Collada plugin for After Effects

More info here
Plugins and Scripts > trueSpace > Animation

If the Unofficial Updates are installed skip the install persistent base and plugin steps 1 and 2 below.

Unofficial Updates v9

Installation:

  1. install the persistent base if not already installed
  2. install Clintonss3dPlugin
  3. drag the node into the link editor
  4. delete the node from the scene after install is complete

The script creates a mesh that indicates the orientation of the selected joint. Change the orientation of the helper mesh and then use the second part of the script to transfer the changes to the joint. This is useful for mechanical actors like the hinge joints of a door.

joint orientation

Usage (orient a joint):

  1. select a joint
  2. press the Create Guide button
  3. either
    • rotate the guide to the desired orientation
    • or press the Z Axis Target button and move the Z axis indicator
  4. press the Update button to finish

Usage (zero all joints)

  1. select an actor or a skeleton
  2. press the Zero All Joints button

Notes:

  • Installer creates a button that runs the script in the panel view.
  • Use on an unskinned skeleton, otherwise the skin will deform.  It's best to use this tool before skinning.
  • The Standard 3D Colors will make a helper mesh where x=red, y=green and z=blue.
  • The tool will not work on skeletons that have ik handles
  • The Zero All Joints may fail if joint names for the skeleton are not unique. Repeating names may cause an error.
  • The guide can be translated but the tool was not designed for it
  • The guide can be scaled for convenience.

To use on a skinned character (assuming uv set 2 is free):

  1. Apply any uv map using UV set 2
  2. Edit uv map set 2 and choose "Flatten selected UV vertices" to make unique uv's for each vertex.
  3. Copy the character/actor and use the copy in the following steps.
  4. Use the "Attach Skin to Skeleton" tool to detach the skeleton.
  5. Use the Joint Orientation Control on the new character without a mesh.
  6. Use "Attach Skin to Skeleton" to reattach the skeleton to the mesh.
  7. With the new actor selected, use "Transfer skinning weights" tool and choose "UV 2" in the mapping options. Select the original character and the skin weights will transfer to the new character.

November 6, 2023

  • fix colors for tS color choice
  • stop create guide if skeleton has ik handles

November 5, 2023

  • fixed skeleton root position jump

November 3, 2023

  • new installer
  • resets both actor and skeleton pose at start of zero all joints
  • mark child and grandparent nodes as unselectable unselectable
  • checks for ikhandles and ik locks
  • will zero out the skeleton root, the invisible first joint in the skeleton
  • new button icon because old one looked too much liek a null icon
  • smaller indicators by default
  • dev note - impossible to zero the rotations of handles and locks, values automatically revert

February 24, 2018

  • persistent install v2 compatible
  • compatible with new batch installer
  • march 2019 fixed button highlighting

Oct 12, 2014

  • added cancel button
  • optional target item for the z axis alignment

Version 2.0: Works with joints at the end of a chain and added a third button for setting all the rotations of a skeleton to zero.

Version 2.0.1: Just added some feedback to the status line and a finished message. No functional changes

January 7, 2012 - auto installer

xxx xx, 2011
June 5, 2013