I’ve spent a while now learning NLA, Mimic for Carrara (long time user of the stand alone version).

At the time of making the first video I was only 2 days into it. We are now 10 days into it and I need to stop here, explain what I’ve learned and hand over the (new?) technique for others to take further.

PART 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGifaQfWGjY
Using Mimic Pro for Carrara. Setting up for an easier life. Basic tweaks. Phonemes.

PART 2 - Out tomorrow.
A Detailed editing session, just using MIMIC Pro.

PART 3 - NLA Sequencer (I’ll open up a new thread for this)

PART 4 - NLA Sequencer Editing blocks idea (will be part of the new thread)

PART 5 - NLA blocks with Mimic Pro.

I’d love it if people want to take this further. I was thinking of offering the blocks as a $1.99 Car File on DAZ. You can set this up yourselves, but it’s very dull and takes a long time. See what you think when I’ve completed the series and let’s take it from there.

Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Jx9yrRZKw

This time I cover a typical editing session in Mimic pro IF you understand how it actually works AND you have a decent knowledge of what each viseme actually represents.

I demonstrate how and when to subsititute mimics default visemes vs your own choices.

Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpkTXREwTWk

NOTE. Bonus content how to set up a half decent lighting rig for test animations in just a few seconds.

Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY-MvEjyzFo

THE NEW SYSTEM.

I believe this is an important breakthrough. I’ve applied synthesizer envelope theory to 3d animation blocks. Behold the additional editing capability!

Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVQkJFFl02Y

ADSR NLA blocks with Mimic Pro.

Wow, this is amazing! Thank you so much!

If you do develop the clips and decide to sell then, I, for one, would be extremely interested. It sounds like an absolutely amazing helper package, because I'd dread creating them all myself.

Questions:

• If you create these clips, are they figure specific? Or would all generation 4 figures be able to use these packs? (I am hoping all generation 4 figures share the names of their basic morphs, am I wrong?) Also, if they are figure specific, are they also figure name specific: in other words if you have a M4-based character that got renamed and appears in the scene as, say, "M4_Scientist" instead of "Michael 4", would the NLA clips and poses still work on the renamed figure?

Is there a special setting that needs to be used to make the clips more universal?

• You are using a basic shape of M4. What if you wanted to start off with a character that had a different facial features morphs and/or body shape? Does MimicPro have any issues with that?

Also, what would be a good way to optimize such a character for animation, since morph information is resource-heavy and you probably don't need all the shape-defining morphs once you've designed your character's face/bodyshape?

Thank you again! I am looking forward to seeing your progress as you continue working on this rig. Please post here when you reach the next stage with it.

Quote - Wow, this is amazing! Thank you so much!

If you do develop the clips and decide to sell then, I, for one, would be extremely interested. It sounds like an absolutely amazing helper package, because I'd dread creating them all myself.

Questions:

• If you create these clips, are they figure specific? Or would all generation 4 figures be able to use these packs? (I am hoping all generation 4 figures share the names of their basic morphs, am I wrong?) Also, if they are figure specific, are they also figure name specific: in other words if you have a M4-based character that got renamed and appears in the scene as, say, "M4_Scientist" instead of "Michael 4", would the NLA clips and poses still work on the renamed figure?

Is there a special setting that needs to be used to make the clips more universal?

 

• You are using a basic shape of M4. What if you wanted to start off with a character that had a different facial features morphs and/or body shape? Does MimicPro have any issues with that?

Also, what would be a good way to optimize such a character for animation, since morph information is resource-heavy and you probably don't need all the shape-defining morphs once you've designed your character's face/bodyshape?

 

Thank you again! I am looking forward to seeing your progress as you continue working on this rig. Please post here when you reach the next stage with it.

 

 

Hi Antaran,

You can use these across M4 figures. I am told they should be compatable with V4 as well although I haven't tried this yet.

I had an issue with an old M4. It just wouldn'twork and I don't know why (I suspect it was becuase I set it up with an older version of Carrara - but that is a guess). To get around this I had to set up a new M4 and re-set up the morphs.

So this answers your second question - yes it works with morphed M4s.

Note so far I've only set up the Visemes and the Base morphs, not Hiro or Freak etc. I would think these would be ok.

I'm seeing if this goes down well with fellow animators and then I'll learn how to set up a product in DAZ. Thanks again for your interest.