Notes were taken from
http://kronkhal.blogspot.com/2012/04/3ds-max-vs-maya.html?showComment=1346339398911
Graph Editor
First in line is every animator best friend: the good ol' Graph Editor, a.k.a. Curve Editor in 3ds Max. In general, both editors do the job right but there are some small differences that are actually not so small for some people.
Tangent Selection
In the Curve Editor (CE) in 3ds Max, the tangents are part of the key, in the sense that if you want to move the tangents, the key must be selected. In the Graph Editor (GE) in Maya, the tangents are independent objects from the keys. So in order to move a tangent, you have to select a key and then select the tangent. Basically, in 3ds max it's easier to select the tangents, but in Maya you can select (and adjust) multiple tangents at the same time.
Breaking Tangents
Another difference in the tangent handling is the way you break them. In the CE, if you want to move one tangent independently from the other one, you just have to press SHIFT and that's it. In GE, there is a button in the toolbar called "Break Tangents" (see image), which is a command to break the tangents of the selected key.
Breaking tangents toolbar in Maya
So it might seem like an additional step, but the problem in the CE comes when you want to unify the broken tangents while keeping the changes you did when you broke them. In GE, you just press the "Unify Tangents" and it's done. In 3ds Max, you'll have to follow this procedure.
Tangent types
The CE gives you the option to change each tangent to a different type (ease-in ease-out, linear, etc) from the toolbar by means of drop-down buttons (just click-hold a button and more options will appear), but changing the tangent type to something different than Auto or Custom will make the tangents disappear. In the GE, you will have to select the tangent first and then select the type of tangent you want, but in this case the tangents will never disappear.
Another thing regarding this topic is that there are some types of tangents that vary from one software to the other. While in the GE you have more variety (spline, plateau, clamped) - and in my opinion, better naming-, in the CE you'll find auto, custom, fast, slow and smooth.
Buffer curves
This is a feature that is present only in Maya, and for most animators, is a game changer. The Buffer curves allow you to take a snapshot of the f-curve at that moment in time. When you start modifying your curve, you can always go back and forth between the current curve and the snapshot (even when playing the animation) and compare how the changes affected the animation, and go back in case you screw it up.
It's worth mentioning that buffer curves are not saved with the file, so once Maya is closed, they're gone.3ds max does not have a feature like this.
Selecting the whole curve
The only way to select the whole curve in 3ds max is to select all the keys that are part of the curve. In Maya, the curve is another object (separated from the key and the tangent). Selecting the whole curve by, well, selecting it can be very useful, but it's also very easy to select it by mistake.
f-Curve Scaling
Scaling keys is one of the things that mostly differ between both 3D packages. In 3ds max, there are two different types of scaling : Scale Keys and Scale values. The first one is used to scale keys in time only (horizontal scaling), while the second one scales the values of the keys (vertical scaling).
When scaling values, the curve is scaled from a reference point, i.e. whenever you select the scale tool, a yellow-ish reference line will appear in the CE and it will serve as your reference point to scale the curve (or keys, if you want to select only a couple of keys).
The problem with this feature is that the line will always stay in the same place no matter what you select. So let's say you scale some keys in the Y-Rotation axis between 270 and 360 degrees. If you want to scale some other keys in the Z-Translation between -200 and -300, you'll have to drag the scale reference all the way down by yourself (one workaround is to close and re-open the CE, so the reference line position will reset to its default position). It would be nice if the reference line pops closer to whatever you have selected.
When scaling keys (horizontally), the position of the time slider will serve as the reference line.
In Maya, the same scale tool that you use to scale polygons and other things in the viewport, works in the GE. So taking the same previous example, you only have to select your keys (or f-curve) and scale them as you would in the viewport (BTW, tangents can't be scaled). On this feature, I see a clear winner.
The Euler Filter!
