TutorVision 3-D CD Volume 2
contains tutorials on the following topics:

Video Tutorials

• A 2 1/2 hour long tutorial on using MetaNurbs to model a humanoid character that will be easy to use in Layout.     Attention is given to preparing the character for use with Bones, Inverse Kinematics, and the MetaMation plugin.     The character's head and face are modeled seperate from the body to allow for easy animation of the eyes, facial expressions, and lip-syncing.



• Setting up a bone skeleton for the character modeled in the 1st tutorial.     The basic skeletal structure is set up with the SkeletonMaker plugin, then the bone skeleton is modified with Limited Range values and Joint Compensation.     Attention is also given to attaching the character's head to it's body and other tips that will make the character animate smoothly in later steps.
  Over 75 minutes long!



• Setting up Inverse Kinematics for the character's legs, feet, arms, and eyeballs.     This tutorial starts by defining rotational limits for the bones and then adds IK goals that will make the character's legs and feet bend in a realistic manner while keeping the feet locked into position as a walk cycle is set up for the character in later tutorials.     IK Goals are also set up for the arms so that they can be animated easily and the eyeballs so that they can easily track a target.
  Over 50 minutes long!



• Applying the MetaMation plugin to the character.     This tutorial will show you how to use MetaMation on the low-polygon and high-polygon objects that were created in the 1st tutorial.     This will allow you to efficiently animate a low polygon version of the character in Layout and then apply those motions to a very high polygon version of the character when it's time to render the animation.
  Almost 15 minutes long!



• Making the character walk.     This tutorial will show you how to set up a basic walk cycle for the character which deals with issues like foot slippage and transitional movements for starting and stopping the character's walk cycle.     There are also many tips for bringing your character "to life" and making the basic walk cycle look much more realistic.
  Over 37 minutes long!



• Lip-Syncing with ExtractAudio and Morph Gizmo.     This tutorial will show you how to use ExtractAudio (a commercial plugin available from MetroGrafx) to create a morph envelope that is synchronized to an audio clip and then import that morph envelope into Morph Gizmo and applied to the character's face so that the mouth is lip-synced to the audio clip.
  Almost 22 minutes long!



• Making the character interact with other objects.     This tutorial will show you how to make your character appear to pick up an object and carry it around.     This tutorial will demonstrate why a commercial plugin like Lock-N-Key or PointAt is so useful for doing this type of a effect and then show you how to create the same the effect without the use of a plugin!
  Approximately 23 minutes long!





Text Tutorials

• Using Metanurbs to create morphable character faces. - Written by Patrik Beck



• Making character animation easier with Puppet Master. - Written by Patrick Woods



• Techniques for Mirroring Bone Skeletons in your character.



• Tips for putting clothing on your character.



• How to make your character leave footprints in sand, dirt, or snow.



• Tips for creating a "hairy" or furry surface for your character.



• A "bonus" tutorial that will teach you how to create your own LightWave plugins! - Written by Brendan Mecleary

All Scene files and objects for all tutorials are included on the CD!