#ILM
>"Computer Graphics World"
That mag is on my list of regular reading, along with DTVW, 3D Artist,
Videography, an occaional Mac mag, and a forgotten few others.
I don't have many choices of 3D around here, so I had to get my own setup, and
work from the ground up. I am carving my own 3D way here at college, getting
out of classes to do independent 3D work- using my own equipment, and such.
Playmation is a pretty cool Windows based program. It is fully spline
based, and has spine, muscle and morphing features needed for good
char. anim. The motion is also variable, rather than linear from one
keyframe to another/etc. The guys making the program are trying to
make as sophisticated a program (for char. anim.) as possible. There
is a step up to Playmation, called ProMation- due out now. It
features Inverse Kinematics, full splines, skinning between 2
hierarchically connected objects, and a bunch more stuff that I have
not seen in any other programs other than SoftImage, and the like.
Pro. costs around $800 too. It will import .DXF files as well. I
plan to get it soon, but I don't have the cash for it right now. I
have a more immediate need for video out, and a bigger HD.
I do see R3 being a good tool though. I'd like both. Since they both
support compositing, I'd like to be able to combine the two
together. Mabe R4 will give more flexability for its objects,
allowing the features of real character type animating programs like
Promation. Both spline and polygon objects together might be an
option..
3DS *can* do char., but it seems real hard. I saw a mouse anim. that
looked really good for 3DS. It looked like something done in a char.
based program- but I know it took alot of work to do it. Check it
out, it's on the R3 demo tape. Everything else I've seen has it's
limbs chopped off, allowing them to move. That can look neat, but
it's not cool when that's the only easy way to do it. Enough ragging
on 3DS- I think it's a fine program, and it is the best "swiss army
knife" for 3D. I'd buy it if I were doing 3D for a living. I
couldn't afford not to.
>ILM
Yeah, I know that ILM has been pretty "introverted" since it's big take off in
the Star Wars trilogy. I understand though. I've heard of tons of fans
swarming their studios for a peek into their world. <g>
Thanks for you input.
John