I hope in the future there appear an alternative to Maya to animate. I hope sideFX will entice many users from Autodesk for the production of special effects. avtodesk is evil
2014-02-28 18:19 GMT+04:00 Marco Peixoto <mpe...@gmail.com>: > Actually you can use Math Operation on the value Boxes (in the Graph > Editor), not so straight forward as in XSi but you can. For example if you > need to multiply a value by 10 its like this: *=10. If needed to Add its > +=10 > > But yes for someone coming from XSI Maya will make you grabbing you hair > various times a day ;) > > Constraining makes you select first the Constraint to Object and then the > Constrained One. If you want to Constraint A to B first select A then B and > hit Constraint. > > The Outliner is a piece of shit compared to XSI Explorer, its basic to say > the least and selecting a father will highlight all of its children, so you > never know what is selected at first sight, although in 2014 there's an > Option to don't Highlight the Children. Hiding the father will hide the > Children though... yeah retarded and I wonder why no one ever complained > about this during all these years... > > Locators (Nulls) only have one shape, the regular cross shape. Some one > coded a Maya Locators Shapes like the one in XSI, You can see it in action > here (he made a tut so we can even make or owns): > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4qajUax-vg > > His site: > > https://sites.google.com/site/resumedanielbelair/tutorials/maya > > Botom end of that page there are links to download the script (press the > arrow on the lower right corner) > > He also uses XSI ;) > > So far I only have to use Maya as a only Character Animator so Im not in > going crazy so much, but and to be honest I kinda prefer Character > Animation in Maya than in XSi, I don't how to explain it, there's a certain > feeling in Maya that things feel "nice" and responsive. For instance not > having to press any F key to use the virtual Sliders, make a Constraint and > the Constrain Weight get automatically added to the Channel Box so I can > see it right away instead of having to open a PPG. > > A Constrained Object gets a different color on the value boxes so I know > right away it is Constrained to something, but knowing to which object is > it Constrained to its not as easy as in Xsi... and a Pain to find... > > Match All Transforms is something Maya doesn't have by default, what I did > was to make a Parent Constraint and then removing the Constraint... > > My last gig I had sometimes in various shoots to Constrain objects to > several other objects, for instance I had to constrain a shampoo Bottle to > first the Right Hand, then passes to the Left hand, then to the Chest and > then passes to another characters Hands. So 4 Constraints to deal with... > in Maya I simply saw them on the channel Box of the Bottle and just Key > them all at once when needed, 1 for 0 for the others etc etc.. at the time > I was thinking in Xsi this would make me to have open 4 PPGS all the time, > cluttering my space and probably confusing me since we cant even rename > Constraints.... Asking for this feature to be right on the Rig was a No No, > as Animators we are give then rigs already in the scene an then all the > constraining between objects its done by us as needed, we cant ask this to > the Riggers. > > Another Maya beef I had.. the Fractionals Keys... if you by accident make > one, there's no way to force Maya to don't use them, if we got one we need > to select it and then tell Maya to move it to an Integer, now imagine > getting a retake on someone else animation where the Animator decided to > shrink all the keys so everything is on Fractional s... arghhhhh!!!!!!!!! > Usually when moving Keys on the timeline after the moving we select the > Keys hit the Snap. Bythe way the Righ Click Menu on the timeline has more > options that the Xsi one. > > Fortunately (and Unfortunately) Maya has bazillions of Scripts to aid us, > specially for Animation, Ill name those I used more regularly in case > someone needs them: > > -TweenMachine (I guess any Animator knows about this one, it exists a > version for Xsi as well) > > -Parenting4Animators (I used it when I simply need an on off parenting > relation with a Grab and Let go, It showsn on wich key the Constraint > starts and when it stops, you can change the atwhat time this happens later > on as well, I think there's a similar script for Xsi) > > -RotationOrders (Life saver, sometimes we forget to adjust the correct > rotation order for a specific shoot and later realized that it should ha > been YXZ instead of ZYX, with this I can change it on the fly and it > preserves all the animation like it was..Oh Yeahhh!!!!!!!! ) > > -PAIE (a Export Import Animation in Python, I Hated the old DKANim script) > > -ColorKeys (yes now we can have multiple colors on the timeline so we can > know right away which are the Golden, Breakdowns and InBetween Poses, > instead of all the keys be the same colors, I asked this for years in > Softimage, seems I was the only one, Maya has a default similar thing, its > the specially Thick Key but we can only choose 2 colors) > > A Change it will be a long and painful ride, specially because I usually > also Rig and Model in Xsi... but what are real alternatives are there for > character work? From what I saw and read about Houdini... its overkill for > Modeling and Character Animation, I don't use ICE for what I do so getting > into a super complex prog like Houdini is not really my thing right now. > Modo.. last time I try their Character Animation tools, everything is so > slow compared to what im used for all these years... