Rumble Screen ResoLUTION

Remember for ALL videos, manually select the highest resolution in the lower right of the Rumble player.  Press the GEAR and choose the one at the bottom of the list.

iclone Prefrences

Edit >> Preferences

• Scroll 20% down to Timeline and unselect “Auto Align Playhead”
  • This will allow you to move around on the timeline and not automatically move the player.  This also allows you to move the player indicator out of the way when selecting keys on the timeline.
• Scroll all the way down and set the Default Key Tangent to Linear
  • This means when you have automations, they accelerate and decelerate on a normal linear pattern.

Facial Expression

Face Key

• Start new project with character
• Be sure the Character Timeline has Expression checked
• Turn the  Auto Extend Selected on the timeline
• Open Animation and Face Key
  • Note the Facial Profile is likely CC4 Extended that comes with iClone 4
  • Close Face Key
  • Go to Content >> Actor >> Facial Profile
    • To see the facial profiles available
• Open Face Key >> Expression
• Select Expression
• Where the normal expression is to end move the timeline to it
  • Scroll down to “Default” and click it
  • Now move the timeline to where the end of the new expression should be placed
  • Click the expression
• Now try with Auto Extend off.
• Open Expression Style: 09 FACS for Wink (at the bottom

Face Puppet

• Demo the moving of the eyes.
• This is a great tool for those close up emotional moments in a scene.

AccuFace Demo

• • Purchase Content, not needed for class.

Watch the iClone video:

iClone 8 & CC4 Tutorial – Introduction to Edit Facial & Face Key

Motion Puppet

Exercise 1

• Start new project with character
• Be sure Motion is visible on the timeline
• Expand the timeline to about 1200 frames
• Animation >> Motion Puppet
• Add the Talk >> Explain motion
• Press preview then stop
• Now adjust the Exaggeration and Speed sliders for demo
• Demo mouse control
• Record 10 seconds of explain motion
• Move down the timeline to 10 seconds
• Now record Talk >> Talk motion
• Overlap the motion
• Notice feet will need adjustment between keyframes

Exercise 2

• Clear the animations
•  Talk  >> Explain animation
• Mask out the legs
• Record 10 seconds
• Go back to the start of the timeline
• Move >> Basic Walk
• Mask the Arms and Body
• Record 10 seconds
• The mask resets as you change motions.

Pose Animation

• Poses that come with iClone
  • Start a project with an actor on screen
  • Auto Extend off
  • Go to the Animations Pack
  • Search Pose
  • Set 2 poses
  • Right click on the I beam on the Motion Timeline
  • Select Auto Blend Selected Clip
  • Clear the poses from the timeline
  • Click the Auto Extend in the timeline and do the same exercise

Accupose 

• Open Accupose
  • Note only the core poses are available.  The rest are available for subscription.
  • Be sure the Auto Extend in the timeline is on Green
  • Set a pose
  • Set a second pose and third pose
  • An animation sequence is created
  • Now set a 3rd pose
  • Notice the animation now links all 3 with limited editing from there.  So sometimes animators doing pose animation will work with the Auto Extend off so they can move the sequences around without an animation motion clip being created. Auto blend vs Auto Extend.  Maybe you don’t want an animation sequence to auto populate as you decide on poses.

Pose Mixer

• In the last lesson we say that pose animation by itself can cause some inconsistent foot movement.
• Be sure Auto Extend is White on the timeline and not green.
• Start a project with an actor on screen
• Open Animation >> Edit Motion Layer
• Select Pose Mixer
• Unselect the legs to Grey
• Open Content >> Animation >> Search POSE
• Add the Standing pose 2
• Move down the timeline and add Standing Pose 3, 4, and 5 with time between each
• Play and see the stop motion

• On the pose Mixer, select only the legs
• Go to key one and spread the legs
• Copy Pose
• Go to each Key Frame and Paste Pose
  • You will see some foot movement, but for most animations this will be fine
  • More fine control of foot movement will be discussed later
• Right click on the Motion row at the “I Beam” looking marker, select Auto Blend Selected Clip.  Do this until each pose has motion.
• To turn this to a motion clip, turn the Auto Extend (On Green), and add the poses above again on the key frames and a motion will be created.

Watch the iClone videos:

How to Intuitively Design 3D Motion with Pose Mixer

Ways to Standardize Motion Clips for Easier Blending & Alignment

Checkpoint

• CP1
  • 10 Seconds of boxing
  • Remember you can span out the timeline with Alt and the mouse wheel
• CP2
  • 10 Seconds of running and waving arms
• CP3
  • Fall down, up to knees, back to standing

Accupose Control Panel

• Open Actor and Accupose
• TR MODES
  • T= Translation  – Compass Icon (Keep feet set to T as a minimum)
  • R=Rotation – Circle Icon
• 4 Modes, Effectors show the mode you are in
  1. TR  (Minimal AI)
  2. T Only (AI for the Translate directions)
  3. R Only (AI for the Rotate directions)
  4. None – AI Only

• Move Body Option
• Effectors: No T for head or fingers (No AI)

Lock and unlock Presets

• Hip
• Hip and Feet, good for sitting
• Hip, Head, Limbs (No AI)

Watch the iClone video:

Modifying Character Poses with AccuPOSE