Final Assignments

Due Dec 13th:
lit and rendered or screen cast of script in action

Mark: IK to FK switch

Dane: Grenade explosion

Casey: The coolest firework ever

April: Grand finale fireworks

Sierra: Lava flow out of a tube onto the floor

Python beginings

Show your homework.


Use the powers of the internet to help you:

Create a python script that makes 20+ spheres in a loop and place them randomly around your scene.

Look up (google) how to move/rotate/scale things with python in Maya and copy someone else's code tweak it to get your own altered results.


-------------------------------------
What does this script do?

lightsInScene = cmds.ls(type='light')

percentage = 1.0


# If there are no lights in the scene, there is no point running this script
if not lightsInScene:
raise RuntimeError, 'There are no lights in the scene!'


# Loop through each light
for light in lightsInScene:

# The getAttr command is used to get attribute values of a node
currentIntensity = cmds.getAttr('%s.intensity' % light)

# Calculate a new intensity
newIntensity = currentIntensity * percentage

# Change the lights intensity to the new intensity
cmds.setAttr('%s.intensity' % light, newIntensity)

# Report to the user what we just did
print 'Changed the intensity of light %s from %.3f to %.3f' % (light, currentIntensity, newIntensity)


Change this script so it will set all lights to the desired exact intensity.



Just like the Homework:

import maya.cmds as mc
from random import uniform as rand # import python's random.uniform module and give it a nickname
for i in range(20): # create 20 of these
    mc.polySphere(radius=rand(0.2,1)) # create a sphere with random radius
    mc.move(rand(-5,5),rand(-5,5), rand(-5,5)) # move to a random position within a 10x10x10 cube

Change this so the sphere are dispersed  across a larger area and more variety in radius (between 1 and 20).



Final Assignment
Each student will choose a project which involves either scripting(mel/python) or fluids or dynamics of some sort.  The concept will be extremely short but developed to completion, so it could appear on your reel.

For example:  If you want to make a Python or Mel tool create a working script/UI/etc and screen cast yourself demonstrating how your script works.

For example: If you want to create a bottle rocket launching see the project through to render and show break down of what you created.

You have 1 hour to inform the Instructor of what you want to deliver.

Python in Maya

To Begin we need the right tools:

First, install the same version of Python on your machine as is being used inside of Maya.

To find out what version you are running go to your Python Tab and execute:

import sys
print sys.version


What version are you running?

Go here to download the correct version:
http://www.python.org/download/releases/

We also need to install

Ipython:

http://ipython.scipy.org/moin/Download

pyreadline:

http://ipython.scipy.org/moin/PyReadline/Intro

and

numpy

http://www.scipy.org/Download

Download Eclipse Classic from:
http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/?osType=win32

Show ipython inside a command prompt

import numpy

use tab complete to find:

numpy.random.sample?


Where can we execute python in Maya?
from the command line of Maya

create sphere
create polyCube

Script Editor:
create new tabs
show "quick help" and call documentation


New Scene, use import maya.cmds

import maya.cmds

Explain modules in Python, think about Photoshop, or booting your PC

Ways to execute import maya.cmds?

Use Enter by the num pad, or right-click marking menu execute, or "play" button

next 
import maya.cmds
dir()

dir(maya)

dir(maya.cmds)

dir(maya.cmds.CreatePolygonSphere)

How many commands are inside of maya.cmds?

print (len(dir(maya.cmds)))

List what is in my scene:
maya.cmds.ls()

maya.cmds.ls(assemblies=True)

Create an Alias for maya.cmds
import maya.cmds as mc

Let's Create some items
mc.sphere()
mc.spaceLocator()
mc.camera()
mc.polyCube()

Select objects of different types
mc.ls(type='mesh')
mc.ls(type='geometryShape')

Put those items in a list
shapes = mc.ls(type='geometryShape')
print shapes[]
print shapes[0]


BREAK-----------------------------

self teaching...

----------------------------------------

Let's install Eclipse plugins

after launching Eclipse:
Help-> "pydev - http://pydev.org/updates/" Add and step through installing a Python Dev environment


Homework:
Use the powers of the internet to help you:

Create a python script that makes 20+ spheres in a loop and place them randomly around your scene.

Look up (google) how to move/rotate/scale things with python in Maya and copy someone else's code tweak it to get your own altered results.

Continue Fluids...

Complete Wispy and Oily smoke tutorials tonight.

Only HW due Wed is Flamethrower

Flamethrower is Due by Wed midnight, email me the playblast or animation you have posted on youtube.

