My Personal Recommendations For AnyPortrait

In the animation clip editing section, I cannot move two rigs at the same time. This is an issue for me because when I want to move two ears to upward, I need to select both of them. If I make seperate movement, it's not the proper way. Can this be solved in next update?

I have also one more question. I made two animations for two different psd files in the same editor (game object). I created two root unit to auto play animation. But in the editor, only one auto play selectable for one animation clip. Even both of them root unit, if I disable "Root Unit 0" gameobject and enable "Root Unit 1", I cannot see the animation. What should I do? I was going to control two animation with a script that enables and disables "Root Unit X" gameobjects. But looks like it wouldn't work. What should I do? What is the proper way?

Hi, Gökdeniz Çetin!

Whoa, the questions and suggestions are really varied and good.

There are many things for us to refer to.

Among your suggestions, we need to add more shortcuts and improve on this system.

Some suggestions have already been implemented in the current version, and we can also answer some questions.

- We need All Meshes to Layers

: The ability to add all meshes to timeline layers at once is already implemented.

Select the "Transform (Animation)" timeline, select a mesh, and on the right side of the screen, you can find that button.

It is also possible to add all bones as timeline layers at once in the same way.

- Preferences Tab

: I think what you meant is AnyPortrait's "Setting Dialog". There are many options here, if you mean something else, let us know.

( https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_SettingDialog.html )

- And more shortcuts!, etc

: We will add more shortcuts.

And let's make the user-editable shortcut (Some required keys may be excluded.)

Thanks for the great suggestion. :)

- Mouse1 click doesn't work when I click 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 etc...

: The 5, 10.. frames in the timeline are just notation, and you can move the Time Slider right away by doing "Ctrl + Shift + Left Click".

- Auto bake in every 5 minutes

: AnyPortrait has Auto Backup, but Auto Bake is not supported.

Unlike Backup, Bake has a lot to do with the editing process.

Therefore, structurally, it is almost impossible to develop Auto Bake without side effects.

Sorry.

- Auto Keyframe always on (It can be changeable in preferences tab)

: That's a great idea. We will add options related to Auto Keyframe.

- Auto Rig..

: If you hold down the Ctrl key and press the Auto-Rig button, you can select bones and run Auto-Rig.

( https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_VariousRigging.html )

- Photoshop's Lasso tool.

: The Lasso tool is a good tool, but it seems to be less useful than its development level, so we have lowered the priority of this tool.

We have a few more important work left, so maybe we can start developing it once we're done.

- Clipping Mask..

: Not sure, but this could be implemented using custom shaders!

We can test it out and, if possible, inform you through a tutorial on the homepage.

- Auto-generated Polygons / Puppet Pin tool

: That's a great suggestion!

Actually, these are features that we have been thinking about for a long time. These are our long-term plans, and we need to address several technical issues to develop them.

As a reminder, the existing Auto-Gen Mesh function will be remade.

- Editing multiple rigs

: In the latest version of AnyPortrait, multiple selection is applied, so you can edit bones at once.

Check if there are keyframes connected to each bone. (It doesn't matter if Auto-Key is turned on.)

As an exception, if multiple bones are linked in a parent-child relationship, only the parent bone will be in control.

Depending on the IK or other options, it may seem unedited, so if you can give us a more detailed explanation, we will check it.

- Root Units

: Root Unit doesn't mean a separate character, but a "unit that is processed and rendered in the current game" among many Root Mesh Groups. So, multiple Root Units are not running at the same time.

1) If you created one Root Unit to be one character, duplicate the entire apPortrait character in the Unity Scene, and make each character have a different Root Unit.

You can see the animations of the characters in the Unity Scene.

2) Conversely, if Root Units don't mean each character, and each element needs to be shown and executed at the same time, there's a different way. This method is not recommended, but it may be necessary for you.

It is to create a new Root Mesh Group and put the existing Mesh Groups into its children.

And make the animation belong to the parented Root Mesh Group, not the existing Mesh Group.

Please refer to the link below for this process. (Data may be deleted during this process, so you must make a dummy or backup.)

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_AnimationIssueChild.html

Through this method, objects that were divided into two Mesh Groups are merged into one Root Mesh Group.

However, the animation clip is still split, so you need to merge it.

With the animation copy function, most data except Morph can be saved or opened as a file.

Check this feature introduced in the link below.

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_ExportImportAnimation.html

The approximate sequence of work is as follows:

- Save the A clip as a file.

- Add the Timeline Layers that were in clip A to clip B.

- Import clip A saved as a file to clip B. (Check the timeline layer to be imported.)

