Does anyone use iClone? What is it? And is it used in conjuction with Poser and Vue?

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12465

I've got a copy. It's similar to Poser in that you can, basically, play dress-up dollies! IE you start with your character which you choose from a palette, set skin colour, choose a hair prop, clothing combination, etc. You can also add props and background sets. You can only apply pre-made poses (static and animated), you can't make your own (or if you can, the manual isn't telling.) It does not interface with any other 3D program at all. There is a developer's plugin for 3DS Max, which allows you to create props and I think characters. Since I'd have to sell my car in order to put a downpayment on a copy of 3DS Max, I haven't paid that much attention! The pack is really aimed at animators and gaming. Might be suitable for cartoon-type stills. The meshes are pretty low-poly. There's a forum here for it, link attached. One guy has just done a video synching a character with a song, he's posted the link in the forum.

Attached Link: http://www.reallusion.com/iclone/

I have I-Clone and I like it.

Unlike Poser, I-Clone is primarily useful for QUICKLY animating a character with great speed and simplicity. It's a perfect tool for "Machinima" type speedy, no-hassle animation.

I-Clone's highlights include the ability to easily construct a 3D face using front and side view photographs. It also has rudimentary, built-in lip-sync. Due to its low polygon figures, I-Clone animations render very quickly and can be previewed rather nicely in real-time. I-Clone also has a library of pre-built characters, sets, props, and motions from which you can choose to get you up and running.

At this time there is no easy way to import or export I-Clone content directly to and from Poser or Vue. There IS a way to move content into I-Clone from 3D Studio Max. It's somewhat simple for props, but it's complicated for figures.

Reallusion provides a 3DS Max plug-in for this purpose. At this time, it's a FREE download (although they claim to value it at $4500.00!!).

It would be great if E-Frontier tweaked the otherwise useless "Avatar Lab" software so that it could be used to make characters for I-Clone (hint, hint). Then maybe there WOULD be a direct link between I-Clone and Poser.

But there is starting to be a movement toward providing more content for I-Clone, and a lot of it is currently free.

(Merchants and character modelers take note: I-Clone is wide open for the creation of more characters and sets, so here's a great opportunity to make some money!)

While I-Clone doesn't have the versatility of Poser, there is something really enjoyable about getting an animated film done quickly and without a lot of rendering time or fiddling.

Check out the I-Clone forum here at Renderosity for more info. You can also download a demo of I-Clone at the Reallusion web site.

Other I-Clone related sites:

http://www.iclonecenter.com/

http://forum.reallusion.com/default.asp?CAT_ID=12

http://www.coolclones.com/index.html

http://www.iclonecenter.com/file_center/

http://www.iclonecenter.com/forum/

-jjsemp

Message edited on: 03/07/2006 14:16

"You can only apply pre-made poses (static and animated), you can't make your own (or if you can, the manual isn't telling.)" Actually, karen1573, you CAN make your own poses, but you have to have the more expensive I-Clone Studio ($180), which has an animation pallete and motion editor. Also, you can import BVH motions into I-Clone Studio, too. -jjsemp

hmmmm, I have it also....still deciding whether this was a good buy for me. Lots of restrictions for me. Sharen

I have got iClone Studio jj... Can't work out how to adjust poses though. If you have a link to a tut or some info, that would be great.

Attached Link: http://www.reallusion.com/iclone/icme_tutorial.asp

karen1573, Your wish is my command. Here are a whole bunch of online video tutorials addressing that very topic, adjusting poses. Have fun! -jjsemp

Ooh, I've bookmarked that. Thank you :-)

Love the Name!!?? It's Windows ONLY! I Have an iMac??

Hey Sharon, I would think that a LOT of your SAMS 3D props and buildings would be very useful in the I-Clone world. I hope you're thinking seriously of porting them over and possibly selling them for I-Clone users. That alone would justify your purchase. -jjsemp

I had it, didn't find it useful, got a refund. I can do more with the old Dance studio software. If they make it so that it can import and export something besides .VNS files, it may be fun to have. skee

Thanks all for your replies and advice.I will download a demo version.

Just one more question.I have Poser 6 and Vue5 Infinity.I am experimenting mainly with animations.Would iClone be of any use to me considering that one can animate with both Poser and Vue.

jjsemp, it would be great if I could get them in there, but alas I don't have 3D max. Sharen

Animating with Poser and Vue can be a complicated process, but you can do a lot and achieve excellent results. Animating with I-Clone is easy, but the options are limited and the results are not as potentially impressive as with the other software. In the end, it's really up to you and what you want to create. My advice would be to learn Poser and Vue. Maybe later, when you can understand what I-Clone offers that they don't, you might find I-Clone useful. But for now, you probably just should learn the apps you have. -jjsemp

jjsemp, it would be great if I could get them in there, but alas I don't have 3D max.<< Ah, too bad. I think your models are great. -jjsemp

Why not try the iclone demo, that's what I'm doing, from their website.

Yes, I recommended that, too, in message #3. -jjsemp

Hmm, bit of a peculiar product this, not really one thing nor another. I can see it's usage for online gaming or pretty web graphics, but it's not really particuarly suited to what Poser/DazStudio does. Be interesting to see how it progresses in later revisions/with content updates. My eye is peeled...