Is anyone out there using LIFEFORMS? I am having a heck of a time setting up a figure that will export BVH's properly for use with Mike (or the P4 figure) in Poser. Has anyone successfully created one? If so, would mind emailing it to me so I can do this. Thanks!! -Tim

I got Lifeforms3.9 what you need to know?Mine works fine.

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Hi tim I use lifeforms 3.9 to create character motion for Lightwave ( See link 2.5 meg mpeg caution!!) in short you will have to create a simple motion with micheal and export that as BVH open the mocap file in lifeforms then you can paste frames into the timeline from the lifeforms motion library but you must first Map it to the imported BVH michael skeleton in the Joint map editor. I have a nine page adobe PDF tutorial from Credo explaining this process in detail contact me privately at mark@customedia.net to arrange for me to email it to you or post your email address here in the forum Mocap

Ahhhhh ... a LifeForms guru! Prepare for major leeching! ;-) But seriously, if you handle LifeForms fairly well, I'd love to absorb some knowledge. Also, hats off to you for figuring out a poorly documented and supported piece of software. And the interface ... arrrgh, don't get me started. Any idea if/when 4.0 is coming out? Anyway ... I need to know a lot of things, but if you have what I need mentioned above, that would be great. To reiterate, I need a LifeForms figure file that is fully compatible (i.e. will export BVHs without doing funky things to the Poser figure when imported) with Michael and Victoria. Also, I almost have P4 male worked out, but the head is still messing up, if you can help there too I would be eternally greatful. Thanks! -Tim

Mocap: I have this tutorial and have tried many a time to do it. However, I have YET to map it to the LifeForms skelton correctly. There is always something screwed up. If YOU have done this, would you mind sending me your LifeForms figure file that you use for Mike and/or Victoria? Thanks. -Tim

It is easy.Look,if the head messes up try either not Mapping the neck and or Head.That should fix the problem.You got to experiment with what to map and what NOT to map.Mainly the head is what gets freaky.Just dont click on it.If the arms get weird just click on Pose and pose the arms slightly out instead of completely at his sides.

The problem is, it's not that easy. You usually need the head involved. Heads bob when they're jogging, walkiing, jumping. ALL of the parts are usually required for most realistic animations. Also, maybe because I haven't done it in a while, but I thought you had to map each component that was imported. How can you NOT map a body part. Thanks for your help. -Tim

Again, if YOU or MoCap (or anyone reading this thread) has a correctly situated P4 and MM/MW figure for LifeForms, PLEASE (for the love of all that is decent) send it to me. THANKS! -Tim

On second thought, that's one more infuriating thing about CREDO. Shouldn't they have downloadable figure files that work with various programs? Wouldn't that be the logical, not to mention decent thing to do? Why not have a tutorial AND a Poser compatible figure file to download for subsequent PERFECT use within LifeForms?b I shouldn't expect so much from such a company. In case you hadn't noticed I'm not real impressed with Credo OR its software. -Tim

Tim,I dont get what you are talking about?I save my Poser4 Character as a BVH,then open Lifeforms 3.9 import the BVH Fig from Poser then Map the body part for part,then apply the Mo-Cap.So what is the problem you are having?

Well, as you know you can't JUST map part for part ... you also have to position them so they are exactly (or darn close to it) in the same position. THIS is the problem. Getting the parts aligned exactly alike is next to impossible ... at least for me. What is amazing to me at this point (and I'm not ungrateful for the help, but...) is that everyone is saying how easy it is, yet no one has said they have a figure file that actually works that they can send me. Again, PLEASE if you are actually successfuly using LifeForms with Poser PLEASE (PLEASE!) just send me the figure file you use to apply the mocaps to, especially one for Mike and Vicky. I know in theory all of this is supposed to work, but it has yet to do so. And again, why not just have downloadable figure files on their site. Why make people go through the painstaking process of mapping and aligning bones in the first place? -Tim

Anyone, anyone? I called Credo today to ask if they could provide a file. They of course could not. I'm absolutely convinced that no one has EVER successfully created a Poser compatible LifeForms skeleton, especially not for Mike or Vicky. How do these people stay in business? I guess they keep getting suckers like me to buy their lousy software. -Tim