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Feb 28, 2014 at 1:19 PM, Simon Reeves <si...@simonreeves.com>wrote: > >> My point wasn't about if one app was better than another for modelling, >> it was more about the *need* to learn modelling in a new app because you >> are switching to it in general. >> >> >> >> Simon Reeves >> London, UK >> *si...@simonreeves.com <si...@simonreeves.com>* >> *www.simonreeves.com <http://www.simonreeves.com>* >> *www.analogstudio.co.uk <http://www.analogstudio.co.uk>* >> >> >> On 28 February 2014 12:19, pedro santos <probi...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Not really Simon. As someone that an year later was solely a LightWave, >>> while you could define modeling just like taking vertices where ever you >>> want them, but each application as its ways to get there. Honestly I don't >>> think SI ways are simple and clear from start, but almost every problem I >>> threw at it solved. >>> >>> As for the I/O bit, true, but again in my experience my SI experience >>> would be much more difficult and incomplete if I treated Softimage like I >>> do my LightWave's Layout. A split environment, where you don't take benefit >>> from modeling in context, modeling relations and history. >>> >>> Anyways... one year in for me and the boat is sinking? o_O Waiting for >>> more info. >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Feb 28, 2014 at 8:10 AM, Simon Reeves <si...@simonreeves.com>wrote: >>> >>>> People talk about modelling but I always feel that's pretty much the >>>> last thing you would need to learn in a new app, there isn't an easier >>>> thing to I/o than a mesh with subd with or without uvs. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Friday, 28 February 2014, Brent McPherson < >>>> brent.mcpher...@autodesk.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> In Maya you use 1 & 3 hotkeys to toggle between base mesh and subd >>>>> preview display. In subd display mode the Page Up/Down keys change the >>>>> subd >>>>> preview level. (the default value is 2) >>>>> >>>>> So the workflow is something like this... >>>>> >>>>> Hit 3 key and then use page up/down to adjust subd level. From then on >>>>> just hit 1 & 3 to toggle between base mesh and your chosen subd display >>>>> level. >>>>> -- >>>>> Brent >>>>> >>>>> From: softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com [mailto: >>>>> softimage-boun...@listproc.autodesk.com] On Behalf Of Emilio Hernandez >>>>> Sent: 28 February 2014 01:30 >>>>> To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com >>>>> Subject: Re: Best online resources to help with a Maya migration. >>>>> >>>>> By the way, to help on the transition. >>>>> >>>>> Make sure you have the abSymMesh, csExtractSkin, and csExtractDeltas >>>>> scripts, if you do character, and rigging. Without this scripts you will >>>>> be in a dead end. Also make sure you find a good UV plugin. That is just >>>>> for start. You will not be able to envelope (skin in Maya) with nothing >>>>> but joints and geometry. Say goodbye to implicit objects. And make sure >>>>> you memorize the order to pick obj, as for parenting and constraining is >>>>> different for each one. >>>>> If an object is a child of other object and you want to hide just the >>>>> parent, well good luck. All this kind of parameters propagate from the >>>>> parent to all of its childs. Be patient with the selection tool, and >>>>> remember to click in the window you are using, cause it is not like >>>>> Softimage that it works where the cursor is. You need to activate the >>>>> window or viewport by clicking in it. >>>>> Each object has at least two nodes the object and the shape. If you >>>>> want your object to display in something different than 2 subdivision >>>>> levels, forget about something like the +/-. You will need to go to the >>>>> object shape node and set the preview subdivision levels to modify it in >>>>> an >>>>> object per object basis as there is no (MULT) selection like in Softimage. >>>>> Unless of course you make or have a script for doing this. >>>>> Well just for a begging guide. >>>>> Ohh and there is no such thing as the RMB when you are maniupalting an >>>>> object a nasty pop up menu will appear in front of you with a dial like >>>>> options. For last take a deep breath when you are looking for a parameter >>>>> as the ChannelBox/Layer editor will dispaly all the connections the object >>>>> has. >>>>> Good luck with your transition. >>>>> >>>>> [http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8965/erojamailpleca.jpg] >>>>> >>>>> 2014-02-27 19:11 GMT-06:00 Emilio Hernandez <emi...@e-roja.com<mailto: >>>>> emi...@e-roja.com>>: >>>>> Exactly Stefan! >>>>> The client does not care whatever you are using. He only cares about >>>>> time, money and quality. >>>>> Go ahead make your transition, start thinking of hiring additional >>>>> people, specially devs. Make sure you search under the stones for scripts >>>>> and plugins. Spend more money to keep it up. >>>>> >>>>> Maya out of the box is a piece of crap compared to Softimage. So >>>>> don't expect too much. Go with the "latest" technology.... You will soon >>>>> be bald of pulling out your hairs. >>>>> >>>>> [http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8965/erojamailpleca.jpg] >>>>> >>>>> 2014-02-27 19:06 GMT-06:00 Stefan Kubicek <s...