It's worth to note that both programs have the the Euler Filter command (most 3ds Max users don't know about it, that's why I'm mentioning it), it's just that in 3ds max, it's hidden under the Utilities menu, while in Maya is found in the Curves menu. To my knowledge, both filters work properly.
Zooming
The Zoom tool is another feature that I found works better in Maya than in 3ds Max because you use the same zoom hotkey that is used in the viewport for the GE (that would be the default "f" key, that comes from the english word "Frame").
However, there are some things that I like in the CE. For example, when you have a key selected from a specific axis and you select another axis, the CE will automatically zoom to the key in that same frame, so you don't have to re-zoom every time you select a different axis (there is the Auto Frame option in the GE, but is not quite the same). Another nice feature is that in the CE you can zoom only in time (horizontally) but not in values (vertically).
Out-of-Range values vs. Infinity
They do the same thing: Replicate the f-curve over time so you can adjust you walk cycles (or any cycle, for that matter).
Basically, both tools work the same way, but there is one very small difference that make me go to Maya for this one, though it's something most people won't find it's a problem at all: in 3ds Max, when a f-curve is on cycle mode, you won't be able to add keys after the last key on the cycle. Instead, it will add a key to the equivalent frame inside your cycle. You still can add keys however, by copying an existing key and moving it on to a different frame, but you can't just hit "k" and add a key. For me, this limitation is sometimes annoying, and I feel like it's just too much work for something so simple.
In Maya, you can add keys to your cycle wherever you want. Freedom is priceless, I guess.
Bake animation
This is something that is only present in Maya and for me is not a game changer. Basically, it allows you to "bake" an animation, i.e. add a key per frame to a certain object in order to preserve the animation.
You can get the same feature in 3ds Max through a script (google it, there are a couple of scripts available), or by saving your animation through "Animation\Save Animation..." and selecting the "Key per Frame" option. Then you reload the animation into your scene.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Animation Mentor - Student Workflow by Matthew Garwardland - Notes
How to fit your Animation Mentor around work / family time.
Overview
- Most of homework is done at night.
- Deadlines are at sunday noon.
- Homework starts sunday night.
- Watch your lectures, and take notes, get involved with Q&A, and get into the critique forms.
- Get Feedback Feedback Feedback.
- Check out the Rig Forms, to get tips and tricks on the rig you are working on.
- 3-4 hours a night, 6 nights a week, Try to get 25 hours a week.
- Learn to animate quickly. You only have a little amount of time.
On Sunday - Light
- Sunday night, when the kids are put to bed. Go check out your e-critiques from your mentor.
- Check the forms to see if there is any news
- Read through the Syllabus early on in the session, so you can have better planning ahead of your week.
- Watch a few classmate assignments, and leave some comments.
- Go to Bed
On Monday - brainstorm
- Monday night, the kids are in bed, time to start the assignment.
- Watch assignment video and video news, get into the forms to talk about the assignment.
- Once you get you assignment, use your monday night to start thinking about some ideas. Create an outline, draw some thumbnails, get poses. Get video camera to get as much references as you can. Analyze movement, draw thumbnail poses from movement break down poses.
- Have a good plan before bed.
- Watch e-critiques, and work on revisions.
- Do not rush your revisions, till you get your feedback from mentor.
- Go to Bed
- Morning do a quick check up on forms, see whats going on.
- Get to work, if you have time draw out some thumbnails, get your idea fleshed out.
- Get home at night when kids are at bed, check forms and look over e-critique if you have not got it yet.
- Go over thumbnails, ideas, reference. Get a good idea before opening maya at all.
- Open Maya, start blocking and work on golden pose, then out in a few breakdown poses.
- Go to bed
- Morning do a quick check up on your poses, write down some personal notes for improvement.
- Create video and upload to work space, to get more feedback.
- Watch TV spend time with Wife.
- 10 PM Apply feedback into your key poses and breakdown poses. Try to get one pass done.
- 11 PM Q&A night with Mentor. Write down notes and hang out with your class mates.
