Connor's Adventures in Blender

[Connors]

This is what I did in Blender for the last couple of days, I think I will post in this thread if I get some animation tests to work.

[Gan]

Lookin pretty awesome, reminds me of Minecraft.

[Connors]

I was stumped by one thing while trying to pose him. There are bones that aren't children of the original and I can't figure out how to change the hierarchy.

[Gan]

Weird. Could you post the blend file?

[Connors]

I decided to start rebuilding this robot from scratch. I made a very similar one in an animation class almost exactly two years ago (second semester of my Junior year). I was using Lightwave in that class, and I tried to rebuild it in Blender once before, so this is the third attempt and certainly the cleanest. I avoided using Boolean operations altogether and used some tricks I've learned to make the eyes fit perfectly in the hole in front. It should be a great way for me to get familiar with the animation tools (like the timeline and the Dope Sheet) since I'm not having to worry about bones because it's all rigid parts.

I guess I might eventually benefit from giving it an armature but I think I'll wait.

EDIT: Better screenshot.

[Connors]

SO, in the time since my first post I started work on doing a basic walk cycle with the model so far (No arms) and It's looking pretty good. However I posted this inquiry over on the Blenderforums. Just wondering if Gan or someone has any advice. Videos coming soon!

http://www.blender.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=102222#102222

[Gan]

Objects have different vertices, I don't know if there'd be a way of copying keyframes cause the keyframes are specific to the vertices.

[Gan]

Quick Google search:
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?215562-Copy-keyframes-from-one-object-to-another

[Connors]

Thanks but no thanks, that tells me how to select a different set of actions entirely. Meaning I could make one object use ALL the keyframes from another object. Which is possible because the actions are not specific to vertices. You make keyframes that store the specific data you wanted (I chose LocRot).

Just so we're clear: I don't want to use all the keyframes from another object. I want to know if I can copy the LocRot from ONE keyframe into another. I can duplicate frames, but not move them between two objects.

[Connors]

I've done quite a bit of work on the robot, and Gan showed me how to render it in Freestyle so it looks incredible. Even details like the seam on the hand show up more. I won't say much but we've got plans for this little guy.

[Gan]

  I love the arm flap.

[Connors]

Yeah I came up with the arm hole flap without remembering where I'd seen it and then recently remembered where it was from so it was kind based on the robot in Wallace and Gromit - A Grand Day Out. (Other similarities are coincidental, it's just a box-y robot)

[Connors]

Here's the new model! Coming along very well, although I may have to fix the eyes to look more like the original with the thick rim. I liked the old eyes.

[Gan]

It's adorable.

[Connors]

I KNOW RIGHT.

I forgot to share this video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6lcG3_2KkQ

I try to add in details that make motions like this more interesting.