Second Life Forums Archive - FAQ for Animators

Pietro Maracas

Registered User

Join date: 27 Sep 2004

Posts: 104

06-01-2005 10:08

From: Vershana Amarula

Did anything ever come of this?

Thanks for a needed prod on this. Below is my first draft of this FAQ. Please review it. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Are any major/common problems missing? Are the questions clear and include synonyms to help noobs connect their problem with the related question and answers? Are better answers/explanations posted than the ones I included?

Pietro

- - - - - - - -

FAQ for New Animators (Draft 1):

1. OK, I'm a newbie. How do I create an animation?

See Basic Animation Tutorial Online at /52/58/17018/1.html.

2. Why isn't this body part moving in SL the way it does in Poser?!?!

See Animation Tip - Working with Frame 1 at /52/e4/27721/1.html.

And, Head Moving at /52/9a/19965/1.html

And also, Please Explain Priority at /52/5b/18121/1.html.

3. How do I make a pose stick/freeze or an animation repeat/loop?

See Making a Pose Stick at /52/f0/19841/1.html.

And, Looping Animations at /52/d5/16444/1.html.

4. OMG, my animation/pose looks great in Poser, but in SL, my av is floating/hovering above the ground, sinks into the ground, or is not flipped/rotated!

See When You Make a Laying or Sitting Pose at /52/f8/19023/1.html.

And, Floating Poses at /52/f6/16297/1.html.

And also, Animation Not Rotated Correctly at /52/e7/22803/1.html.

5. How can I make facial expressions or animate hands?

See Animating Facial Expression at /52/05/29129/1.html.

And, Hand Animations at /52/25/30328/1.html.

6. I just bought Poser 6, but when I try to upload my animation in Second Life, I get an error message that says, "Unable to read animation file can't get rotation values"!

See Poser Question at /52/06/79269/1.html, especially Seagel Neville's response.

Strife Onizuka

Moonchild

Join date: 3 Mar 2004

Posts: 5,887

FAQ for Animators

04-15-2005 19:08

This FAQ is to help new and old Residents alike to learn how to create content, focusing on animations. Below users have submitted questions with links to threads where they are answered in more detail.

If you wish to discuss this FAQ please post it to the discussion thread. Questions and comments should also be posted to the discussion thread. [Link]

This is a Resident maintained FAQ for animators. If you have a link to a thread, website, or other resource that is useful for the creation and use of animations, please post it below. The goal is to provide links to questions that have already been answered. There are a few rules for submission.

Rules:

Do not post unanswered questions to this FAQ (this isn't the "I need help" thread).
Try not to post opinions to this FAQ.
Do not advertise in this FAQ.

If a post does not fit with-in the rules of the FAQ it may be removed or moved to the discussion thread without warning (better put, this was the warning).

Strife: To kick things off, I've duplicated Pietro's excellent post from his FAQ thread.

_____________________

Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms, the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river.
- Cyril Connolly

Without the political will to find common ground, the continual friction of tactic and counter tactic, only creates suspicion and hatred and vengeance, and perpetuates the cycle of violence.
- James Nachtwey

Chip Midnight

ate my baby!

Join date: 1 May 2003

Posts: 10,231

05-31-2006 09:30

Animation Concepts: Keyframes - a discussion of basic animation concepts and terminology. A good place to start for beginning animators.

_____________________

My other hobby:
www.live365.com/stations/chip_midnight

Vince Invincible

avimator.com

Join date: 20 Apr 2006

Posts: 27

07-05-2006 19:29

Avimator Beginner's Guide - a tutorial for Avimator, a free program for making simple poses and animations.

Strife Onizuka

Moonchild

Join date: 3 Mar 2004

Posts: 5,887

07-26-2006 20:57

What software can I use to edit/make animations?
Animation Editors (Free & Commercial)

_____________________

Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms, the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river.
- Cyril Connolly

Without the political will to find common ground, the continual friction of tactic and counter tactic, only creates suspicion and hatred and vengeance, and perpetuates the cycle of violence.
- James Nachtwey

Strife Onizuka

Moonchild

Join date: 3 Mar 2004

Posts: 5,887

11-04-2006 06:21

Animation tip - working with frame 1 - Dealing with the reference frame requirement.