- Go to Bed
- Morning get into file and fix any obvious key / breakdown poses.
- Create video and upload to work space, to get more feedback.
- At night collect all the change, plan and block like crazy.
- By the end of the night put it in spline.
- Go to Bed
- Morning get into file and fix any obvious mistakes.
- Create video and upload to work space, to get more feedback.
- At night collect all the change, polish like crazy.
- Go to Bed
- 80% Family 20% Work
- Light polish then turn in homework by the end of the night.
- Submit Work if you have not done so already "EARLY"
- No Work - Get pumped for the next week
- Sunday night, when the kids are put to bed. Go check out your e-critiques from your mentor.
- Check the forms to see if there is any news
- Read through the Syllabus early on in the session, so you can have better planning ahead of your week.
- Watch a few classmate assignments, and leave some comments.
- Go to Bed
Friday, August 17, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Animation Mentor Orientation
Get The most out of AM
- Be active in the community, by checking out student work and leaving comments.
- Start off with positive feedback and then follow up with improvements.
- Try to post 5 comments per week, it will sharpen your skills. The more that you participate, the more you will get out of it.
- Learn from others, by adding buddies to your buddy list, kind of like facebook or twitter.
- Check out Q n A replays, Guest speakers, over the shoulder critiques.
- Submit your work before the deadline.
- Go to Academic Programs you ill see a Maya link only if you paid your class.
- Create an Autodesk login then get software from Animation mentor Link.
Cruise the Campus
Your Workspace
Video standartdation
- Download the 12 frames of silence, transition blank.
- Paste it at the end of your asseinment.
- File / Export / save to to desktop
- Set to Quicktime Movie / Codec HH.264 / Frame rate 24fps / Quality High
- Resolution Size 480x360
- Sound Settings - AAC / Stereo Left Right / 48 kHz
- Lecture and Assignments,
- Character and Tools
- Assiments are due 12 noon on Sunday. Give yourself an hour to upload.
- Use the correct video standardization.
- Turn in your assessment by, selecting browse and selecting "quick-time file". Leave a note to your mentor, to give them an understanding on what you have done so far.
Leave of Absence
How to Register
----------------------- Maya Training Notes-----------------------
Maya Hotkeys
- Spacebar - max/ min windows
- F - Zoom - Customize Maya (z)
- Shift F - Zoom all windows
- Q - Selector
- W - Translate
- E - Rotate
- R - Scale
- 4 - Wireframe view
- 5 - Shaded view
- Shift W - Add Translation Key - Can't customize Max
- Shift E - Add Rotation Key - Can't customize Max
- Shift R - Add Scale Key - Can't customize Max
- S - Add key on Frame - Customize Max
- , and . - Stepping through animation - Customize Maya Alt (, and ; )
- Alt , and . - Stepping through Key Frames - Customize Maya (, and ')
- Alt V - Play animation - Customize Maya ( / )
- (+ and -) change the size of Axis
- ([ and]) switch views back and forth
- P - parent object to object
- Shift P - unparent
- Ctrl D - Duplicate objects
- H - hide unselected objects - Customize Max
- Shift H - unhide all - Customize Max
- Kiko Favoite View ports (L R F T K)
- create new script - switchModelView Perspective;create new script - switchModelView top;create new script - switchModelView side;create new script - switchModelView front;
- Ctrl C - copykey option
- Ctrl V - pastekey option
- Middle mouse - moves keys
- Shift middle mouse - moves keys on locked values
- Autoback Save - https://area.autodesk.com/forum/autodesk-maya/autodesk-maya-2010/where-maya-2010-saves-the-autobackup-files/
- On Max, inbetween 2 keys you can right click on a time and drag it to another time, it will create a key based off the pose from selected timeframe. Maya does the same this with middle mouse button.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
New Animation Jonrney "Animation Mentor"
I will be starting in Sep 20th, and will be getting my Maya on !!!
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