- Delete the A clip.

Your ideas will be of great help to our team.

If you have more questions or suggestions, please leave a post.

Thank you.

Thanks for the answering my all recommendations and questions! I love you guys, AP will be an amazing program if you keep continue this way.

I'm currently made 2 animation clip in the AP. If I want to control with the code, here's what I thought:

1) Make 2 gameobjects, each has one animation clip.

Player clicks text button and game plays an animation with disable first gameobject and enable second gameobject in the code.

or... is there more efficient way? For example; AP.playAnimation("ClipName"); (I don't know AP codes yet, it just an example). Is there some code like that to play animation/transitions etc..? And if I'm understand right, I have to create new objects for new animation clips instead of creating new root units in the same gameobjects. So what should I do to play animationclip1 to animationclip2?

When we read your post above, we thought you were trying to play two animations simultaneously.

But if, like this post, you simply want to switch the Root Unit while playing the second animation, that can be done simply!

You don't have to split it into two GameObjects.

For example, suppose that "Root Unit 0" contains an animation clip called "Anim A", and "Root Unit 1" contains a clip called "Anim B".

When you call "portrait.Play("Anim A")" with the script, Root Unit 0 with Anim A automatically appears, conversely Root Unit 1 is hidden.

If you call "portrait.Play("Anim B")", it will automatically switch to Root Unit 1, even if you don't use code to disable Root Unit 0.

In addition to the Play() function, functions like CrossFade() are also useful.

You can see the script functions for animation playback at the link below.

We recommend that you try using these script functions and find a production method that works for you.

( https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/Script/SC_Animation.html )

If you are using Mecanim's Animator, it is recommended to see the explanation at the following link.

( https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_Mecanim.html )

It's your choice whether to divide it into multiple apPortraits and control each one, or switch animations within one apPortrait.

If you need additional help with writing the script, please leave a post.

Thank you.

Thanks, I'll try that and I let you know if I encounter some problem. By the way, I was set an object's opacity %25 or something in Photoshop but when I imported into AnyPortrait, it is %100 opacity. It seems AP doesn't support PSD opacity. I have two questions about that.

1) Is there a solution for that opacity problem if we already finished the animation?

2) Will the opacity support come in next updates?

Hi, Gökdeniz Çetin!

After reading your post and quickly testing it, our team found that there was a bug with Photoshop layers with opacity set.

It was a bug that we haven't even found.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you very much for reporting the bug.

1) How to apply opacity to the finished animation

Since you have already finished the animation, you can choose between modifying the imported Atlas Texture or re-importing it.

The simplest way is to edit the Atlas image file imported into AnyPortrait with Photoshop.

Perhaps you already know how this is, but to avoid misunderstandings, we've written a brief explanation below.

I will explain it assuming that you are editing through Photoshop.

The method will be similar if you use another program.

Open the Atlas image file imported in AnyPortrait with Photoshop.

This is a PNG file with layers merged.

All are opaque because the original Opacity was not applied.

(1) Duplicate the layer.

(1) Select the original layer. (I temporarily set the duplicated layer to be invisible.)

(2) Select and delete the part you want to change the opacity.

(1) Select the duplicated layer. (Conversely, I hide the original layer and set the duplicated layer to be visible.)

(2) After inverting the selected area, delete the remaining parts other than the corresponding part.

(1) With the duplicated layer selected, (2) change the Opacity.

(3) Then the selected part becomes transparent.

Now merge all layers and save the PNG file.

Go back to AnyPortrait, and you will get the results you want.

Since this method modifies the original image, it can be made more transparent, but not more opaque. Beware of this!

In addition) When importing a PSD from the current version, if you want to apply the layer's Opacity, you need to merge the target layer and the new dummy layer so that it is translucent but has 100% Opacity.

Or, after importing, modify the mesh's default Opacity in advance.

2) Update plan

Yes, we have confirmed that it is a bug and will apply it in the next update whenever possible.

Thanks to a lot of feedback, we could see a lot of what we missed.

Thanks for reporting the bug. :)

Thanks, I edited the atlas and it works fine. You're welcome, anytime! :)

If there is no problem for you, I will continue to share my own suggestions and problems under this topic instead of opening a new topic.

While working on animation, an idea came to my mind again. When I move the character's head rig, I want all objects associated with the head (eyes, lips, eyebrows, etc.) to move together. In Photoshop, we can do this when we collect it under a single folder. With a folder or a magnet-like tool, I think it will be more effective than carrying objects one by one.

Another suggestion is to go to the frame we want when animating. You told me the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Mouse1, it works, but if you make it even easier it will be more useful for me. It's like having one click. A double click is also fine for me if it will annoy some users.

