.com/about_us/pdf/getting_into_character.pdf
> > >>
> > >> i imagine the following scenario and would be happy to hear if its
> > >> possible.
> > >>
> > >> naturally we would start with roughing out the character based
> > on the
> > >> designs. that would give us a model which already got the right
> > >> proportions. but it might missing details like finders, face, toes
> > >> whatever.
> > >>
> > >> this model gets passed on to the rigger, who builds a basic rig
> > into>> it so it can be posed for animatics, layouts.
> > >>
> > >> thats what the animator is getting and starts on the preproduction.
> > >>
> > >> while the layouts are in works the modeller doesnt sleep but
> > gets the
> > >> model refined, also based upon client response, which might
> > come late
> > >> in the process. he applies textures+uvw's
> > >>
> > >> while the modeller is busy the rigger is building the actual
> > rig for
> > >> animation. with new revisions ready from the modeller he just takes
> > >> the new model and has to reenvelope the newly added vertices.
> > the rest
> > >> of the skin stays intact.
> > >>
> > >> the first rigged char for animation gets to the animator who starts
> > >> animating it.
> > >>
> > >> refinements are done to the model+textures and to the rig, as it
> > >> appears that it needs to support moves there where not
> > anticipated and
> > >> where the rig currently breaks.
> > >>
> > >> the animator requests a quaternation spine instead of the fk spine.
> > >> but he doesnt wanna lose the already made animations.
> > >>
> > >> the face rig becomes available and the animator takes his ready
> > body>> animation and applies with the new face rig the facial
> > >> animation+lipsynch.
> > >>
> > >> finally everything is finished and goes of for rendering.
> > >>
> > >> in a perfect world the modeller would finish shortly before the
> > rigger>> who shortly finishes work before the animator.
> > >>
> > >> is THAT possible? at least that how the softimage advertisement
> > sounds>> to me :)
> > >>
> > >> maybe if there is interest and several ppl know about different
> > >> aspects about the pipeline, i can compile a little "how to" and
> > "what>> to be aware of" list, so there is something we can safely
> > go along in
> > >> production.
> > >>
> > >> ciao
> > >> franky
> > >>
> > >> ---
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> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
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