Dynamic Parenting refers to a situation where the inheritance of an object’s transform channels can be turned on and off, either by keyframes or other means, during the course of an animation. Commonly this is used to allow an animated character to pick up and put down objects. It is also very useful when controlling the binding and interaction of two molecular structures in a scientific animation. In Maya, the easiest way to achieve dynamic parenting is through the use of constraints.
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments

In this tutorial, we’ll explore different methods for modeling, rigging, and animating DNA. There are many ways to approach this macromolecule in Maya and each has its merits depending on what the model will be used for in your scene. We’ll start with a simple ‘plank’ DNA model that is roughly based on what is known about the molecule’s proportions, and then look at different ways to deform it. Next we’ll import a PDB coordinate set for B-DNA and experiment with different representations using particles. These first two methods assume that the helix does not need to unwind and melt. Finally, we’ll go over a programmatic approach to building DNA using PDB data for a single base pair – this method will allow us to twist and unzip the double helix.
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments

When creating animations, you should be very careful what you do with the FloorRef. When walking or running, the character should stay at a constant height from the FloorRef object. When jumping, the Character should increase it’s distance from the FloorRef object to give the appearance of translation away from the floor. Characters should ALSO have a “stationary root” that only moves relative to the floor reference (e.g. for walking, jumping etc.) but that does not move constantly (i.e. in an idle animation the root should not move). This is very important if you wish to use your Characters with the Virtools Mulituser Pack, or the dead reckoning algorithm used for predicting distributed objects will not work correctly.
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments

Solve complex production challenges and create breathtaking 3d with Autodesk Maya 2008 software. Create engaging and lifelike digital images, realistic animations, and extraordinary visual effects with Maya 3d modeling, animation, effects and rendering software. Whether you are a film or video artist, game developer, graphic artist, digital publishing professional, or 3d enthusiast, Maya 2008 helps you realize your creative ideas. Complete Complex Modeling Tasks Faster Maya 2008 provides new and enhanced tools for both the high-level manipulation and component-level editing of polygon models. Redesigned support for Smooth Mesh previewing and workflows lets you create and edit smoothed meshes more efficiently.
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments

Installing the 3D Studio plug-ins Plug-ins for importing and exporting 3DS files are automatically installed with Life Forms. However, if you need to update your plug-ins or if you have removed the required plug-ins, you must install the 3DS plug-ins again. To install plug-ins • Put the 3DS plug-ins files, 3ds.in.dll and 3ds.out.dll, in the Plug-in folder in the Life Forms program folder. Building Models for Animation Life Forms only animates segmented models. When you build a model that will be animated, consider how it is going to move. This helps you to determine how many segments the models should have and where the pivot points of each segment should be.
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments

Animania is a catalogue of ready-to-use Animal models and motions. If you have built your own models and boned it or set up a segmented model for animation, you know it takes a long time and can be quite challenging. Animania provides models that are already set-up for animation. The mesh models have been boned, and the segmented models have been linked and set up for you. Moreover, each animal model comes with matching motions that you can use right away.
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments

PowerModels is an collection of over 40 ready-to-use models. Every model has been set up for animation: pivot points are set, and models are prelinked, premapped, constrained and colored. Everything is set up for you to start animating immediately! The models are provided in 3D Studio Max (.3ds & .max), LightWave 3D, and Life Forms files so that you can animate the models in any of these applications, or any applications that read 3D Studio Max, LightWave 3D or DXF files. When you animate in Life Forms remember that you can export the animation to 3D Studio Max and LightWave 3D for rendering. Browse this online guide to get more information about using PowerModels. Organization View Models Use Models Contact
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments

You have already rigged character and eyeballs with Modeler’s skelegons. But as you know using skelegons can be kind of cumbersome having to setup in modeler and convert in Layout then edit changes in Modeler if a bone was misplaced. LightWave 3D [8] introduced some full-fledged features to create and edit bones right in Layout, giving you full flexibility when it comes to rigging. Also introduced in LightWave [8] is IK (Inverse Kinematics) Booster which applies IK Handles on all created bones automatically. You can also apply dynamics to bones using this tool. N.B.
Read the rest of this entry »

• 0 Comments