Wed night class is a walk.

Particle Tutorial

Last Chance to submit your slag movie.

In Class tonight we will step through Fluids via Gnomon.

http://aii.gnomonlibrary.com.ai.libproxy.edmc.edu/training/tutorial/370

Balloon Homework

Homework Due next class:

Last chance to turn in your slag movie!

a playblast and show me your Maya scene of your animated Balloon popping.

11/12/2012

Turn in your movie!


=========================
Instructor Share coding experience:

Python:
mkmovie
remote animators in production tool
submission plugins tool (AE to RR)

Mel:
select and render specific geo with the rest a hold out (background shader)
fairy dust


What is MEL?

Maya Embedded Language = MEL

Now most scripting is done in pyMel


MEL is what is written to a .ma file.

Solve a simple problem:
We want a light to flicker

How do we do that?

light1.intensity = noise(time)*0.1+1.6;

How do we make a 1x1 box?  sphere? with MEL?

Syntax, ':' <object>.<attribute>

What does the mod operator do?


MEL:
What is a variable? why do we need them?

strings
int
float

Declare Var:
string $myName = "<myName>";
int $myAge = <age>
float $myHeight = <hight in inches>

Declare Array:
string $drawer[];
$drawer[0] = ?
$drawer[1] = ?
print $drawer;

string $allInScene[] = `ls`;

string $onlySelected[] = `ls -sl`;


Rand:
rand(-300,500);

Key all your cubes

For Loop:

string $objects[] = `ls -sl`;
print $objects;

for ($singleObj in $objects)
{
    float $rx = rand(-30-30);
    float $ry = rand(-30-30);
    float $rz = rand(-30-30);

    move -a $rx $ry $rz $singleObj;
}


move forward in time: key all your cubes

Flags:

polyCube -w 5 -h 2 -d 1 -sx 1 -sy 1 -sz 1 -ax 010 -ch 1;


Show:

• Create a shelf button from the Script Editor

Class: Model a stone

How to Execute others MEL scripts

Download rockGen.mel

source rockGen File, launch rockGen

Comp your rendered frames today

Comp your rendered frames today

Happy Halloween!

Work on rendering your breakdown of the slag project.

Show your passes and particles on its own layer.



breakdown example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4tXik2pVtk


Homework:

• Finish rendering frames and bring you passes into AE so we can comp starting next class.
• Artists Guide to MEL
  http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/training.php?pid=3163
  
  Do #1-11
  
  
  

Continue and submit scene to the farm, layers and passes

Goal for today: Submit your scene to the farm


Instructor to cover render layers and render passes

Mon Oct 22nd

Show progress on slag tutorial...



continue working on...

Cams, Light and Render your Rube Goldberg Proj

Rube Goldberg

Show Instructor your Rube Goldberg plans.

Use today's class to create your Rube Goldberg design.

Turn in Assignment

Show your 3 playblasts to the class


Next dynamics: (was supposed to be HW but is now your in class work)

Lessons 1-6 and 9-12  (total time less than an hour of tutorials)

http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/training.php?vid=7863

Submit your movie, more MEL

Movie:
Submit your movie showing your layers and the name of the passes with transitions.

MEL:
Explain last weeks first, % ...

What is a variable? why do we need them?

strings
int
float

Declare Var:
string $myName = "<myName>";
int $myAge = <age>
float $myHeight = <hight in inches>

Declare Array:
string $drawer[];
$drawer[0] = ?
$drawer[1] = ?
print $drawer;

string $allInScene[] = `ls`;

string $onlySelected[] = `ls -sl`;

Rand:
rand(-300,500);

Key all your cubes

For Loop:
string $objects = `ls -sl`;

for ($singleObj in $objects)
{
print "\n"
print $singleObj;
}

or
{
    float $rx = rand(-30-30);
    float $ry = rand(-30-30);
    float $rz = rand(-30-30);

    move -a $rx $ry $rz $singleObj;
}

move forward in time: key all your cubes

Flags:

polyCube -w 5 -h 2 -d 1 -sx 1 -sy 1 -sz 1 -ax 010 -ch 1;


Show:

• The Command Prompt
• Create a shelf button from the Script Editor

Class: Model a stone

How to Execute others MEL scripts

Download rockGen.mel

source rockGen File, launch rockGen

Assignment #1

Assignment #1


Bring to class, on Thursday night, camera reference of your 3 favorite moving camera shots along with previz Geo.


Example of what we are making: