How2Animate?

Focksbot · 03-12-2008, 01:05 AM

I think you guys need animators for stuff, right? The major need has actually drawn my interest. There's a good chance I might not make it, but at least I have some aptitude right now. Where to start?

Circuitous · 03-12-2008, 01:05 AM

I've been trying to get that same question answered for weeks.

pF · 03-12-2008, 02:33 AM

Heh.. I posted about this in the modding subforum a couple of times..

- Choose a 3D application (3DS Max, XSI, Maya, ...)
- Get acquainted with controls, keyframing, animation mixers, etc
- decompile existing models and if need be reassign weights or create new skeletons
- animate the nulls/bones
- compile and check with HLMV
- do it all again because something doesn't look right
- ad nauseum

Seriously, it takes time.. and you need a grasp of 3D software. It's fun, but can be a tough bitch.

I recommend the Digital Tutors intro DVD's, and for integrating stuff into the Source engine the Noesis tutorial DVD's, for starters!

Pixel · 03-12-2008, 04:21 AM

Bones ! I tried modeling and animating once. My models were ugly.

Circuitous · 03-12-2008, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -pF-

- decompile existing models and if need be reassign weights or create new skeletons

This part.

pF · 03-12-2008, 05:49 AM

Well..

- use mdldecompiler to decompile the .mdl file. You'll (ideally) be left with a load of .smd files, and a .qc file.

- import the smd file(s) in your 3D app of choice. Usually you'll want to edit the reference file. Trying to edit decompiled animations, on the other hand, is a royal pain in the ass, since the decompiler adds keyframes in every single frame - making it very hard to understand clearly what's happening.

- most of the time, the decompiler will mess up your weightmaps (which tells the model's mesh how to behave when a model's bones move). This means you'll probably need to either do some weightmap editing, or you'll have to paint new weights entirely. This is also a major pain in the butt

Also, the original's bones will have been converted to nulls - this is a nuisance, but not as bad as the two aforementioned.

- Once you've edited the reference, save it as a model smd. Save any animations you created as skeletal animation smds. Then create a qc file with all the stuff you need (animations, hitboxes, materials etc) and compile with Studiomdl.

Nutshell and all that!

Dr.Satan · 03-12-2008, 03:59 PM

I'm going to sticky this cause it's just awesome...but would you all rather it be here or in the modding forum? (modding forum is cleaner!)

pF · 03-12-2008, 05:13 PM

Cool - Modding forum makes more sense, imo!

Dr.Satan · 03-12-2008, 05:54 PM

agreed and done!

Circuitous · 03-13-2008, 10:18 PM

Is there some sort of rational tutorial for using mdldecompiler with third-party mods that I'm not seeing? I'm getting errors all over the fucking place and nothing seems to explain why.

-=Roland=- · 03-14-2008, 12:33 AM

What errors are you getting?

I managed to find some good tutorials a while back, I'll see if I can find them again.

Circuitous · 03-14-2008, 12:35 AM

Unable to find gameinfo.txt, and then a list of dated suggestions that don't work anymore (except maybe this vconfig thing, I don't know what that is).

-=Roland=- · 03-14-2008, 12:46 AM

Found one of the tuts I used:
http://april15th.wordpress.com/2007/...-into-3ds-max/

Are you using CannonFodder's decompiler? If so make sure you copied the program into .../sourcesdk/bin/ep1/bin

Circuitous · 03-14-2008, 12:49 AM

Yeah that's where it is.

Oh Christ I had the Steam thing checked and that's why there was an error god dammit.

Okay thank you! Got it working now.

Edit: Now it says it loaded the model, then it errors out with the "Send error report" deal. It decompiled the first model I tried before erroring out, but it won't do so anymore.

