When you load presets, you need to select an option (such as Ectomorph) on the Overview page, then click Apply for the changes to be applied to your character.
You can get going quickly on making characters by loading a predefined male body. This makes it easy to create any number of different characters using the same topology. The body is implemented in Softimage as a model. For more information about working with models in general, see Models [ Data Management ].
The Character Designer lets you get a generic male body, then use parameter sliders to interactively manipulate individual body and head features. You can create many bodies, each with their own distinctive look, yet have all bodies sharing the same underlying topology. The polygon mesh is designed to be used as the basis of a subdivision surface, and is suitable for enveloping.
To get a body
1. Choose Get > Primitive > Model > Character - Man or Get > Primitive > Character > Man Maker from any toolbar. A body is created and the Character Designer property editor opens.
The Overview page contains the main sliders that define the overall look of your character. If you want to further define the look, you can use the parameters on the other pages for more fine-tuning.
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When you load presets, you need to select an option (such as Ectomorph) on the Overview page, then click Apply for the changes to be applied to your character. |
The rest of the pages in the property editor are divided according to each body and face part, such as Skin, Head, Face, Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Body, Arms, and Legs. There’s even a Morph page that contains parameters that morph the character’s head into a dog or elephant’s head!
2. Use the sliders to control the size, position, and other attributes of the body and facial features. You can also transform and deform points and clusters manually, and still adjust the Character Designer properties.
All these parameters can be animated, which is useful to doing organic deformation effect. Have fun!
3. If you want to apply hair, there is a predefined cluster of polygons on the head that you can use (see Creating Hair [ Hair ]).
4. When you are finished creating the character, select the Character mesh node beneath the Man_Character model node and freeze it before enveloping to improve performance.
Remember that once you freeze, you cannot edit the character’s individual parameters.
To reset the properties
• Click the Reset Character button on the Overview page to reset all option settings in the property editor to the default.
• Click the appropriate Reset button for specific parameter groups or pages to reset only those related options.
To set the polygon mesh resolution
The polygon mesh body is saved with 1 degree of subdivisions.
• Press the - (minus) key to get a lower resolution.
• Press the + (plus) key to get a higher resolution.
To change the Character Designer properties
The Character Designer controls are a custom property found in the Character mesh node beneath the model. To display and modify these properties later:
1. Tree-select the null root of the model.
2. Click Selection on the Select panel.
3. Expand the Man_Character > Character tree and click the Character_Designer custom parameter set icon.
Autodesk Softimage v.7.5