animation data from max to lightscape

[Gaudenz Jehli]

i wonder, if it is possible to transfer the camera data of a simple walktrough animation from max/viz to lightscape.
it is much easier to setup a walktrough in max, but on the other hand the speed and the quality of the lightscape raytrace engine is amazing.
if we could get the camera data of every frame in lightscape format, it should be possible to setup a batch file, telling lsray to render each frame with its particular camera.

-rpict

[Jeff Mottle]

You can get MAX camera animation into LS. You need to do the following:

1. Export an LP file from MAX using the settings in the animation tab. Doing this will export a set of sequential view files.
2. Use LSray with the -svf and -evf flags to read in all of the view files and render out you sequential image files.

You could also write a batch file to iterate through all of the view files, but the flags in LSRay have the advantage in that the LS file is loaded only once rather than for each frame.

Hope that helps

[Gaudenz Jehli]

Shame on me. I overlooked that. Thanks Jeff.

Anyone an idea how to get 1000 view files between lsray's -svf and -evf tag?

Here is my way:
After exporting the view files from max (be sure to not export any geometrie), cut the file extension using siliwins rename function.(http://www.visionquestimages.com/index.htm)
In excel use the autofill function and drag a row from cam0001 to cam0150. Cut and paste that row between the -svf and -evf tag in the lsray batch file. Call it part1.bat. repeat the procedure till all your view files are set. include the partX.bat files with "call partX.bat" in another batch file.

that's it. it's handmade, but it works.

-rpict

[Jeff Mottle]

rpic

Oh yeah, I fotgot to mention that little limitataion. I beleive it is DOS that limits the numeber of chracters that can be in any one line. What you are dong is actualy pretty smart. Never thought of doing it that way.

If you ever have larger animation that would have to be divided into say 10 batch files it't also wise to declare all of your other LSray options in another file and call them from the batch files. That way if yuo ever need to change a settng like -AA you only need to chanege one file.
Make sense?

[Ernest Burden III]

Originally posted by Jeff Mottle:
I beleive it is DOS that limits the numeber of chracters that can be in any one line.

to 256. Would that be a problem in the export of the cameras?

[Jeff Mottle]

Hey Ernest,

I'm not sure I follow. Cameras from where to where? Sorry it's end of the day and my brain is fried.

[Gaudenz Jehli]

If you ever have larger animation that would have to be divided into say 10 batch files it't also wise to declare all of your other LSray options in another file and call them from the batch files. That way if yuo ever need to change a settng like -AA you only need to chanege one file.
Make sense?

yeah, makes alot of sense.
but how to tell lsray to read parameters from an external file? I thought the -df option would do it, but no success.
any hints?

-rpict

[Jeff Mottle]

Here is how you set that up in the batch file:

myBatchFile.bat
----------------

Set AA=7
Set VW=c:/myfile.vw

Call myLSrayFile1.bat
Call myLSrayFile2.bat

myLSrayFile1.bat
-----------------

lsray -aa %AA% -vf %VW% ........

myLSrayFile2.bat
-----------------

lsray -aa %AA% -vf %VW% ........

Get the idea? You only need to run myBatchFile.bat and call as many other LSrayFile.bat batch files as you need. This way the settings for each file only need to be set in one spot.

[ November 29, 2002, 11:26 AM: Message edited by: Jeff Mottle ]

[Gaudenz Jehli]

Thanks Jeff.
Works perfect. Here is my setup:

anim.bat
-----------------------------------------
set AA=5
set BRI=67
set X=640
set Y=480
set IN=C:\Lightscape\Projects\test\test_1.ls
set OUT=C:\Lightscape\Projects\test\pics\test_.tga

set COMMAND=lsray -v -sh -soft -alpha

call part1.bat
call part2.bat
call .........

part1.bat
------------------------------------------------------
set VIEW= -svf Cam00001 Cam00002 Cam00003 Cam00004 Cam00005 Cam..... -evf
%COMMAND% -aa %AA% -bri %BRI% -x %X% -y %Y% %VIEW% %IN% %OUT%

anim.bat contains all the render params.
partX.bat contains all the view files.
Hope this makes sense)

-rpict