Animating

[Stiglr]

I couldn't imagine a better way to be shown to be in error than for AC3D to expand with animation features without a significant increase in price!

But, we do agree that it is an excellent modeling software for the money, with or without animation support.

Keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see something along that front in the next year or so!

[AndyH]

Animation is not a premium, and we'll have to disagree that by adding this it would change the place that Ac3D sits in.

It is a basic feature that is sorely lacking IMHO. How many people have wanted to animate their Ac3D models in the environment? ... even in a simple way?

Worst still how many people have looked at Ac3D and moved on because it is just a modeller? Not my place to say this must be done, but just another opinion of a customer.

In my case I found Ac3D in 2002 at version 3. At that time it was a relief to find something that approach to modelling was something that I found familiar and friendly. I still love it today, but fear I may be out growing it because I want to do a little more than just modelling. It seems like just mentioning animation is a dirty word around here?

I had a long think about whether it was worth upgrading to v6, which I did in the end. Mostly because I wanted to continue to support the author in some small way as there weren't many new features which I was excited about. Not that the new features weren't an improvement, but not a great deal of things that that v5 didn't allow me to do already.

This release with the much improved boolean operations, is justifcation alone and something I do want to use. I'm wondering however, what V7 might have to tempt me..? More modelling tools? I don't know, maybe. Improvements to existing features? Great. Allow me to bring my creations to life, definately. We all look for different things I guess, I'll keep my fingers crossed we'll see some form of animation keyframing one day.

[brvids]

Ahhh yes animation would be great!!! I've been wishing for sometime now. Our game was made entirely using ac3d as the modeller. For the animation we just did most of it in the game engine itself. I would think ac3d will have animation added to it sooner than later. The ease of use with this program make it just way too good to pass up, so I can only imagine how great it would be if there were animation. Maybe they are working on it as we speak!



http://www.beteogames.com

[nightoftheroundtable]

well in my honest opinion I will say this. animation is tedious work trust me. I like ac3d the way it is. See what I have been looking at from other programs animation is a long process that would be rather time consuming a person would have to know what they were doing. although animation is nice I would say that if you dont know how to animate I would not try it unless your watching training dvds. those come in HANDY trust me.

[AndyH]

If you're talking about some of the more modern animation techniques, I would agree. But simple keyframe animation on position, rotation and size would be good - and it is simple for a user ... trust me.

Bones and mesh deformation would be nice, but not essential. The 3ds4 keyframer is a good place to look for an example.

[nightoftheroundtable]

I do believe ac3d supports bone and joint tools.


from what I have been seeing with maya and other programs animation is alot of work. not just anyone can generate an animated character or model. well maybe they could. But it often takes someone of more advanced skills than a normal beginner.

[Stiglr]

Originally Posted by AndyH

If you're talking about some of the more modern animation techniques, I would agree. But simple keyframe animation on position, rotation and size would be good - and it is simple for a user ... trust me.

Bones and mesh deformation would be nice, but not essential. The 3ds4 keyframer is a good place to look for an example.

I agree. But, for me, the real boon would be if the sim I develop for could IMPORT that animation info, rather than me having to create it by hand. I suppose that's on reason I'm more or less ambivalent about even the simple keyframe animation, rotation and size...it's great to know, sure, but being able to easily export that data with the parts would really be sweet!!

One can dream, though, I guess...

[nightoftheroundtable]

yeah Stiglr you are right we can all dream that one day ac3d will support an animation function of some kind. I am just worried that it will be to complex to our begging users.

[Tristan]

simple animation would be nice, but if that would mean boosting the price of the tool... I wouldn't be for it because ac3D is a good modeler at low price. Because let's face it tools like maya.. 3dms... are bullshited priced for hobbyst such as myself.

[Cletus_MacFarmhand]

I, personally, would love to see an animation feature for AC3D, keyframe is a rather simple method that I'm used to with other animation programs, and as someone has been saying, perhaps animation would be too complex for new users? I doubt that, I found it quite easy to pick up.
Currently, I have no intention of upgrading from 5 to 6, because the new features really aren't a breakthrough for AC3D, but if it were to support animation, I would definitely upgrade, even if the cost goes up, because I'm in desperate need of an animation program, since my last one has a huge glitch to it and I can no longer use it.