Including Visibility in a Perform Command (New for 5.5)

The MotionPlus format also supports the visibility states of characters and the accessories that are attached to the character. By passing MotionPlus with visibility states to 3DXchange, you are able to add more perform commands for the character to show or hide at certain time, or to evoke different accessories in different scenarios.

Character's Visibility States in Perform Command

Preparing Data in iClone

  1. In iClone, apply a character. Right click on it to see the items in the Perform list.
  2. Optionally apply motions to the character.
  3. Turn the visibility of the character on and off at different times by clicking the Visibility On/Off buttons in the Actor >> Avatar >> Modify Panel >> Display section.

    This character flashing shown at certain times via visibility switches.

  4. This character will appear and disappear at different times.
  5. Repeat the steps at other time frames to create a flash/hide effect for the character.

Sending Data from iClone to 3DXchange

  1. In iClone, select the character and click the Edit in 3DXchange button in the Modify Panel. The character will be sent to 3DXchange instantly.
  2. Open the Collect Clip track of the character and make a range for the first part (flashing show).
  3. Right click within the range the select the Add MotionPlus to 3DXchange from the menu.
  4. Repeat the same steps to the range with the visibility modifications to create another MotionPlus file for flashing/hiding the character.
  5. Go to 3DXchange, in the Motion Library, you will see two more items appended to the end of the original ones that the character has by default.
  6. Add these MotionPlus clips into the Perform Editor. This step ensures these two clips are appended to the Perform list in the right-click menu of the character.

    (Optional) Double click on the Clip cell of the clip to rename them.
  7. Export (Ctrl + E) the character to iClone. Make sure you include both the character and the MotionPlus clips.

Using New Perform Commands

  1. Back to iClone.
  2. Apply the new character that you just exported and right click on it.
  3. You will find the new commands listed in the Perform entry.
  4. Utilize the new commands to create show and hide effect for the character.

Accessory Visibility States via Perform Command

Because the MotionPlus format also support the visibility of accessories, you can have the character to wear different accessories in various scenarios by using the Perform commands.

Preparing Data in iClone

  1. In iClone, apply a character. Attach various accessories to the character.
  2. Apply different motions to the character.
  3. Hide unwanted accessories for a series of motions by pressing down the On / Off buttons in the Actor >> Accessory >> Modify Panel >> Display section.

    The unwanted accessories for the specific series of motions are hidden.

  4. Go to the time frame where the other series of motions starts.
  5. Reversely hide accessories for this series of motions.

Sending Data from iClone to 3DXchange

  1. In iClone, select the character and click the Edit in 3DXchange button in the Modify Panel. The character will be sent to 3DXchange instantly.
  2. Open the Collect Clip track of the character, the accessories and then make a range for the first series of motions (because the accessories are numerous, only one or two accessories are shown in the illustration below).
  3. Right click within the range the select the Add MotionPlus to 3DXchange from the menu.

    Note:

    • You may choose the Add MotionPlus to Library command in the menu. However, you need to manually load the MotionPlus file into 3DXchange later on if you choose to do so.
    • If you decide to save the MotionPlus file to a destination folder, then remember to activate the Accessory Data >> Visible boxes in the MotionPlus Option panel.
  4. Repeat the same steps to the range for the other series of motions with different accessories shown.
  5. Go to 3DXchange, in the Motion Library, you will see two more items appended to the end of the original ones that the character has by default.
  6. Add these MotionPlus clips into the Perform Editor. This step ensures these two clips are appended to the Perform list in the right-click menu of the character.

    (Optional) Double click on the Clip cell of the clip to rename them.
  7. Export (Ctrl + E) the character to iClone. Make sure you include both the character and the MotionPlus clips.

Using New Perform Commands

  1. Back to iClone.
  2. Apply the new character that you just exported and right click on it.
  3. You will find the new commands listed in the Perform entry.
  4. Utilize the new commands to have the character change accessories according to different scenarios.