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May 14, 2007
lsgl: have monster, need ram
by sven at 11:59 pm
It's been both an interesting challange and a boggling headache... But I think I've finally got the Elder Thing model rigged.
Here are some crucial features I built into the CG armature:
- torso/feet isolation -- when the torso moves, the feet don't slide across the ground
- a separate control for moving the torso up-and-down
- a separate control for tipping the torso at an angle
- a separate control for moving the torso forward
- a control that allows me to pick the entire thing up, including its motion paths, and put it somewhere else (including at a different angle)
- leg tentacles that keep their S-curves... so long as you don't over-extend them
- posable arms (these could still use some work)
- eyes that can blink
But of course there's a problem. The model is so complicated, I'm lacking the processing power to animate it. There's a couple seconds of lag time between when I grab a body part and when the computer can display it in a new place. Right now, posing is nearly impossible.
There are two possibilities. I might be able to speed up processing time by allocating more RAM to LightWave. (I don't know how to do it, but know it can be done.) Or, I can buy more RAM.
...Given that I only have 512 MB of SDRAM on this machine right now, I suspect that I may be going out to make a purchase tomorrow. It's a problem that I knew I'd have to deal with eventually -- now it's landed squarely in my lap.
posted by sven | May 14, 2007 11:59 PM | comments (6) | categories: let sleeping gods lie
Comments
i hope mph chimes in, but as i understand os x, there isn't a way to allocate more ram to an application like you could pre-x. an application will take as much physical ram as possible, so closing unncessary windows, clearing the desktop and closing apps may make a small difference. if there's not enough physical ram, an application may use hard drive space to swap, but it's SLOW.
short answer: new memory! yay!
Posted by: gl. at May 15, 2007 12:19 AM
Fantastic job working out the rigging, Sven.
Next week, why don't you learn how to split an atom?! I'll wait here.
xoxo, s
Posted by: shelley Noble at May 15, 2007 9:45 AM
Hm. Atom splitting... That would allow me to make smaller puppets...
;-)
Posted by: sven at May 15, 2007 11:48 AM
g is right about the RAM in OSX. We run a minimum of 2GB in our render machines - given, we have the advantage of not having to buy it personally... Also, having all your renders go to a separate INTERNAL PHYSICAL disc (from your systemm disc) not just a partition or an external will speed performance in After Effects and its ilk.
Posted by: Markalope at May 15, 2007 8:26 PM
DEEP TECH!
I always try to keep my rigs as simple as possible.....but your character is kinda demanding more than a biped.
it all seems to be going prett cool though.
cant wait to see these doods tentacalizing all over the place. jriggityPosted by: justin rasch at May 16, 2007 5:26 PM
@Markalope: Thanks for the tips!
@Justin: How I wish I had a low-poly character! But nooo.... For my first CG project (you read that right), I have to come up with the most complicated character imaginable!
Oh... Well, I 'spose it could have been a juggling millipede. :-P
Posted by: sven at May 17, 2007 1:05 AM