LW -> XSI facial animations?

[paulrus]

I'm curious if anyone has had any experience moving facial animation from LW to XSI (using Point Oven I assume)?

I'm bidding a project and I have a terrific facial animator lined up, but he works in Lightwave only. I'd love to hear any tricks/tips/pitfalls you have experienced.

Thanks,

PG

[norvman]

I haven't but .... I'm pretty sure Thomas (T4D) and Paul "Pooby" Smith have...

[Piolla]

Well, I'm a LW user and still learning XSI, but I've done some tests with imported Animation from LW to XSI. All he has to do is apply MDscan plugin after the Animation is done and save the MDD point cache.
Then, you import the model .lwo from LW via Point Owen and import the .MDD also through Point Owen and you are ready to render.

Now, if your Animator gives XSI a try I bet he will be doing the same stuff he is used to do in LW in a day.

Cheers!

[norvman]

Now, if your Animator gives XSI a try I bet he will be doing the same stuff he is used to do in LW in a day.

Yes...

also being an Ex_Waver... I can't imagine why anyone would want to animate in LW... (unless they just have never dipped their toes into the XSI animation pond

[paulrus]

Well... lets just say this animator is one of the most well known LW'ers out there and his stuff is used by Newtek to promote LW. It's highly doubtful he'll make any changes and possibly jeopardize that relationship.

[norvman]

Well... lets just say this animator is one of the most well known LW'ers out there and his stuff is used by Newtek to promote LW. It's highly doubtful he'll make any changes and possibly jeopardize that relationship.

Reason number one not to use Wave as an Animation tool...

Newtek makes great strides to cover up the truth of the broken software in the Area of animation Especially Character Animation....

it is a telling fact that a major growth sector for XSI has been old Waver's who just want a decent chance at some Character Animation

Never the less...
One must live and operate in the world as it is...
So you certainly have my sympathy and understanding...

So ...
We talking Vaughn, Albee, Ablan, Gorden, Grimes?

[paulrus]

Can't get too specific, but I'll say YES.

I totally agree with you, though. Rigging and animation is so simple in XSI. In LW it seems like everything needs a hack or plug-in to make it work.

But, on the other side, LWs renderer is still really nice and 999 free render nodes makes business sense.

Didn't mean to derail the topic, though.

PG

[norvman]

Didn't mean to derail the topic, though.

Yes ... sorry... me either...

again however Thomas 4D and Paul (pooby) Smith are both doing the "animate in XSI and render out in Lightwave" bit....
go to their websites...
send them some email ...
tell them I sent yah....
I'm sure they have loads specifics on the whole process...