It would be nice to see a whole (or at least approximate) list of features. Because now it’s very unclear what a “CA tools” is. Really, what features a user keeps in mind when he says like “CA tools is a way to go!”?
Besides the skinning, i think we are forgeting an important part of the CA toolset: morphtarget operativity. To create a lipsynk in EiAS is a nightmare, you have not instant feedback and is not friendly at all. Months ago i was in comunication with the programmer of TAFA, a morph target plug in and stand alone that was very clever and powerful (PC only) but proved to be imposible to port it for MAC (lack of skils, and time, of the programmer -his opinion, not mine). I think, IMHO, that could be another important CA feture.
1. Bone mirroring tools. Skeletal symmetry is important.
2. Visualizing the combined binding solution. (1 bone = 1 map) using “Event/after bind” methodology and dynamic weight redistribution painting.
3. Weight mirroring tools.
4. A smoothing paint tool in addition to an overall “blur/average weight map” button.
5. Hold/Freeze weighting solutions to prevent re-averaging of specific bones while using dynamic weight painting. (Only available if using “Event/after bind” methodology)
6. Flooding capabilities.
7. Eye dropper tool.
8. Fix the “Process paint when skinning” tool found in v7 (currently not working)
9. Load/Save, Copy/Paste, Export/Import combined weight maps.
10. An Update or Reset bind button. (Only necessary if using “Event/after bind” methodology)
11. UV unfold for weight maps.
12. Examine the weight min tool. Not working as expected.
13. Prune weights tool (only available if using “Event/after bind” methodology.)
Tools for the future:
14. A spreadsheet editor
- Best implemented with “Mesh” infrastructure.
- Only available if using “Event/after bind” methodology.
15. Complete examination of the morphing tools
If we stay with EI’s current “Always On” methodology for the initial underlying bind then you can strike a number of these tools. I would still request finding a way to visualize the combined weighting solution somehow.
I fully agree Felix. Morph needs works. A multiple morph setting like “Blink” would help (multiple targets per slider).
I’m not sure, but I think the process we are going through right now is specifically vertex weighting. At least those were the options giving in “Brown Feature” vote.
BTW, I saw TAFA facial animation system. I really think you are one to something. It could be a fast facial set up. I hope you keep working with it, and maybe share your findings.
If theres anything that I can look at after as helping the output into EI. Let me know.
Ian, Brian, Alonzo, Igors…
To create a lipsynk in EiAS is a nightmare, you have not instant feedback and is not friendly at all.
FelixCat
I agree fully. In addition to the skinning tools, I really believe some sort of audio scrubbing feature is needed. I know we have the audio waveform display option, but that is not as friendly as being able to hold the option key down and drag along the timeline to hear the audio. It would be great to have the ability (similar to other apps) to have the waveform visible in the actual timeline and be able to set keys at the peaks/valleys of the waveform and then scrub along to make sure the mouth is moving correctly with the spoken syllables, etc.
Maybe off topic from the skinning tools, but I think it is very important to mention.
BTW, I saw TAFA facial animation system. I really think you are one to something. It could be a fast facial set up. I hope you keep working with it, and maybe share your findings.
Hi, Alonzo.
Sadly i don´t use the TAFA system, it´s only for PC and i´m a MAC guy and has strong relationship with Lightwave that i don´t use (way back, in the 6k EiAS times i has to choose between EiAS and Lightwave and thought that EiAS had a better CA future… BTW in the stok market i sucks too!). I spent long time trying to convence TAFA creator to port it to MAC and find a way to connect it to EiAS, but no luck. TAFA is not the main life to Mac Reiner, and the further development it´s a bit stoped.
If theres anything that I can look at after as helping the output into EI. Let me know.
TAFA uses MDD file formats and was looked at when contemplating gNome. But the Igors determined MDD to be an undesirable format for the way EI handles geometry. It was suggested to look at the Autodesk vertex caching format, but that never got anywhere right now. That file format should be looked into in the future. Right now gNome remains proprietary.
Examining TAFA as a template for potential upgrades to the morph system is still a good idea. Though I doubt TAFA itself would be a solution. I think its all agreed that a reevaluation of the morphing system is in order, but I don’t think its in the scope of these initial skinning tools which were voted on by the users. Maybe the next UP vote.
when talking about lipsync some sort of decent controller is needed…
here an example from project messiah http://www.projectmessiah.com/x4/images/BoxController.gif
Hi, Brian, yes i think TAFA, and project messiah, as Yhloon says, has a good template for potential upgrades to the morph system. TAFA itself doesn´t work directly because the MDD prob as was discussed here, (the same with project messiah). I think that a complete reevaluation of the morphing system is in order, if we want a modern CA solution, and yes, i know is not the scope of these initial skinning tools… maybe someday.
But day dreaming is free.
Let me interrupt for a second just a reminder of what has been said , posted by Richard Morley ( As a good starting point):
¨ I do think there is a consensus here that basically we would like to see the “initial bind” state in the form of Strength maps… Basically, I want to see these WM’s and manipulate/tweak them. I think it’s as easy as that.¨
