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MDD File Format


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Hello everyone,

I'm trying to import MDD files from C4D, whenever that I parent the imported geometry to MDD.plm, the geometry disappears, OBJ models are imported via OBJ2Fact.

"Geomerty does not match with MDD data"

Here a test with MDD file + .Obj + .Fact + .mov

www.imago-d.org/EIAS/MDDTest.zip

Thank you in advance

Diego

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Ola Tomas,

usually I have no problem with Objs coming from C4d , UV's intact through OBJ2FACT. but I have read that to export MDD is better to use Riptide (free plugin for OBJ export).

To export the MDD I used a also free plugin MDDIO, the only one for mac:

http://www.lovecraftforest.com/blog/2007/08/02/rotate-scale-translate-hike/

MDDIO have also the option to export RST (Rotate, Scale, Translate), which is great for exporting animations made with Mograph.

This is all I know, I think if we can import Mograph animations into EIAS that can be very interesting for users, to add the Mograph animation power, (now with dynamic) with the rendering speed and quality of EIAS.

Please if you can take a look:

http://www.maxon.net/products/new/mograph-2/modynamics.html

thank you very much for your interest in solving this

Cheers

Diego

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Hola Diego

I'm trying to import MDD files from C4D, whenever that I parent the imported geometry to MDD.plm, the geometry disappears,

It doesn't disappear "at all", let's use built-in plugin's diagnostic. Select "MDD.plm Group" in Project Window and see "Info" Tab. We see 1634 vertices here. It's MDD file content (stored for frame 0). Let's select "Display points" and scale view - we see a capsule but in 100 times smaller compare to imported (that is linked to the plugin) one. Of course, such MDD data cannot be recognized. You need to write an MDD that matches with model - at least at one of frames. How - that depends on concrete MDD exporter, not on reader.

It's easy to predict a possible objection - "why I should worry about match/mismatch? Can you just make a normal import/export?". Here we can't. because "format" is "format", that's we can't change in bounds of the task. MDD disadventages are continues of MDD advantages - or vice versa. Yes, it's pretty simple to store "vertices only" but same time it makes user responsible for providing a corresponded model - and it's not always easy/comfortable. That's why we avoided MDD and proposed Gnome instead - but it's another story :rolleyes:

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ЗдравÑтвуйте гоÑпода,

Great!, it was a scale problem now it works perfectly, for now I have had success importing deformations and morph :)

To import Mograph animations, I will need to bring RST data, I do not know if I can import RST via MDD.?

Thank you very much for your help.

Cheers

Diego

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Very interesting.So did you find what was wrong with your file Diego, can you elaborate a bit more.

Hallo Batoloco,

first you need two free plugins available for C4d.

1: Riptide for OBJ export.

http://skinprops.com/riptide.php

2:MDDIO for MDD export

http://www.lovecraftforest.com/blog/2007...late-hike/

Have to be in the first frame of your animation, then export the .Obj geometry and MDD data. the scale must be the same, :rolleyes:

Translate via OBJ2FACT. Flip z-Axis + Join Vertices + Calculate normals. + UV's intact:)

This process has worked well with deformers, morphs and clothing.

I hope this helps

Cheers

Diego

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Hello Gentlemen,

The C4d plugin "MDDIO" have also the option to export RST (Rotate, Scale, Translate), which is great for exporting animations made with Mograph.

please take a look here:

http://www.lovecraftforest.com/blog/2007/08/02/rotate-scale-translate-hike/

The animations made with mograph are essentially clones with animated position, scale and rotation .

please take a look at some examples here,

http://www.maxon.net/products/new/mograph-2/modynamics.html

In C4d, you can bake the Mograph Module animations, and export via MDDIO.

I wondered if through your plugin "MDD.plm" is the right choice to bring these data in to EIAS.

Sorry I'm not very technical I do not know if this is possible or are too complex.

Thank you very much for your interest.

Diego

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Hola Diego

The C4d plugin "MDDIO" have also the option to export RST (Rotate, Scale, Translate), which is great for exporting animations made with Mograph.

...

I wondered if through your plugin "MDD.plm" is the right choice to bring these data in to EIAS.

...

Sorry I'm not very technical I do not know if this is possible or are too complex.

Thanks for explanations, clear now

For MDD reader it makes no difference either animation scaled, rotated or modified in any way - everything is treated as "vertices", so RTS animation is read same as "not RTS". But any transform should be applied to model on export. For example in EI terms

- you can export FACT with "Preserve Transformation" off - and original model and its scale values are stored. If this check is on - so a scaled model is exported. If MDD is written for a scaled model, export must be with scale too.