-=Roland=- · 03-14-2008, 12:53 AM

Good! Be sure to share when you get the bones and weightmaps redone

Circuitous · 03-14-2008, 01:06 AM

There are 900 files in ff_player_shared.mdl

That seems like a lot. I don't see a reference in it anywhere.

greenday5494 · 03-14-2008, 03:11 AM

well, at least you're trying. good luck guys.

pF · 03-14-2008, 06:28 AM

ff_player_shared.mdl contains animations only - most player models reference this.

Circuitous · 03-14-2008, 06:39 AM

Yeah, I'm seein' that. Unfortunately I can't seem to open the animations in anything that actually realizes they're animations. I'm left with stills.

Fffff... what would I animate, then? Do it from scratch using something else as a reference?

I need to find out what the workflow for making these was.

pF · 03-14-2008, 07:02 AM

Yeah, it's a bit tedious. In XSI, you need to import the reference model (ie the mesh) and then import the animation smd's.. these get added to the clip mixer.. But since every single frame will be keyframed by the decompiler, they're not easy to edit anyway. I did the medkit anims from scratch, but then again it didn't contain any animations originally, so i didn't have the option of editing pre-existing ones. To change existing animations i would probably say that the best workflow would be to check the original's fps rate and total frame number in HLMV, then create a new animation using the reference model, with the same name and parameters as the original, basically "overwriting" it when you recompile. Then your model file won't have to be installed server-side either, contrary to the medkit mdl.

03-12-2008, 01:05 AM	#1
Focksbot Ambassador of Everything. Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	How2Animate? I think you guys need animators for stuff, right? The major need has actually drawn my interest. There's a good chance I might not make it, but at least I have some aptitude right now. Where to start?

03-12-2008, 01:05 AM	#2
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	I've been trying to get that same question answered for weeks. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-12-2008, 02:33 AM	#3
pF no war but class war Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: big bad berlin Class/Position: Soldier / Scout Gametype: ctf Affiliations: [w~k!] Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Heh.. I posted about this in the modding subforum a couple of times.. - Choose a 3D application (3DS Max, XSI, Maya, ...) - Get acquainted with controls, keyframing, animation mixers, etc - decompile existing models and if need be reassign weights or create new skeletons - animate the nulls/bones - compile and check with HLMV - do it all again because something doesn't look right - ad nauseum Seriously, it takes time.. and you need a grasp of 3D software. It's fun, but can be a tough bitch. I recommend the Digital Tutors intro DVD's, and for integrating stuff into the Source engine the Noesis tutorial DVD's, for starters! __________________ Support FF: Gay And Lesbian Fiction \| Teen Books \| Bath Products

03-12-2008, 05:49 AM	#6
pF no war but class war Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: big bad berlin Class/Position: Soldier / Scout Gametype: ctf Affiliations: [w~k!] Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Well.. - use mdldecompiler to decompile the .mdl file. You'll (ideally) be left with a load of .smd files, and a .qc file. - import the smd file(s) in your 3D app of choice. Usually you'll want to edit the reference file. Trying to edit decompiled animations, on the other hand, is a royal pain in the ass, since the decompiler adds keyframes in every single frame - making it very hard to understand clearly what's happening. - most of the time, the decompiler will mess up your weightmaps (which tells the model's mesh how to behave when a model's bones move). This means you'll probably need to either do some weightmap editing, or you'll have to paint new weights entirely. This is also a major pain in the butt Also, the original's bones will have been converted to nulls - this is a nuisance, but not as bad as the two aforementioned. - Once you've edited the reference, save it as a model smd. Save any animations you created as skeletal animation smds. Then create a qc file with all the stuff you need (animations, hitboxes, materials etc) and compile with Studiomdl. Nutshell and all that! __________________ Support FF: Gay And Lesbian Fiction \| Teen Books \| Bath Products

03-12-2008, 03:59 PM	#7
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	I'm going to sticky this cause it's just awesome...but would you all rather it be here or in the modding forum? (modding forum is cleaner!) __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

03-12-2008, 04:21 AM	#4
Pixel if(0>1){printf("broked");} Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Amerika Class/Position: O Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Bones ! I tried modeling and animating once. My models were ugly.

