3D Animation Q/A

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by greenstriker

Yeah, I have a question.

Are there any initiation files, or files we must fill out specifically for the animation that our team must submit for the competition?

Sorry, I was browsing all of the sites, and I couldn't find anything.

yeah there is a form online that you fill when you submit your animation.

[theanimator17]

I was wondering if when they say

If your entry contains audio and it is not original audio, you must provide written consent from the legal copyright owner

does that include any sound effects added? like, if i went to a website to find a sound effect for like footsteps, or a vehicle, or something like that, do I need to get permission or is that just music? I am thinking it is all audio in general, but I just want to make sure and wondering if anyone knew about that.

[3dfernando]

I think only copyrighted sound will need written permission. But i'm not sure...

Anyways, we are making our own sounds, just because it isn't very clear on the rules (well it's a bit amateur since nobody here knows anything about this =p)
G.L. =)

[Mazin]

IANYL, but anything you do not produce yourself is not your's to use. If the website where you got them from explicitly states that the sounds are freely available for use in your own productions and/or they are copylefted, then you are (probably) OK and do not need written consent.

If not, then don't use them.

[theanimator17]

Well, if i was to make my own sounds, how would i make a sound of say, a helicopter or something like that? That is something that would seem tough to make a sound for wouldn't it? or i guess i could record one myself if i get lucky and see one nearby.

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by theanimator17

Well, if i was to make my own sounds, how would i make a sound of say, a helicopter or something like that? That is something that would seem tough to make a sound for wouldn't it? or i guess i could record one myself if i get lucky and see one nearby.

There is a lot of sounds you can do with your own body. Be creative. for example, the crushing bones sound you hear in the moive Jaws is actually cabbage being torn apart and cut with a knife.

[3DWolf]

We are using a map for our background (sky), and I was wondering if there was any way to modify that (such as darken it) over time. My partner and I cannot seem to find a way using keys or anything. I don't think it's possible. Anyone have any idea's?

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by 3DWolf

We are using a map for our background (sky), and I was wondering if there was any way to modify that (such as darken it) over time. My partner and I cannot seem to find a way using keys or anything. I don't think it's possible. Anyone have any idea's?

Okay what you need to do is make a sphere that covers the entire area so your scene is inside the sphere. Then import the bitmap into materials and give that material to the giant sphere. Make sure to check the "2-sided" otherwise the sphere wont show. In the bitmap parameters there is a graph that you can adjust to make the map darker. Also set the shere to 100 self illumination.

Or. you can scrap the sphere and keep the matiral and use the matirial as the background.

[3DWolf]

Originally Posted by BuddyB309

Okay what you need to do is make a sphere that covers the entire area so your scene is inside the sphere. Then import the bitmap into materials and give that material to the giant sphere. Make sure to check the "2-sided" otherwise the sphere wont show. In the bitmap parameters there is a graph that you can adjust to make the map darker. Also set the shere to 100 self illumination.

Or. you can scrap the sphere and keep the matiral and use the matirial as the background.

We were doing that for some other things, I didn't think about doing it that way. Where do I have to move the map file to get it to show as a material? Also, do I have to change it anyway? Because wouldn't it still be a 2d map?

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by 3DWolf

We were doing that for some other things, I didn't think about doing it that way. Where do I have to move the map file to get it to show as a material? Also, do I have to change it anyway? Because wouldn't it still be a 2d map?

alright, when you are in the evironment map adder window, on the left side of the window you should see material editor. Click on that and choose your material from there. I would suggests doing the giant sphere rout cause if your camera moves at all in your animation your sky will just say in one spot. If you do the sphere then the sky will move with your evironment. Although skylight wont work with the giant sphere.

But if you have problems with your lights you can exclude the sphere to the in the lights options.

[3dfernando]

With the environment and material editor windows open, drag the backgroound map from environ. window to any slot of material editor, and name it as an instance of the map. Now you can change the attributes of the background image via material editor. To darken it, just go to the last (output) rollout and change the Output amount/RGB offset sliders (with autokey on) until you are satisfied.

You can use a cylinder/sphere to make environment, but I don't recommend unless your camera rotates a lot, and unless your environment map is "really" appearing...

But the sphere trick has some disadvantages: If your camera rotates 360º, it will appear the "seam" that represents the start of the map... Unless your map is "tileable" =p .
And like buddy said, it doesn't allow skylight to light the scene. And you have to flip the sphere's normals (or apply a 2-sided material), otherwise it won't work.

[Mazin]

You don't need a giant sphere.

Put a map in the Environment slot as usual, and then animate the "Output level" in the map's properties. 1 is regular brightness. 0 is black.

Note, has not been tested in Max.

[3DWolf]

Originally Posted by Mazin

You don't need a giant sphere.

Put a map in the Environment slot as usual, and then animate the "Output level" in the map's properties. 1 is regular brightness. 0 is black.

Note, has not been tested in Max.

Oh hey! That worked very well! My team has been trying to figure that out for the past two weeks!
I guess that's what you get what your 3d team consists of a 2 year and a 1 year animator

[Mazin]

Originally Posted by 3DWolf

Oh hey! That worked very well! My team has been trying to figure that out for the past two weeks!
I guess that's what you get what your 3d team consists of a 2 year and a 1 year animator

I win

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by Mazin

I win

You do know this means war........