Topic: Skinned Characters

[jhn]

Hi all,

We're considering Lumion for an upcoming project, but we need to have characters in a rollercoaster.
I know we can get in the animated rollercoaster if it's just TRS animations, but can we also import animated characters? We want them to react to the animation. I don't think we can use Lumion characters and parent them to the imported animated models can we? The old demo doesn't allow for skinned meshes it seems, but I was wondering if a newer version of Lumion does support it?
If there's no direct way to do it via Lumion, is there an indirect way perhaps. Most questions answers I've found on the forum where from 2010-2013.

Thanks!
-Johan

(P.s. and I don't even ask about FBX camera import! )

[Morten]

but can we also import animated characters?

Hi Johan, that sounds like a fun project.

Regarding importing animated 3D people, please see this Knowledge Base article.

I don't think we can use Lumion characters and parent them to the imported animated models can we?

You're right, parenting/grouping is not available in Lumion.

If there's no direct way to do it via Lumion, is there an indirect way perhaps.

There's a rather labour-intensive method which requires that the mesh and bone animation are converted to separate move/rotate/scale animations for each limb in 3DS Max but it's not suitable for close-ups as you can see that the various limbs are split up in multiple bodyparts.

By the way, please see this Knowledge Base article if you'd like to evaluate the latest version of Lumion.

[jhn]

Hi Morten,

Thanks for the quick reply. We have an old quest3d license, could we build assets via quest for example (theoretical speaking)?
I think the chopped mesh is the best way to go for now. Obviously deforming meshes do work in Lumion, but I take it these are .x files or something similar. If you have any pointers on that it would be great. We could even animate a sequence of mesh objects "scale" to mimic the animation.

So importing geo and animation, do all objects move in worldspace, so all animation should be baked out?
We can't import a rollercoaster cart animation and parent and object to it in the FBX file? Like does everything needs keyframes in world space? Or does the FBX container keep the relation working?

Thanks, I will get back on the demo offer when time is right.

Cheers,
-Johan

[Morten]

We have an old quest3d license, could we build assets via quest for example (theoretical speaking)?

Sorry, but that's not possible.

Obviously deforming meshes do work in Lumion, but I take it these are .x files or something similar.

The animated people in the Lumion Model Libray use vertex and bone animations but the conversion procedure is very arcane/error-prone and requires several in-house custom tools that are not available to the public, so that's not an option.

So importing geo and animation, do all objects move in worldspace, so all animation should be baked out?
We can't import a rollercoaster cart animation and parent and object to it in the FBX file? Like does everything needs keyframes in world space? Or does the FBX container keep the relation working?

You can test your animations by importing FBX files in Lumion Demo 5.3 (although that version is 1 1/2 years old). There are instructions on how to export FBX animations in the 3DS Max export guidelines post (near the bottom). If you're exporting a complex animation and it's not working as expected in Lumion, just turn on Bake animation in the FBX exporter settings and re-import the FBX file again. However, this is rarely needed.

Let us know how you get on.

[jhn]

I believe Lumion 7 should focus on animation then, camera, camera any one

Allright, all is understood, running the old demo and checking animation export, then sent the quote and who knows, right!

Cheers!
-Johan

[Morten]

Sounds good.

(Thanks for your feedback regarding animation and camera import)