RE: XSI user group meeting Boston

["Andre DeAngelis" <andre.deangelis(at)ubisoft.com>]

In theory, it’s similar but implementation wise, it’s very different.

 

Basically, animation layers are like applying offset keys to your animation, except that using animation layers, it much faster and more intuitive.  The trouble with the animation Mixer approach is that

 

a)       you are forced to commit the animation to an action clip, which is not always desirable.

b)       The mixer offers no visual indication of where offset keys are placed

c)       Animation layers can be applied locally, which makes them easier to manage.  Say you have mocap on a character and want to correct an arm passing through the body, you can simply place keys either side of the problem area, then insert a corrective key in-between.

 

Unless you have used it (especially with mocap), it may be hard to appreciate just how powerful this feature is.

 

To give you some examples ( we have written a script that dopes this):

 

1. I had a mo-cap clip of a character running and jumping on the same surface.  The director wanted the character to jump off an elevated platform and land on a surface far below.  With the layered animation, I was able to basically set two keys a) the first of the character talking off and b) the character landing.  The second keys were offset so that the landing occurred at the new location.  All the original animation was untouched, but the landing was offset beautifully.
2. We had another mocap clip of a character running down a flight of stairs.  Of course, the size and breadth of the steps did not match what the set, so with layers, I was able to offset each contact point so that it matched the set.  

 

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From: owner-xsi(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-xsi(at)Softimage.COM] On Behalf Of Simon Pickard
Sent: August 4, 2006 12:37 AM
To: XSI(at)Softimage.COM
Subject: Re: XSI user group meeting Boston

 

Sorry just trying to get my head about this idea... What's the difference between this (using layers) and just storing everything in a clip or clips and mixing between those?