_____________________

Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms, the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river.
- Cyril Connolly

Without the political will to find common ground, the continual friction of tactic and counter tactic, only creates suspicion and hatred and vengeance, and perpetuates the cycle of violence.
- James Nachtwey

Candy Durant

Registered User

Join date: 7 Aug 2006

Posts: 2

New URL?

12-09-2006 04:57

Hey! Is there a new URL for the tutorial? The one listed does not seem to work. I have Poser 4 and I wanna play

Valradica Vanek

Registered User

Join date: 1 Aug 2006

Posts: 78

More Animation Info

03-27-2007 15:42

To all Animators and would be animators.

Attached is an extensive write-up of all kinds of tricks and tips for animators that I have been accumulating since I started doing this. It is included in a post I originally put to this forum called "Animations Unravelled and Explained". (I would link this here, but I can't figure out how to create the link)

I have learned much from all the posts here and thought it was time to throw in my collection of thoughts to help others.

Valradica

Fuxor Flanagan

Registered User

Join date: 9 Jun 2007

Posts: 4

06-29-2007 09:38

If this is the BASIC tutorial for animation in SL and just for BASIC animations you need Poser, does this mean that you can ONLY make animations for SL using Poser?

Bob

Gregory McLeod

Registered User

Join date: 21 Oct 2006

Posts: 278

07-02-2007 08:37

No I'm using Qavimator.

FD Spark

Prim & Texture Doodler

Join date: 30 Oct 2006

Posts: 4,697

08-23-2007 03:19

Hey is there a way to do complex prim related animations in SL?
Like prims shapes that are animated that can move, make gestures?
Is there away to upload animated gif images?
If so can someone point to me guide that explains this?
Thanks in advance

Void Singer

Int vSelf = Sing(void);

Join date: 24 Sep 2005

Posts: 6,973

LL Anim Priority list

11-24-2007 22:59

default animation priority list (post 5) (thanks Bee)

note that some default animations do not animate all parts, and some seem to have different priorities for different parts, see thread for details.

EDIT:
the list of default anim keys for use/recognition in scripted projects
https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Internal_Animations

_____________________

|
| . "Cat-Like Typing Detected"
| . This post may contain errors in logic, spelling, and
| . grammar known to the SL populace to cause confusion
|
| - Please Use PHP tags when posting scripts/code, Thanks.
| - Can't See PHP or URL Tags Correctly? Check Out This Link...
| -

Seshat Czeret

Registered User

Join date: 26 May 2008

Posts: 152

07-12-2008 15:24

An animation-in-Blender tutorial, targetted for Second Life.

http://jacek.meratalk.com/sl-animation-for-blender-newbs/

_____________________

My blog: http://seshat-czeret.blogspot.com/
My shop: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Achlya/199/185/102

Jayne Dixon

Registered User

Join date: 1 Feb 2008

Posts: 1

Pose still does not freeze

01-24-2009 17:14

urgh I am really fustrated what am I doing wrong? I want to make a pose stick/freeze, I have checked the loop box and made the 'in' and 'out' to 100%, I have played the animation before uploading it seems fine, but now my avi is posing on it and it moves wherever my mouse cursor is. Please help, what else can I do?

Lazink Maeterlinck

Registered User

Join date: 8 Nov 2005

Posts: 332

01-24-2009 18:20

YOu have to "lock" the joints. This is done by moving every single possible joint at least a little bit in frame 2. So from Frame one, the standard pose that everyone starts with, and in frame 2 you have to make sure that no joint has the same numbers as from one. That will "lock" that joint in the animation.

