MoCap

Motion Capture and Blender Process

• • In the Motion Capture Studio

    • Follow procedure for motion capture in the UIC MoCap Studio (http://www.evl.uic.edu/sjames/mocap/tutorial.html)

    • Save the .vsk file (skeleton) and all the .V files (motion)

    • In MotionBuilder

      • Import the .vsk skeleton

      • Import all the .V motions that are desired

      • Export .bvh (exports a series of .bvh motion capture files - one for each .V file)

    • Save the .bvh files to a flash drive or your own computer

• • On any PC with Blender

    • Animating a Model

      • Import a .bvh file into Blender

      • Hit alt+a to watch the armature (skeleton) perform the animated motion (optional)

      • Select the armature and go to Edit Mode to see the Rest Position of the armature

      • Create or import a model that will be performing the motion captured animation

      • This model must conform to the armature's Rest Position

      • In Edit Mode, the armature must be inside the model (also in Edit Mode)

        • If this is not the case, manipulate (translate, rotate, scale) the model - NOT the armature - so that it is inside and all joints line up properly

      • Parent the model to the armature and rig the individual bones to the portion of the model's mesh that should be manipulated

      • In Object Mode select the armature and manipulate (translate, rotate, scale) it until the model is the desired proportions

      • Hit alt+a to watch both the armature and the model perform the animated motion (optional)

    • Importing a Different Animation for the same Model

      • Delete the armature (but not the model)

      • Import a new .bvh file

      • Double check that the armature (in Edit Mode) is inside the model (in Edit Mode) - in most cases this will be true

        • If this is not the case, manipulate (translate, rotate, scale) the model - NOT the armature - so that it is inside and all joints line up properly

      • Parent the model to the armature (do not create groups) - the model will automatically be rigged!

      • In Object Mode select the armature and manipulate (translate, rotate, scale) it until the model is the desired proportions

      • Hit alt+a to watch both the armature and the model perform the animated motion (optional)

• • Special Notes

    • Motion Captured .bvh files contain relative movements, not absolute positions

      • This causes the hips to remain stationary at all times

      • Any translations (i.e. walking forward, jumping up, etc.) must be keyframed