Hi guys! Im working on a project in Poser, and for that purpose i have installed about 30 new expressions of James. Lets say that i have 100 frames with "Neutral" face. How can i add in the animation pallete the "Happy" expression in frame 40 until 60 without affecting the frames before. I've tried it but it distorts frames 1 to 39. Any solution to that? And something last, I also use Mimic for lipsync using a recorded speech, that i export it for poser, however without any facial expressions, just the expressions created dynamically from the phonemes used. Again the same question as above will i be able to add in particular frames different "james" expressions without distracting the previous frames, or is it better to manipulate the expressions in Mimic along with the speech, and then just export it to Poser for final rendering? Thank you in advance for the time spend.. Nikos

The simplest answer to the first question is to use the interpolation settings in the keygraph.   The 'anticipation' you're seeing is a natural result of spline interpolation. In some circumstances this long-lasting effect is what you want, but here it's not what you want!

So, use the mouse to pull a rectangle around James's Head, 
for the first 40 frames.  (This can be tricky; if you don't click just right,
you'll end up with only the first frame enclosed, or other strange things!)

Then click on Constant to more or less 'lock' the face for those frames.   
This will prevent the later change from affecting the earlier.

Or, pull a rectangle around ALL frames on the Head, and click on Linear.  
This will make any changes rather abrupt, but it will allow changes
on any frame and will eliminate the 'anticipation'.

Thanks for your quick reply Ockham, just to ask you, when i use the mouse to pull the rectangle should i always choose the frame before or start the selection from the new/next frame? ..and for the rest of helpers ..any solution to my second question?

Start the mouse at the upper left corner of the first frame you want to
affect.  It's a fussy little move but not impossible!

On your second question, if you're using Poser 7, this would be
an ideal opportunity to use the new Animation Layers feature.
This superimposes or mixes one piece of animation with another.

For earlier versions you might try my VarPose python script.  Does 
the same general job.  Mixes a pose onto existing animation, with
varying strength.

I would do this quite differently .

Frame 1 , Face at rest

Frame 40 Face at rest
Frame 60 Face smiling
Frame 80 Face at rest

With keyframes as shown , the anim would run for just under 3 seconds
the fiure will take 2/3 of a second to go from rest position to full smile , and another 2/3 second to go back to rest .

Adjusting the frame 40 and 80 keyframe position to control how fast the change occurs.

These extra keyframes help you shape the spline interpolation of the movements .

Break spline is also useful for abrupt changes in direction, or for  odd effects .

A term often used in animation is "ease-in"  or ease-out.   Any books on Keyframe animation will have suggestions on  setting up smooth actions.

Mimic should create an animated pose with only the mouth movements. I would apply the mimic pose first, then add any changes to the characters face.

Or you can learn to edit the mimic pose file and remove the unwanted morph settings .

Quote -
For earlier versions you might try my VarPose python script.  Does 
the same general job.  Mixes a pose onto existing animation, with
varying strength.

 

I can't find it either in freestuff or in the marketplace. Where is Var Pose??

@ madriver

In Free Stuff do a Search for Poser than a Search there for Specific User = Ockham
for tons of wonderfullty useful python scripts  from Ockham.

So that was showing you how to fish and this be the fish itself.
Direct link: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?user_id=26668

Cheers,
Masha

Quote - @ madriver

In Free Stuff do a Search for Poser than a Search there for Specific User = Ockham
for tons of wonderfullty useful python scripts  from Ockham.

So that was showing you how to fish and this be the fish itself.
Direct link: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?user_id=26668

Cheers,
Masha

 

I actually have some of Ockham's scripts but couldn't find this one...til now...thanks for the link! :)

my pleasure'

The man is one of Poserdoms treasures and everyone should know about him.

He's prolific, clever, gives his efforts away for free. Along with a number of other people who share their knowledge  so generously, we should have a  yearly appreciation day for them. :)

Here's Ockham Index site as well for scripts that may not be elsewhere.
ockhamsbungalow.com/Python/