Fine! As you continue to add articles to this post, our team will record those issues separately and decide whether to apply them to the tool.

If you want to move objects together (except for multiple editing), it is also a good idea to use Sub Mesh Group. When you move the Sub Mesh Group in the Transform Modifier, its Child Meshes move together.

You can use Sub Mesh Group as the concept of the "Folder" you mentioned.

If you control the bones to animate, you don't need any other tools.

In the example you mentioned, assign a Rig Weight so that when "Head Bone" moves, "Head Mesh" as well as "Eyes, Lips, Eye Brows Meshes" move together. It is also good to use child bones to make the meshes move together.

Magnet-style tools seem like a good idea, but we would appreciate it if you consider AnyPortrait as a tool for game projects basically.

The need to press Ctrl+Shift when jumping the animation Time Slider is because it conflicts with other functions.

At the top of the Timeline UI, there is an element called "Common Keyframes" along with the Time Slider.

You can use Common Keyframes to control all keyframes in that frame.

Mouse click processing is used to select or move Common Keyframes. So, to avoid this conflicting handling, a shortcut key like Ctrl+Shift+Click is defined.

It can be a bit inconvenient as AnyPortrait offers a different user experience(UX) than other major programs.

Our team has been referencing a lot of good UX of major programs, but in some cases, we will make the decision to maintain AnyPortrait's own unique UX.

This may be a bit inconvenient for first-time users, but it is due to the characteristic of this tool, so if users understand, we would really appreciate it!

Of course, if you have any ideas, feel free to let us know!

We will do our best to listen to users' opinions.

I'll try Sub Mesh Group next time, thank you!

Hi, Gökdeniz Çetin!

We have created a description page that creates various mask results using Custom Shaders and Clipping Masks.

There is a limitation of not being able to preview in the editor, but you will be able to see the rendering results you need in the game.

Please check the link below.

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_CustomClippingMask.html

Depending on how you write the Shader, you will be able to create more diverse results.

Thanks.

Hi RainyRizzle,

I tested it now and it looks works fine but it took time to match perfectly. Since I have multiple mouths and they all visible in the animation clip when I edit transforms, it was really hard for me. I had to run game again and again to see the result and open the AP again, try to match etc... Since morphs and transforms cannot be preview together, it makes the animation much harder but you mentioned that it is has to be like that in order to not get error.

1) Will there a normal mask tool in newer updates?

2) Will AP support verticle editing in the "animation clip"? I want to move verticles freely with keyframes. In current version, I can only edit basic transforms like move, scale and rotate.

Hi, Gökdeniz Çetin!

The animations you create seem more sophisticated than we usually expect.

In your case, it may be necessary to make it different from the basic tutorial we provide.

1) We are not currently planning the Normal Mask function other than the Clipping Mask.

We'll take it into account, but now we have a performance issue where we need to reduce unnecessary code, so in the case of features with alternatives, the priority of the work is lowered.

In the case of Normal Mask, please use the alternative method of the page we informed above.

2) On this issue, we don't know exactly what character animation you are creating, but it seems like you are creating a really sophisticated and complex animation.

The general AnyPortrait work method is to create Skeletal Animation using Bone first, and then add motion by making Vertex Morphing by Control Parameter.

However, looking at your requirements, you need precise interaction of vertices between objects.

So, in your case, it might be better to create an animation using the "Morph (Animation)" modifier.

With the "Morph (Animation)" modifier you can edit vertices in an animation clip.

(The reason we don't mention this modifier a lot is because it's the heaviest modifier.)

As we do not understand exactly the issue you are experiencing, the solutions we continue to provide you with are not able to help you effectively. If you give us screenshots or more accurate explanations, we can provide a more effective solution or apply it to an update.

If your work is difficult to disclose, let us know by email. ( contactrainyrizzle@gmail.com )

Thanks!

Hi, I'm not creating complex animations. I just need more control over animation. As I said before, I have already experience about motion animation and I'm trying to get used to AP. Currently I'm working on animated visual novel game, personal project. I'll try to use Morph (Animation), thank you.

Do you have some tips & tricks for best results in AP?

For example, character animation and background animation shouldn't in separate layer etc...

Hi.

Animation (Morph) is the most freely editable modifier, so you will be able to create what you want to express.

Your question about animations with backgrounds seems to be about what you commented on our YouTube video.

The best tip is to use the appropriate modifiers and features. It depends on the case, so it is difficult for us to be specific.

Anyway, we think that the video below might be helpful to you.

