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Author Topic: Custom animated characters  (Read 5336 times)

Gaieus

    Reputation: 44
Custom animated characters
« on: December 20, 2011, 01:03:01 pm »
December 20, 2011, 01:03:01 pm
Hi all,

I would have some questions regarding the subject. Especially that the new Lumion 2 which has enhanced animation import options, is out (I have not upgraded yet and will not even be able to until my next pay work with it), would it be possible to import animated people? Just like the ones we have in the libraries. Some just standing still while talking, some walking etc.

If so, what would be needed (beside a human character)? I mean how should the character be put together? (I mean grouping arm and leg pieces and such)

Also, I do not have Max or any other software that can export these animated characters as fbx so maybe a final question: if it is possible to do this and they can be imported, would someone animate them for me in Max and export it to animated fbx? Of course, I would not want it free...

What I am talking about are Antique (Roman) and Medieval characters. All sorts (and therefore quite many of course). But this is a long term project so just gradually...
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Gai...

byzantium1200

    Reputation: 43
Re: Custom animated characters
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2011, 01:35:15 pm »
December 20, 2011, 01:35:15 pm
Hi Gaieus,

I don't think you can import any animations other than move, scale, rotate. However for distant caharcters there is a way to import animated characters. First the character should be divided into its moving parts from head to feet. As we will not see it from closeup you may leave hands and feet as single pieces, no need to seperate the fingers and toes. Then all parts should be linked in hierarchical order and animated manually in a loop using a previously animated characters as reference. Then you may import it to Lumion. I will try this soon for my animated characters.
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Gaieus

    Reputation: 44
Re: Custom animated characters
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2011, 01:52:46 pm »
December 20, 2011, 01:52:46 pm
Yeah, I guesed that you will also need it at one point. :)

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Gai...

byzantium1200

    Reputation: 43
Re: Custom animated characters
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2011, 02:49:30 pm »
December 20, 2011, 02:49:30 pm
We could also buy Quest3D and make them the way Lumion staff does them. I don't know the price of Quest3d but it would probably be an overkill.
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Morten

Re: Custom animated characters
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2011, 05:12:15 pm »
December 20, 2011, 05:12:15 pm
The way to make animated characters is rather arcane at the moment, and even with Quest3D you would not be able to complete the whole procedure. I hope there will be a chance to revise the method we're using in 2012.
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Pete Stoppel

    Reputation: 33
Re: Custom animated characters
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2011, 05:23:14 pm »
December 20, 2011, 05:23:14 pm
Yeah, character animation is gonna be a vital issue soon as we get more Lumion users we will need more diversity of characters and animations (you can spot a Lumion animation by the familiar characters)

I would like to see some sort of Mixamo integration or character editor within Lumion, be it a seperate plugin that one can purchase. Maybe even have some sort of bvh importer that can be applied to current models so one could make custom animations.

Currently I can create the Roman characters that Csaba needs, I can even animate them in Mixamo, but how can we use them in Lumion, maybe even share them within the licensed community?
I believe once we can create our own custom characters and create some sort of free repository it will benefit users as well as sales of Lumion as now the content is dynamic and plentiful.
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byzantium1200

    Reputation: 43
Re: Custom animated characters
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2011, 05:34:59 pm »
December 20, 2011, 05:34:59 pm
I have created a new topic with the method I suggested above.
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tug

    Reputation: 28
Re: Custom animated characters
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2011, 12:46:23 am »
December 21, 2011, 12:46:23 am
Quote from: Pete Stoppel on December 20, 2011, 05:23:14 pm
Yeah, character animation is gonna be a vital issue soon as we get more Lumion users we will need more diversity of characters and animations (you can spot a Lumion animation by the familiar characters)

I would like to see some sort of Mixamo integration or character editor within Lumion, be it a seperate plugin that one can purchase. Maybe even have some sort of bvh importer that can be applied to current models so one could make custom animations.

Currently I can create the Roman characters that Csaba needs, I can even animate them in Mixamo, but how can we use them in Lumion, maybe even share them within the licensed community?
I believe once we can create our own custom characters and create some sort of free repository it will benefit users as well as sales of Lumion as now the content is dynamic and plentiful.

I'm agree with you Pete, unfortunately I haven't enough skills to animate characters, but are learning to share here, as other tips, to engage larger Lumion's users.

Knows about Mixano and An(I)ma, the problem is have enough time and knowledge to take success with use it.
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