So here’s what we did!

First after creating the character animation we used Josh’s Mel script to make the character mesh selectable -

//turn on selectability
//hand
setAttr “hand_left_grp.overrideEnabled” 0;
//hand
setAttr “hand_right_grp.overrideEnabled” 0;
//body
setAttr “all_anim|Geo_grp.overrideEnabled” 0;
//face
setAttr “FacialRig_grp|Geo_grp.overrideEnabled” 0;

Next, we put that geometry into a set, and then used a Python script that Josh supplied us -

import maya.cmds as mc
def returnAllDeformers(obj):
“”"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Pythonized from – http://www.scriptswell.net/2010/09/mel-list-all-deformers-on-mesh.html

DESCRIPTION:
Returns a list of deformers on an object in order from top to bottom

REQUIRES:
obj(string)

RETURNS:
deformers(list)/False
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“”"
objHistory = mc.listHistory(obj,pruneDagObjects=True)
deformers = []
if objHistory != None:
for node in objHistory:
typeBuffer = mc.nodeType(node, inherited=True)
if ‘geometryFilter’ in typeBuffer:
deformers.append(node)
if len(deformers)>0:
return deformers
else:
return False

 

def polyUniteGeo(objList,name=’unitedGeo’):
“”"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
DESCRIPTION:
Unites polys with the poly unite command. Every piece of geo must have
a deformer node with an .outputGeometry

REQUIRES:
objList(string)
name(string) – base name for the geo and node created

RETURNS:
returnList = [unifedGeoName,polyUniteNode]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“”"
geoOutNodes = []

“”" get all of the outMesh possibilities”"”
for obj in objList:
outGeoNode = False
deformers = returnAllDeformers(obj)
for i in range(len(deformers)):
if mc.objExists(deformers[i]+’.outputGeometry’) == True:
outGeoNode = (deformers[i]+’.outputGeometry’)
geoOutNodes.append(outGeoNode)
if outGeoNode != False:
break

if len(geoOutNodes) != len(objList):
print “Don’t have connections for all geo pieces”
return False

“”" make the node “”"
unitedGeoBuffer = mc.polyUnite(geoOutNodes,name=(name+’_polyUnite’))
unitedGeo = unitedGeoBuffer[0]
uniteNode = unitedGeoBuffer[1]
uniteNode = mc.rename(uniteNode,(name+’_polyUniteNode’))

“”" Connect the various pieces to the polyUnite”"”
for obj in objList:
index = objList.index(obj)
mc.connectAttr((‘%s%s’% (geoOutNodes[index],’[0]‘)),(‘%s%s%i%s’% (uniteNode,’.inputPoly[',index,']‘)),f=True)
mc.connectAttr((‘%s%s’% (obj,’.worldMatrix[0]‘)),(‘%s%s%i%s’% (uniteNode,’.inputMat[',index,']‘)),f=True)

return [unitedGeo,uniteNode]

This script doesn’t appear to do anything, but then you run this other Python script that Josh shared with us -

import maya.cmds as mc
geo = mc.ls(sl=True)
TheNameYouWant = ‘ThisIsMyNewName’
polyUniteGeo(geo,name=TheNameYouWant)

The only thing you’ll wanna change is the ThisIsMyNewName text to whatever you want the base name to be.
At this point there will be a new item in the Outliner, ThisIsMyNewName_polyUnite. Select it, and run a Geometry Cache.

Cache settings:
Cache directory/name, named relevant to scene and animation
File distribution: One file
Store points as: Float
Cache time range: [whatever range necessary]
Create!

Then toss the mesh into a Set, and while it is still selected go and export selected!

Exporting the FBX, animation checked – everything in animation is unchecked except Geometry Cache File(s), where you also pick the set that you created which will have your polyUnited geo. Export!

I wanted to get outside, get busy, and use my equipment. Found an empty street in my neighborhood and shot angles for photoscan to reconstruct as well as an HDRI with a nodal ninja. Processed it all back at home and dropped some 3d geometry and growing ivy. Wanted to portray something organic against all the brick and concrete.

http://vimeo.com/30935343
I’ve been obsessing over this new software I purchased, PhotoScan. After taking several photos of a place or object, the software aligns features and reconstructs the scene to the best of its abilities. I’m using several photos and PhotoScan to create the image above.

Two weeks before Christmas I was working on this little project with a friend, Leah Lin. An awesomely talented illustrator,internet guru, and desert maker. The client asked simply to have their company name at the end of an animation that jived with the holidays. We started out with some hilarious google doc brainstorming/collaboration for what the animation would be about. We presented three storyboarded options before getting the green light on one and starting development. Leah made awesome illustrations/concepts which I followed for the look and feel of the animation. I was responsible for all the 3d; building the geometry, texturing, camera work, and final rendering and compositing.

Here are some behind the scenes of the process –

picked storyboard

illustrations and 3d works in progress

ps: I was very proud of the candle flames on the candles in the interior… I setup a little video shoot in my kitchen with a candle – the video of flame was composited into shot.

See the report here! http://www.livingcities.org/2010-annual-report/

progress:

final animation:

So I had the chance to work with a great group of freelancers for a few months over at THD. We were revamping a few spots for Exxon Mobil, taking previous low quality 3d animation and giving it more of a realistic and high quality twist to it. I got to take several shots practically from beginning to end, submitting style frames every week and pumping out HD animations like a mad man.

Here are a few stills that represent the work I was doing:

Most of this was modeling, texturing, look developing, and then some camera work. These are stills from various points of each of the scenes I worked on and later during production they were picked up by other artists for changes requested by the client.