The video tutorial below may be similar to what you're trying to create (although it was made for an early version of AnyPortrait).

This tutorial has a background and character.

However, unlike your creation method, these two animations are divided into two Portraits, which are different GameObjects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc3bD6Cf9Cg&list=PLgj5ezX2bzwctFVTF0awhLqse5Wem5Ozb&index=6

If you put the character and background in a Portrait and want to play two animation clips simultaneously, you have to write a script or use Mecanim.

As we wrote in the YouTube comment, separate the Layer parameters, and play two animations simultaneously using a script.

In some cases, it may be necessary to set the Blend Method to Additive.

For example, you need to write code like the below.

Play("Character Anim", 0);

Play("BG Anim", 1, apAnimPlayUnit.BLEND_METHOD.Additive);

Through the script written in this way, when you run the game, the animation will be merged and run!

In the links below, you can see a detailed description of the function and how it works in Mecanim.

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/Script/SC_Animation.html

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_Mecanim.html

Other video tutorials are also available on the pages below. Tutorials 1, 2 are for beginners in the basics, and tutorial 3~6 contains a process that can be used in practice.

https://www.rainyrizzle.com/ap-videotutorial-eng

Please visit the manual page for detailed descriptions of other features!

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdManual.html

If your problem has not been resolved or you have other questions, please leave a post!

When you let us know with your detailed request, we can help you more accurately and quickly.

Thanks.

Hi again,

Thank you, I'll try these on my new animation once I finish the photoshop process.

This time I need more-like some technical support here. I want to 360 degree rotate this planet in the AP. But as you know, AP only support inside canvas. This is a problem. Wouldn't it better if it's contain out of border the canvas?

Here's my object:

But it placed like this in the scene:

Here's the out of canvas data: (marked as blue)

Final drawing:

When I transfer it to AP, I don't want this blue part to be deleted. Because those parts will appear when I make animation.

I hope you understand more clearly with the pictures I mean. Is there a solution for this in the current version? Or can you bring it to the next version for sure? The arrival of this feature is of great importance to me. Thank you :)

Hi, Gökdeniz Çetin!

Thank you so much for letting us know by attaching the screenshots.

The "Canvas" you mentioned does not exist in AnyPortrait, it probably refers to Unity's Canvas Component.

In AnyPortrait, if the Clipping Layer is not used, part of the image will not be lost. Don't worry about it.

If you don't use Unity's Canvas, you don't have a problem with parts of your animation being lost by default because parts of the image are deleted. (And even, we don't think that using Unity's Canvas creates any problems for you to worry about.)

Or, if the "Canvas" you're referring to is a Canvas in Photoshop, and the problem you're concerned about means the image is cropped when you import it into AnyPortrait, then you need to fix the PSD image.

After you have finished the source image, you need to "enlarge the PSD's Canvas Size" sufficiently so that all layers are not cropped!

Then there will be no problems when importing to AnyPortrait.

The open-source library we use cannot import hidden parts of cropped PSD images. So, we can't improve this process.

If your issue is different from what we answered, please add a comment.

We'll check it out and help you.

Thank you.

Thanks! Second answer is the what I asked for. What a shame Photoshop does not share this data open source. Then I should use "Image > Reveal All" in Photoshop and canvas size will grow depending on the all objects in the Photoshop. But after I import it into AP, I have to set again main canvas resolution. Is there resolution option in AP or should I scale up the gameobject to hide out of canvas objects?

Glad the answer was helpful.

AnyPortrait is basically created assuming that it will be exported to Unity's 3D World, so it is difficult to accurately calculate the resolution.

If you export your character to a Unity Scene, you will need to either modify the Scale of the GameObject or change the Orthographic Size of the camera.

It is difficult to tell you exactly what value should be set, and literally, you have to look at it and adjust it properly.

Conversely, if you want to export the animation to MP4 directly from the AnyPortrait editor, you can specify the area to be captured!

Check out the link below to learn how.

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_ScreenCapture.html

In this regard, our tip is that when importing a PSD file, make that the Bake ratio to Atlas size is 100%.

( https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_PSD.html )

Even if the resolution of the rendered object is not exactly the same as the original, once the image is imported at its original size, the loss of image quality will be minimized and the result will be similar to the original.

Since there are many variables in the rendering size, such as the scale of the GameObjects, the properties or position of the Camera, it is recommended that you try to do this yourself.

Unlike other video programs, please understand that the reason it has these characteristics is that it runs on a 3D game engine.

You might go through a bit of a cumbersome process to make Unity's output look like the original, but maybe it won't be that difficult. :)

Thanks.