G8 to G2 Animation Convertor.

Sci Fi Funk

Hi,

Many thanks to @MCphylyss and his amazing python script,and to @outrider42 for his thread https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/137491/converting-g3-poses-to-g2-it-works/p1

It got me thinking, could I use that original script and make it work for animations? So far the answer is almost! (See screenshot - note all the keyframes for both figures).

I left programming behind many years ago, so this is the result of just playing around within Daz. This is where we are at:-

 

1. By converting a G2 character to an A pose (like the G8s), and baking joint rotations, the G2 is able to take on G8 poses because it lines up the same.

2. I then used @MCphylyss script from the above thread, and just changed anything that said G3 to G8, and Genesis 3 to Genesis 8. I saved the script to my scripts folder.

3. I set the script up as a shortcut within Daz, and assigned the # key. I have also set up shortcuts with animate 2 to move forward a keyframe on forward arrow, back one with back arrow and go to start with up arrow.

4. I now just press # to convert the keyframe, and forward arrow to move to the next keyframe. It works! It might sound like too much manual effort, but once you get into a rhythm you can bang out 200 frames in no time at all.

Sci Fi Funk

UPDATE.

The script now automatically steps through all the keyframes, so it animates! Many thanks to @gamplod for his free viewport animation script, the looping part of which allows us to loop through the keyframes here as well.

I've also managed to copy the Hip x,y,z translate settings from a G8 to a G2 as well.

I need to find out how to A-Pose G2s in Carrara, then in theory Carrara animators can use G8 mocaps as well as Daz animators.

 

WendyLuvsCatz

it is a whole lot easier to do it in Carrara to start with 

where we have tracking

Fenric's BVH exporter works perfectly for DAZ studio 

Sci Fi Funk

@WendyLuvsCatz  Actually one of the reasons I wrote this is to allow G8 animations in Carrara as well for my older scenes.

You see, the way I animate in Carrara is I start with an aniblock in DAZ, fiddle with it (merge, override bits with other bits), bake it to studio keyframes, then send it back to animate to export it for Carrara. I then make any editing in Carrara because it's easier.

Are you saying his BVH exporter maps G8 to G2? Could you explain how it works in Carrara, or point me to a tutorial?

WendyLuvsCatz

no Fenric's BVH exporter exports BVH files 

Carrara BVH files work in DAZ studio

if you look at all the mocap softwares they retarget by tracking

Carrara has tracking which DAZ studio has not

disclaimer, not tried

You maybe???? could use Misty's free Genesis 8.1 fixed character in Carrara and track it's bones 

https://www.renderosity.com/freestuff/items/88523/carrara-presets-for-genesis-81

or a BVH export from DAZ studio of a G8 animation, starting in a Tpose probably helps but tracking will snap the bones to the tracked joint

you need not do every bone

hip, abs chest neck thighs, shins feet shoulders forearms and hands suffice

track rotation too and check x y z axis in the modifiers

export an animated BVH of Genesis 2 with Fenrics plugin

I was however only thinking about doing the the hip tracking that way

WendyLuvsCatz

doing what I do and just using Genesis 1 and 3 in DAZ studio is way easier though

after saving load on other figure and use pose controls to get t or A pose

genesis 2 is the one that causes conversion issues but it will load G1 animations

though I have not actually tested the other way. update, no cannot go backwards

I have no G8 animations I wish to use and if I did would retarget in iclone so never really looked into it

but if your script works, by all means use that 

 

easiest answer

Sci Fi Funk

Ok thanks wendy. Well it does work for DAZ, but I need to learn how to get an G2 figure in Carrara to a default of an A-pose, then it should work in Carrara too.

Cheers