How do I .. not use the "eyepatch"? or Headturns a

etherpictures · Post by **etherpictures** » Thu May 28, 2009 4:22 am

What I am trying to do.
Create a head and body that can be in front, 3/4, and side views.
With actions (or switch layers) for eyes and mouth.

Right now I am using actions with point motion to create the head turn. (Actions with bone moments for arms and legs.)
What I am not 100% happy with is having to use the one shape under the left eye to cover the right eye. I will run into issues when I try to turn the head the other way. I can flip layers, but this won't work on a asymmetrical head, and will have to redo a lot of work, making a "template" rather useless.

The "eye patch" came about because I was not able to create a outline by using two shapes for the face, left side/right side. This way would have let me have more points for the side view profile, and less points for just the head.
For arms and legs I am running into the same problem were the "front" view does not work well to move to a side view. I will have to make 3 front views in the end. a true front, left facing front and right facing front. Actually, I will most likely have to do something similar for the head.

My question is. Does this seem like a practical method to keep moving forward with, or will I run into other issues that will force me to scrap this method? Or is there an easier way?

The 2.5D for me would either have too many bones, or not be able to make it all the way from a front to side view, as far as I can tell. Maybe I am missing something here?

frame 0

Half way though to the side view.

all the way to the side.

closeup of 3/4 view

same shot in preview mode

between 3/4 and side view. it looks a little goofy, but maybe no one will notice.

DK · Post by DK » Thu May 28, 2009 6:02 am

This might help.

http://www.wienertoonz.com/DKdemoguy.zip

There is a lot of shape masking that can be replaced now by using animated layer switching.
Here is an example

http://www.wienertoonz.com/DKLayordturn.anme

Cheers
D.K

etherpictures · Post by **etherpictures** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:05 pm

DK,
That helps a lot. I have been studying your files.
I Was quickly able to take your sample guy and make actions out of the scale bone movements. Pretty much what I have been trying to accomplish.

Unfortunately I do not think my current character will be able to handle that or the layer animations, since I did it all with only one vector layer.

back to the drawing board.

DK · Post by DK » Thu May 28, 2009 11:10 pm

What you have done so far looks great etherpictures. The good thing is once you have created your template you'll be able to use it over and over, so it's worth going back to the drawing board in the long run.

Cheers
D.K

etherpictures · Post by **etherpictures** » Sat May 30, 2009 10:06 pm

DK,
Thank you for the compliment, but even more for the help. I had my first small victory.
One thing I am starting to notice, is that as a template it may make more sense to bind more to layers than points if possible. This should make things a little easier if a character gets more or less complex.
Next issue to tackle is the jaw and mouth.
Then body, then on to actually making something.

DK · Post by DK » Sun May 31, 2009 12:49 am

It looks like you're doing well! I'dlove to see the final results when you get the head complete.

Cheers
D.K

etherpictures · Post by **etherpictures** » Sun May 31, 2009 6:32 pm

Here is my result.
I cheated by flipping the bone layer, except for the mouth switch layer. I can see that for an actual character, I will have to re-do the other half of the head every time anyways for anything asymmetrical.
I hope to use papagayo for lip sync. I wonder if it is possible to use multiple switch layers and have it work well, guess I will find out at some point. Something like:
Mouth
normal
A, E, etc..
Angry
A, E, etc.
happy
......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxCOTOltVKE

Thank you again![/list]