Noelita Foxdale

Registered User

Join date: 28 Jul 2009

Posts: 11

08-29-2009 20:43

people.. sorry If I post this in the wrong section.. but I dont know where at

i got a free animation stand and I DONT GET HOW TO USE IT, im a totally newbie about this stuff.
help!!!

_____________________

◘ Noe ◘

FAQ for Animators
Pietro Maracas Registered User Join date: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 104	06-01-2005 10:08 From: Vershana Amarula Did anything ever come of this? Thanks for a needed prod on this. Below is my first draft of this FAQ. Please review it. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated. Are any major/common problems missing? Are the questions clear and include synonyms to help noobs connect their problem with the related question and answers? Are better answers/explanations posted than the ones I included? Pietro - - - - - - - - FAQ for New Animators (Draft 1): 1. OK, I'm a newbie. How do I create an animation? See Basic Animation Tutorial Online at /52/58/17018/1.html. 2. Why isn't this body part moving in SL the way it does in Poser?!?! See Animation Tip - Working with Frame 1 at /52/e4/27721/1.html. And, Head Moving at /52/9a/19965/1.html And also, Please Explain Priority at /52/5b/18121/1.html. 3. How do I make a pose stick/freeze or an animation repeat/loop? See Making a Pose Stick at /52/f0/19841/1.html. And, Looping Animations at /52/d5/16444/1.html. 4. OMG, my animation/pose looks great in Poser, but in SL, my av is floating/hovering above the ground, sinks into the ground, or is not flipped/rotated! See When You Make a Laying or Sitting Pose at /52/f8/19023/1.html. And, Floating Poses at /52/f6/16297/1.html. And also, Animation Not Rotated Correctly at /52/e7/22803/1.html. 5. How can I make facial expressions or animate hands? See Animating Facial Expression at /52/05/29129/1.html. And, Hand Animations at /52/25/30328/1.html. 6. I just bought Poser 6, but when I try to upload my animation in Second Life, I get an error message that says, "Unable to read animation file can't get rotation values"! See Poser Question at /52/06/79269/1.html, especially Seagel Neville's response.
Strife Onizuka Moonchild Join date: 3 Mar 2004 Posts: 5,887	FAQ for Animators 04-15-2005 19:08 This FAQ is to help new and old Residents alike to learn how to create content, focusing on animations. Below users have submitted questions with links to threads where they are answered in more detail. If you wish to discuss this FAQ please post it to the discussion thread. Questions and comments should also be posted to the discussion thread. [Link] This is a Resident maintained FAQ for animators. If you have a link to a thread, website, or other resource that is useful for the creation and use of animations, please post it below. The goal is to provide links to questions that have already been answered. There are a few rules for submission. Rules: Do not post unanswered questions to this FAQ (this isn't the "I need help" thread). Try not to post opinions to this FAQ. Do not advertise in this FAQ. If a post does not fit with-in the rules of the FAQ it may be removed or moved to the discussion thread without warning (better put, this was the warning). Strife: To kick things off, I've duplicated Pietro's excellent post from his FAQ thread. _____________________ Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms, the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river. - Cyril Connolly Without the political will to find common ground, the continual friction of tactic and counter tactic, only creates suspicion and hatred and vengeance, and perpetuates the cycle of violence. - James Nachtwey
Chip Midnight ate my baby! Join date: 1 May 2003 Posts: 10,231	05-31-2006 09:30 Animation Concepts: Keyframes - a discussion of basic animation concepts and terminology. A good place to start for beginning animators. _____________________ My other hobby: www.live365.com/stations/chip_midnight
Vince Invincible avimator.com Join date: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 27	07-05-2006 19:29 Avimator Beginner's Guide - a tutorial for Avimator, a free program for making simple poses and animations.
Strife Onizuka Moonchild Join date: 3 Mar 2004 Posts: 5,887	07-26-2006 20:57 What software can I use to edit/make animations? Animation Editors (Free & Commercial) _____________________ Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms, the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river. - Cyril Connolly Without the political will to find common ground, the continual friction of tactic and counter tactic, only creates suspicion and hatred and vengeance, and perpetuates the cycle of violence. - James Nachtwey
