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Home ? Tech Help ? Why are Character Actions Grayed out sometimes...

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05/07/2012 11:05:30

EEFilmzExperimental user
EEFilmz
Posts: 397 		Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet or maybe I missed it, but I noticed that sometimes when in Prepare mode and setting up character actions, that when I go to Direct, and I hit Record, that action is grayed out so I cannot perform the action. I just noticed it with the Themes Actions...and am wondering why this happens?
Anyone else have this happen?
edited by EEFilmz on 05/07/2012
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05/07/2012 11:47:34

Marco_D
Marco_D
Posts: 582 		EEFilmz wrote:
Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet or maybe I missed it, but I noticed that sometimes when in Prepare mode and setting up character actions, that when I go to Direct, and I hit Record, that action is grayed out so I cannot perform the action. I just noticed it with the Themes Actions...and am wondering why this happens?
Anyone else have this happen?
edited by EEFilmz on 05/07/2012


Hi EEF,

Some actions are designed to work only if the character is on a certain pose. Like standing or sitting.
So if your character is sitting down the actions that can only be used while standing will be greyed out.

I hope this helps.
Let us know if you have more questions

Cheers,
Marco
edited by Marco_D on 05/07/2012
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05/07/2012 13:43:45

EEFilmzExperimental user
EEFilmz
Posts: 397 		I'll check that out, but then those actions should be grayed out in Prepare Mode as well so you know not to take it to Direct and try to record with it (which is what I did), because the action works in prepare mode, just not in direct mode. Just a suggestion to see if that can be changed in the future. Thanks
Marco_D wrote:
EEFilmz wrote:
Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet or maybe I missed it, but I noticed that sometimes when in Prepare mode and setting up character actions, that when I go to Direct, and I hit Record, that action is grayed out so I cannot perform the action. I just noticed it with the Themes Actions...and am wondering why this happens?
Anyone else have this happen?
edited by EEFilmz on 05/07/2012


Hi EEF,

Some actions are designed to work only if the character is on a certain pose. Like standing or sitting.
So if your character is sitting down the actions that can only be used while standing will be greyed out.

I hope this helps.
Let us know if you have more questions

Cheers,
Marco
edited by Marco_D on 05/07/2012
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05/07/2012 13:53:27

Marco_D
Marco_D
Posts: 582 		Since you can change the pose while directing we can't block those actions.

Lets imagine this. While recording..
You character is standing up, then sits down and performs a sitting action.
If that action was blocked because the character was standing up at the beginning, you guys couldn't use that animation, even if you changed the pose.

I hope it makes sense

Cheers,
Marco
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05/07/2012 15:03:46

mystoMuvizu mogulExperimental user
mysto
Posts: 471 		It makes perfect sense. I come across this issue from time to time and have found that there are a few creative "workarounds" for the problem. One day I'll try and explain how I get that issue.

I've been using Muvizu so much and for so long that most of what I do with the program is "second nature". I don't really think about how I'm going to do something, I just do it. This makes it difficult for me to try and explain to someone else how I did something.

Kind of like breathing, you don't really think about how you do it, you just do it. Does that make sense?
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05/07/2012 16:33:26

Marco_D
Marco_D
Posts: 582 		It does to me

I will see if I can come up with an improvement for that, but it's a tough one.

Cheers,
Marco
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05/07/2012 20:39:42

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		The problem, it seems to me, is just one of information. We need more regarding restrictions on what stance can be used with any animation. How about, for example...



The random poses and Happy > Me graphic are as usual, since They can all be used while standing or sitting. But the Conversation acton has the standing tag, since you can't use it while sitting. Likewise, Knee Slap can't be used while standing, so has the sitting tag. Too simple?
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05/07/2012 22:50:58

EEFilmzExperimental user
EEFilmz
Posts: 397 		Ziggy That is a brilliant idea!

ziggy72 wrote:
The problem, it seems to me, is just one of information. We need more regarding restrictions on what stance can be used with any animation. How about, for example...



The random poses and Happy > Me graphic are as usual, since They can all be used while standing or sitting. But the Conversation acton has the standing tag, since you can't use it while sitting. Likewise, Knee Slap can't be used while standing, so has the sitting tag. Too simple?
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06/07/2012 07:22:31

MrDrWho13Muvizu mogulExperimental user
MrDrWho13
Posts: 2220 		ziggy72 wrote:
The problem, it seems to me, is just one of information. We need more regarding restrictions on what stance can be used with any animation. How about, for example...



The random poses and Happy > Me graphic are as usual, since They can all be used while standing or sitting. But the Conversation acton has the standing tag, since you can't use it while sitting. Likewise, Knee Slap can't be used while standing, so has the sitting tag. Too simple?



Another great idea from ziggy!
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06/07/2012 10:57:41

Marco_D
Marco_D
Posts: 582 		I like Ziggy's idea

Going to put an improvement report into the system with a link to this thread.
No promises though, I'm just a drop in the ocean with no decision making

But I can say thank you for taking the take to analyse and discuss this.

Cheers,
Marco
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06/07/2012 12:07:10

DreekoMuvizu mogulExperimental user
Dreeko
Posts: 1257 		Yip a great idea Zig!

I do still think that all animations that are upper body related (eg conversational ones) should be eventually usable in both the seated and standing positions.

Cheers
D

My latest video here! http://www.youtube.com/user/dreeko?feature=guide
edited by Dreeko on 06/07/2012
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06/07/2012 12:41:15

DanimalMuvizu mogulExperimental user
Danimal
Posts: 477 		Time to play Devil's Advocate (Danimal's Advocate?). Doesn't the greyed out button perform exactly the same function as a stand or sit tag? If you're character's sitting and the action is greyed, you know you can't use it unless they stand and vice versa.

Now to beat a dead horse: I'd much rather see the developers spend their time on something like a useable motion system for objects and cameras than adding in a graphic for something that's kind of intuative to begin with. As Marco said, a drop in the ocean. I'd like to see the ocean start dwindling to maybe a lake or a pond before we add more drops to it.
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06/07/2012 13:21:59

DreekoMuvizu mogulExperimental user
Dreeko
Posts: 1257 		All the greyed out button denotes is the fact that the chosen animation is unavailable and it is this that has caused confusion as many users when confronted with it are unaware as to why.

Ziggy's idea makes it clear what the problem is.

Yes there are many things which we would like to see included or improved within Muvizu but this seems to be a recurring issue which confuses and annoys others who are not as familiar with the program as the hardcore Muvizu geeks like us.

The dragon can wait a little while longer I feel.

Cheers
D
My latest video here! http://www.youtube.com/user/dreeko?feature=guide
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