@tidbit-images.com >>>>> <mailto:s...@tidbit-images.com>>: >>>>> >>>>> Amen to that! >>>>> I'm doing my own projects and my clients could not care less what >>>>> program their pictures were made in. I could use Maya >>>>> but that would mean I'd make 30% less profit. Why would I want to do >>>>> that? As long as XSI remains that much ahead in the bread and butter >>>>> disciplines I will continue to use it. Why waste money? >>>>> >>>>> Softimage for me will be dead the time I will stop using it. >>>>> Don't know why is the rush to switch if you have your own clients, >>>>> your own projects and you have been delivering amazing work done with >>>>> Softimage. >>>>> The Maya 2015 won't be better than Softimage to get the job done. >>>>> So because SI 2015 unoficially yet is the latest version you are going >>>>> to run to other options while you can still deliver superb work? >>>>> The clients don't care if you made it with paintbrush as long as they >>>>> are satisfied with the end result. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> [http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8965/erojamailpleca.jpg] >>>>> >>>>> 2014-02-27 15:24 GMT-06:00 Sebastien Sterling < >>>>> sebastien.sterl...@gmail.com<mailto:sebastien.sterl...@gmail.com>>: >>>>> If you are moving a team from SI to Maya, you are going to need to >>>>> create a tone of scripts to improve functionality, last place i was in >>>>> they >>>>> proudly showed off their modeling script "ow look at these !" and "won't >>>>> these make your life so much easier ?!" not really cause all those scripts >>>>> where already a given in SI. >>>>> >>>>> On 27 February 2014 22:15, Vincent Fortin <vfor...@gmail.com<mailto: >>>>> vfor...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> SideFX's Masterclasses >>>>> CMIVFX >>>>> Odforce.net >>>>> http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini13.0/ >>>>> >>>>> There's enough information there to make your head explode :-) >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 4:10 PM, Alan Fregtman < >>>>> alan.fregt...@gmail.com<mailto:alan.fregt...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> Anyone have recommendations for great Houdini tutorials? I know SideFx >>>>> have some, but besides those? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 4:04 PM, Mirko Jankovic < >>>>> mirkoj.anima...@gmail.com<mailto:mirkoj.anima...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> trust me there is no tutorial that can help with frustration that you >>>>> will have to deal with .... good luck. I know that I'm staying with SI for >>>>> years to come. >>>>> Zombies are popular anyway so why not SI Zombie edition too :) >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 9:38 PM, Nicolas Esposito <3dv...@gmail.com >>>>> <mailto:3dv...@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> Oh my god, its started! >>>>> >>>>> I guess Digital Tutors would be a good starting point ;) >>>>> >>>>> 2014-02-27 21:33 GMT+01:00 Tim Crowson <tim.crow...@magneticdreams.com >>>>> <mailto:tim.crow...@magneticdreams.com>>: >>>>> >>>>> sigh.... Is it that time already? >>>>> >>>>> -Tim >>>>> >>>>> On 2/27/2014 2:20 PM, Lawrence Nimrichter wrote: >>>>> I'm separating this out from the "upgrade policy" thread and would >>>>> like to keep it some what on topic as I am sure there will be plenty of >>>>> artists in the coming months asking the same questions. Please start a new >>>>> thread to talk about the politics. >>>>> >>>>> What are the best resources for migration, especially to Maya, for >>>>> long time Softimage users. Has anyone done the Maya training from Digital >>>>> Tutors, Lynda, Gnome, fxphd? Which is considered better for those of us >>>>> with years of production experience? Does anyone know of any gem video's >>>>> (for example: a Softimage video I always recommend for anyone wanting to >>>>> learn ICE is the Brad's Ice: An Artist Tour). What are the best training >>>>> resources out there? >>>>> >>>>> Lawrence >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Lawrence Nimrichter | Associate Creative Director/Director of >>>>> Animation | Spontaneous | 575 Lexington Avenue | New York | NY | >>>>> 10022 | o 212.317.0077<tel:212.317.0077> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> ------------------------------------------- >>>>> Stefan Kubicek >>>>> ------------------------------------------- >>>>> keyvis digital imagery >>>>> Alfred Feierfeilstraße 3 >>>>> A-2380 Perchtoldsdorf bei Wien >>>>> Phone: +43/699/12614231 >>>>> www.keyvis.at<http://www.keyvis.at> ste...@keyvis.at<mailto: >>>>> ste...@keyvis.at> >>>>> -- This email and its attachments are -- >>>>> --confidential and for the recipient only-- >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> >>>> Simon Reeves >>>> London, UK >>>> *si...@simonreeves.com <si...@simonreeves.com>* >>>> *www.simonreeves.com <http://www.simonreeves.com>* >>>> *www.analogstudio.co.uk <http://www.analogstudio.co.uk>* >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> [img] >>> http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s202/animatics/avatar_1.gif[/img] >>> >> >> > -- Евграфов Максим.(Summatr) https://vimeo.com/user3098735/videos ------------------------------------------------------- Хорошего Вам настроения !!! :-)