03-12-2008, 05:13 PM	#8
pF no war but class war Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: big bad berlin Class/Position: Soldier / Scout Gametype: ctf Affiliations: [w~k!] Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Cool - Modding forum makes more sense, imo! __________________ Support FF: Gay And Lesbian Fiction \| Teen Books \| Bath Products

03-12-2008, 05:54 PM	#9
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	agreed and done! __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

03-13-2008, 10:18 PM	#10
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Is there some sort of rational tutorial for using mdldecompiler with third-party mods that I'm not seeing? I'm getting errors all over the fucking place and nothing seems to explain why. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-14-2008, 12:33 AM	#11
-=Roland=- Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hiram, GA Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	What errors are you getting? I managed to find some good tutorials a while back, I'll see if I can find them again.

03-14-2008, 12:35 AM	#12
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Unable to find gameinfo.txt, and then a list of dated suggestions that don't work anymore (except maybe this vconfig thing, I don't know what that is). __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-14-2008, 12:46 AM	#13
-=Roland=- Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hiram, GA Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Found one of the tuts I used: http://april15th.wordpress.com/2007/...-into-3ds-max/ Are you using CannonFodder's decompiler? If so make sure you copied the program into .../sourcesdk/bin/ep1/bin

03-14-2008, 12:49 AM	#14
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Yeah that's where it is. Oh Christ I had the Steam thing checked and that's why there was an error god dammit. Okay thank you! Got it working now. Edit: Now it says it loaded the model, then it errors out with the "Send error report" deal. It decompiled the first model I tried before erroring out, but it won't do so anymore. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-14-2008, 12:53 AM	#15
-=Roland=- Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hiram, GA Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Good! Be sure to share when you get the bones and weightmaps redone

03-14-2008, 01:06 AM	#16
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	There are 900 files in ff_player_shared.mdl That seems like a lot. I don't see a reference in it anywhere. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-14-2008, 03:11 AM	#17
greenday5494 Holy shit, thats kerrigan! D&A Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Class/Position: D, whatever the team needs, usually engy Gametype: AvD Affiliations: None Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	well, at least you're trying. good luck guys. __________________ http://static.adrive.com/images/ads/...rbo_468x60.gif DAN MAPES!

03-14-2008, 06:28 AM	#18
pF no war but class war Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: big bad berlin Class/Position: Soldier / Scout Gametype: ctf Affiliations: [w~k!] Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	ff_player_shared.mdl contains animations only - most player models reference this. __________________ Support FF: Gay And Lesbian Fiction \| Teen Books \| Bath Products

03-14-2008, 06:39 AM	#19
Circuitous Useless Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jun 2005 Class/Position: D Soldier, O Scout Gametype: AvD Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Yeah, I'm seein' that. Unfortunately I can't seem to open the animations in anything that actually realizes they're animations. I'm left with stills. Fffff... what would I animate, then? Do it from scratch using something else as a reference? I need to find out what the workflow for making these was. __________________ Look at all those dead links.

03-14-2008, 07:02 AM	#20
pF no war but class war Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: big bad berlin Class/Position: Soldier / Scout Gametype: ctf Affiliations: [w~k!] Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Yeah, it's a bit tedious. In XSI, you need to import the reference model (ie the mesh) and then import the animation smd's.. these get added to the clip mixer.. But since every single frame will be keyframed by the decompiler, they're not easy to edit anyway. I did the medkit anims from scratch, but then again it didn't contain any animations originally, so i didn't have the option of editing pre-existing ones. To change existing animations i would probably say that the best workflow would be to check the original's fps rate and total frame number in HLMV, then create a new animation using the reference model, with the same name and parameters as the original, basically "overwriting" it when you recompile. Then your model file won't have to be installed server-side either, contrary to the medkit mdl. __________________ Support FF: Gay And Lesbian Fiction \| Teen Books \| Bath Products

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)