I am a new user, using Maya unlimited on a mac, os 10.3.9.
I am attempting to create a virtual book of a novel I have written to use as part of a package to send out to literary agents. The book will have turning pages. Being new to maya I am struggling to make the page turn effect work.
Key frame animation seems straight forward in the maya and other tutorials I have followed BUT, in spite of struggling for 3 days I cannot get it to work properly.
I have 2 problem areas:
1) I have created a skeleton and page and smooth bound it (complete skeleton/closest joint/ max influences 3/drop off 2.3). the page is hinged side to side. I have centered the joint on the hinge, zeroed out all rotation, aligned the joints in every way possible, locked the X & Y axis, aligned the page to the grid BUT, when I turn the page 180 or in increments of 90 degrees, or any other way I can think of, to open it it is skewed from the grid and thus skewed in relation to the cover. Each time I rotate it the skew is slightly greater.
2) I am attempting to animate the page as if it is being lifted by the corner from flat open and curls back upon itself as it is opening to lay finally against the open cover. To do this I have tried setting a beginning key frame at one, going to the end position on the timeline and setting a full open page key. then I have gone back and set keys for each of the movements alone the time line. When I rewind the animation the cover closes on a partially open page instead of the beginning open page key. after the cover opens the page moves through part of the keyed actions but not completely. I have also tried setting a start frame and then each keyed action through the complete open page, which is the end point but with no success.
I would greatly appreciate any input as to why these things are happening and how to correct them. I will provide screenshots if requested
Robert
Hah! So rare that there is a 3d question on this board, makes me smile. :) I'd need more info to figure it out, but rather then typing back and forth, just post your scene as a .ma file and I'll just take a look at it for you. Hope I can help.
www.MattOrnstein.com
Character Animator - Lucas Arts
Matt, Thank you for your reply. you are the first person on any of the forums I have posted this that has replied. I hope very much you can see the problem as I've spent 4 days trying everything with no success.
Unfortunately I don't know how to post the file as a ma. file. Please explain and I will do so.
Thanks!
Robert
either upload it to your ftp space and provide a link or just email it to me at matt@mattornstein.com
Reason why you probably haven't gotten much response, exspecially on a forum like this is that rigging is like kryptonite to this largely 2d animation community :D
www.MattOrnstein.com
Character Animator - Lucas Arts
You can make a zip file (there are numerous free zip compressors out there) and put it as an attachment here.
I'd like to take a look to, although it sounds like it's probably pretty simple problem and that matt will probably give a 'fix' before I can even download it. The only reason I say it's simple is that this sort of joint and binding problems are very common when first learning Maya and after someone who's already gone through them points out how to fix it, you most likely won't have the problem again.
Without seeing it, it sounds like there might be some scaling issues and possibly double transformations (why the skew continues to get worse the more you rotate it). Did you do any transformations on the geometry (like scale) after skinning it? Is the page parented to the bone? It shouldn't be, this will cause double transformations (moving/scaling/rotating twice, once for the skin algorithm, and once for it being a child object).
As far as the odd keying, open the graph editor while setting your keys, just to be sure it's keying what and when you think it's keying, and check that the graph and numbers look right. A number of times I've blissfully animated along, thinking I was setting keys, only to find that I only have the end pose... bummer, but you learn and move on. Also, are you keying the right rotation, sometimes the world rotation is different than the object, and keying what you think is the Y really needs to be Z, this will usually show up when you get gimble lock (when two rotation axis are manipulated to be on top of each other). Change your rotation manipulator to 'Object' and double check you're keying what you think you're keying.
Otherwise, I'd need to see the file.
Producing solidily ok animation since 2001.
www.galaxy12.com
Now with more doodling!
www.galaxy12.com/latenight
Hey robert, I'm looking at your file, it more or less works fine... sent you an email. I can explain more on whats going on on AIM but it will take forever going back and forth in emails or posts. :)
I can tell you have been at this for awhile... you have all kinds of empty groups in your hypergraph
www.MattOrnstein.com
Character Animator - Lucas Arts
i use maya as well, but im a begginer, i have some questions for you.
1. how do you rig a friggin skeleton? i cant get joints to append to any object i create.
2. when i appl a texture to an object, it applies the texture to every object in the scene.
3. when i extrude or loft a simple spline or poly shape, it extrudes to an extreme, way off and confusing, ive tried pulling down the ratio, but it doesnt seem to help.
help plz!!!!
hajime mashite :) ogenki desu-ka?
babar, you just asked me to explain bacily two years of school to you. I won't and can't. I can point you in the right direction. Unfortunatly maya is not software you can pick up and just muddle your way through it, you need to told what to do. Go buy some books to start out with. The "Inspired Rigging" series is a good place to start (can get thses on Amazon). Also on the links on my site I have an extensive list of my favorite rigging sites, that can help you with more advanced concepts once you get a handle on the basics.
To quickly answer yours question:
1) I have never heard the term append... but you need to either smooth bind, rigid bind, parent, or constrain the object to the joints.
2) You need to create new textures in the hypershade, u are probably eiditing the default textures in all objects have that texture by default, which is why they all get it.
3) I have no idea why thats not working, u might be grabing the wrong handle, or the faces together toggle needs to be on
www.MattOrnstein.com
Character Animator - Lucas Arts
thx MATT, i used the word "append" as reference to "attach", sorry about the confusion, im used to working with older, more primitive 3d programs, like truespace and well, not so primitive "rhino". append is a general term for attach.
thx for the link, i subscibe to cgchannel.com on the forums for info, but alot of the info ppl post is convoluted and or too advanced for me to follow, so i will pick up the books you have recommended:) nice site btw
hajime mashite :) ogenki desu-ka?