Attached Link: http://www.fantasy3d.com/nosferatu/taxi-drive-off/TaxiDriveOff-LR.avi

I have started work on a movie in poser. It's a hobby and no doubt won't get finished (see other posts ) but right now I am serious about it. I have been struggling with an opening scene for a week or two now, where the main character (Vincent N.) walks into an office building.

It's so-so, but there are all sorts of "issues". The one that bugs me the most is his unnatural walking and other motions. I've attached a link to a clip. The clip is in divx5 format - (approx 5 MB). Is this format ok? If not, what codec is better?

Personally I mucg prefer microsoft's WMV9 CODEC. If only because Media Player will automatically try to download it if it isn't already installed (it also does a pretty good job at compression). Cheers, Cliff

I like the divx codec. My computer doesnt have an internet connection and so I cant just download a codec when it is needed.

well, wmv9 can also be slapped on a cd and installed directly :) I'd comment on the animation if I could see it. Cliff

I'm wrestling with similar issues. Iside from the advide of just keep tweakin till it looks perfect, I can suggest some cheats.

Interesting camera movement can cover a multitude of sins. If the camera is rotating around a walking figure I find it much harder to fixate on the walk cycle.

Shoot from the waist up most of the time. If you do this you don't need to worry about even animationg the legs. As long as you show a brief establishing shot of the whole figure walking it should work out fine.

Mess with the blend styles if you are using walk designer. I reccomend Nerd's walk designer addons (mill walk designer and WD for V3) if you don't have em. Otherwise I like the shot. The walk seems a bit slo-mo to me, and the up and down motion needs to be toned down a bit IMO. Otherwise I like the concept

Message edited on: 07/13/2004 15:08

The arms seem to swing too much and when the michael figure goes through the door his arm is still swinging, I would stop the arm swinging after he waves to the policeman. Cliff where would I get a copy of the wmv9 codec to put on a cd?

Attached Link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/codecs/vcm.aspx

Other MS CODECs are available elsewhere, but I use the one from: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/codecs/vcm.aspx because I like .avi files, and that one is specifically for creating wmv9 .avi's. Their main WMV9 codec (just for newer filetypes like .asf and .wmv etc.) is at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=06fcaab7-dcc9-466b-b0c4-04db144bb601&DisplayLang=en Either (possibly both!) would actually fit on a floppy, if you remember what they are in this world of CD and DVD burners :) They seem to keep moving their other pages around, but: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en&categoryid=4 will probably list everything you could want from MS regarding every version of media player. Cheers, Cliff

Thank you, cliff

Attached Link: SVDL's freebies

Not sure which version of Poser you have, but P5's walk desigener blows away P4/PP. That alone would probably solve your troubles. A few posts up somebody mentioned my WD addons. Unfortunately the V2/M2 pack (Millennium Walk Designer) does NOT work with the path tool. The newer Walk for V3 does, but it for V3. A M3 version is in the works but it's a ways off still.

I may still be able to help though. Once you sort out the walk cycle look for a Python script called "Walk Animation Script" by SVDL Create a nice smooth WALK IN PLACE cycle. Then you can use this script to make the figure walk quite smoothly.

Message edited on: 07/13/2004 23:37

Message edited on: 07/13/2004 23:39

Hey underdog, Actually, I think this was very well done. Just speed it up a bit and it will look fine. The walk works well enough. Also, it would be nice to see it fully rendered (I know, I know, that takes much more time). Nice job. -jjsemp

Definitely get the script by SVDL. It used to be called the "deskate" script, and that is what you have here. The SVDL script finds the first point of contact for the foot on the surface and then locks it there, preventing the foot from sliding while the second foot moves. Also find a script by Ockam called Naturalizer, here in freestuff. It adds subtle movements to characters, like blinking eyes, small head movements, etc, that make the animations more life-like. You apply the script after you have finished all your main animation, so the script will add small subtle movements to the policeman and the walker. Another useful script is the Jiggles script. If you have something loose, like a bag on a walking character, the script will calculate the momentum for that bag and apply it according to your character's other movements. The last thing. Walk outside in the street. There is always something lying around. A wrapper or a can. Add small touches like that to get more "realism". Good luck, it's looking good so far.

Just to let you guys know that the Divx player adds spyware/adware to your computer discreetly. Although not harmful it can be annoying as Im sure we all know. paulwillocks

One of the main resons I prefer the Microsoft CODECs - though to champion Microsoft as all that is good and right is a bit of a stretch too :(

XviD is pretty cool. It's easy to encode with at least. Man, I have got to delve into python, these scripts sound very useful.

wow, those are terrific suggestions everyone! I am looking for the SVDL now. I have naturalizer and jiggles (though I admit that Jiggles wasn't primarily downloaded so that I could move handbags more naturally ) I also downloaded and installed that MS9 codec b4 reading the spyware notice. Oh well.

the ms codec is spyware free. it's divx that has the nasty code in it.

I gathered that after making that silly comment. But thanks for clearing it up anyway. I run Spyware Search and Destroy and AdAware. If anyone here's crusing without SSD, I would strongly suggest you pick it up. It's free.