You need to activate corresponded options in your exporter in order to have model/mdd frame in tact.

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Hello,

now it is solved the issue of export of MDD from C4d to EIAS, works perfectly with Cloth, Morph and Deformers and all PLA animation.

A friendly Cinema4d User made a video for me showing the process, I recommend downloading, you will be happy Tom:)

http://www.orestisc.eu/mdd_baking.zip

In "MDDIO configuration" had to check "Bake RTS" and scale adjustement to "1" in order to have a proper import in EIAS. And finally you can use the native C4D OBJ exporter as well.

Here is the thread at CGTalk:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=6367678#post6367678

Here a little test with the results:

www.imago-d.org/c4des/MDDtest.mov

Diego

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Hi,

EIAS MDD plugin has numerical interpolation, ie you can do it much slower without jumps, can also be frozen when you like with the wonderful animatable "Time Channel" you can even export a Nth X frames in the source aplication and then interpolate in EIAS the file takes up a good bunch less memory. Bravo guys!!

Here is a other little test, with the exactly same MDD data than the previous example.

http://www.imago-d.org/c4des/freezing.mov

Cheers

Diego

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Hey Dieguito,

Worked like a charm!!!

Niceeee!!!!

Excelent test too!!!

I saw Reptidle Pro export all groups in one click, one file per group, but MDDIO only export one file each time.

I was thinking, because XSI automaticly export all groups and all MDD files separated, you need only to convert to .fac with OBJ2FACT batch and them load all MDD files with using the “folder” feature from MDD 1.0.

One thing I like most in the MDD plug-in is the ability to reload the animation if the client ask.

e.g.

1) You do a complex animation in Maya, having the first frame like a T-pose, export to EIAS (OBJ first frame and MDD).

2) Add all materials, textures, Light on EIAS

3) Render the animation

4) Client ask changes

5) you re-do the animation in Maya

6) Only export MDD motion file

7) replace the MDD files on the folder and reload in the MDD plug-in.

8) Everything is ready again

Fantastique

Thanksss

Tom

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Hi Tomas and all,

Where can i purchased OBJ2FACT for my objects sequences to be rendered?

Congrats on the plug in.

Thanks,

Batoloco

Hola Batoloco,

I have read in other post that you are a C4D user, there nice c4d plugin that can convert a OBJ's sequence into a Just ONE .Obj + PLA channel animated, thats mean that you can bring your OBJ sequence into EIAS as MDD file (one .obj + MDD file) the plugin is: Bake2PLA from AixSponza free!.

Really MDD importer has given another dimension to EIAS.

I'm not sure that OBJ2Fact is the only way to import Obj's for MDD concordance into EIAS.

Cheers

Diego

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Hello to all,

I can not believe how much has changed my workflow in a few weeks due to MDD importer, Now we can bring almost the work that occurs in C4D, Bones, Skinnig, Dynamics, cloth, Mograph!!! we can also convert any external OBJ sequence in a MDD data: One OBJ + One MDD file and in a very easy way, is a much desired dream come true!

Here a little test that comes from Groboto through C4d.

http://www.imago-d.org/c4des/groboto1.mov

Thank you programmers and the new company directors.

Hey Batoloco:

please take a look at this thread:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=6373258#post6373258

Cheers

Diego

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Hola Diego, All

I can not believe how much has changed my workflow in a few weeks due to MDD importer, Now we can bring almost the work that occurs in C4D, Bones, Skinnig, Dynamics, cloth, Mograph!!! we can also convert any external OBJ sequence in a MDD data: One OBJ + One MDD file and in a very easy way, is a much desired dream come true!

Of course, thx for good words but let us note: this door was opened at least 2 years ago. Out team had no plans to create MDD plug, it happened "randomly". One serious user (he works in production) asked us about how he can use MDD in his prj. We asked him for model+MDD - he sent. We tried - it works. Then, of course, 2-3 weeks of polishing, creating UI, adding features etc - but it's normal and unavoidable for any product. The only one reason whу the plug was not created before = a full absence of "material" (MDD+model) to test - nothing more :rolleyes:
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Привет программиÑÑ‚Ñ‹ художников,

To be honest I have known the MDD format because the release of your plugin:blush:

Programmers are artists who opened doors of creativity in visual artists:)

Greetings to the "Serious User"

Thank you very much for your support.

Cheers

Diego

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