Strife Onizuka Moonchild Join date: 3 Mar 2004 Posts: 5,887	11-04-2006 06:21 Animation tip - working with frame 1 - Dealing with the reference frame requirement. _____________________ Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms, the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river. - Cyril Connolly Without the political will to find common ground, the continual friction of tactic and counter tactic, only creates suspicion and hatred and vengeance, and perpetuates the cycle of violence. - James Nachtwey
Candy Durant Registered User Join date: 7 Aug 2006 Posts: 2	New URL? 12-09-2006 04:57 Hey! Is there a new URL for the tutorial? The one listed does not seem to work. I have Poser 4 and I wanna play
Valradica Vanek Registered User Join date: 1 Aug 2006 Posts: 78	More Animation Info 03-27-2007 15:42 To all Animators and would be animators. Attached is an extensive write-up of all kinds of tricks and tips for animators that I have been accumulating since I started doing this. It is included in a post I originally put to this forum called "Animations Unravelled and Explained". (I would link this here, but I can't figure out how to create the link) I have learned much from all the posts here and thought it was time to throw in my collection of thoughts to help others. Valradica
Fuxor Flanagan Registered User Join date: 9 Jun 2007 Posts: 4	06-29-2007 09:38 If this is the BASIC tutorial for animation in SL and just for BASIC animations you need Poser, does this mean that you can ONLY make animations for SL using Poser? Bob
Gregory McLeod Registered User Join date: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 278	07-02-2007 08:37 No I'm using Qavimator.
FD Spark Prim & Texture Doodler Join date: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 4,697	08-23-2007 03:19 Hey is there a way to do complex prim related animations in SL? Like prims shapes that are animated that can move, make gestures? Is there away to upload animated gif images? If so can someone point to me guide that explains this? Thanks in advance
Void Singer Int vSelf = Sing(void); Join date: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 6,973	LL Anim Priority list 11-24-2007 22:59 default animation priority list (post 5) (thanks Bee) note that some default animations do not animate all parts, and some seem to have different priorities for different parts, see thread for details. EDIT: the list of default anim keys for use/recognition in scripted projects https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Internal_Animations _____________________ \| \| . "Cat-Like Typing Detected" \| . This post may contain errors in logic, spelling, and \| . grammar known to the SL populace to cause confusion \| \| - Please Use PHP tags when posting scripts/code, Thanks. \| - Can't See PHP or URL Tags Correctly? Check Out This Link... \| -
Seshat Czeret Registered User Join date: 26 May 2008 Posts: 152	07-12-2008 15:24 An animation-in-Blender tutorial, targetted for Second Life. http://jacek.meratalk.com/sl-animation-for-blender-newbs/ _____________________ My blog: http://seshat-czeret.blogspot.com/ My shop: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Achlya/199/185/102
Jayne Dixon Registered User Join date: 1 Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Pose still does not freeze 01-24-2009 17:14 urgh I am really fustrated what am I doing wrong? I want to make a pose stick/freeze, I have checked the loop box and made the 'in' and 'out' to 100%, I have played the animation before uploading it seems fine, but now my avi is posing on it and it moves wherever my mouse cursor is. Please help, what else can I do?
Lazink Maeterlinck Registered User Join date: 8 Nov 2005 Posts: 332	01-24-2009 18:20 YOu have to "lock" the joints. This is done by moving every single possible joint at least a little bit in frame 2. So from Frame one, the standard pose that everyone starts with, and in frame 2 you have to make sure that no joint has the same numbers as from one. That will "lock" that joint in the animation.
Noelita Foxdale Registered User Join date: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 11	08-29-2009 20:43 people.. sorry If I post this in the wrong section.. but I dont know where at i got a free animation stand and I DONT GET HOW TO USE IT, im a totally newbie about this stuff. help!!! _____________________ ◘ Noe ◘

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