WoW Machinima + WoW Model Viewer/Map Viewer Help, Questions and no answers... Options

[wingedillidan]

Dear question answer-er,

I am a beginner machinima-ist... I want to know how to incorporate WoW Model Viewer and Map Viewer into a movie. I'm trying to get the hang of it. For example, I want to make an ALL Model/Map viewer movie... Even though some like to watch on the REAL game. But, I want to get more advanced-like. The questions are listed here...

Editing Program: Sony Vegas

Question #1 (Kinda Nooby):
I wanna make a standstill picture move from left-to-right or on a path... How?

Question #2:
How do you interlace a video into another video/picture/screenshot/map viewer map. For example, I want a walking dwarf character behind a rock in the video. Do I have to photoshop and cut out everything in the scene BUT the rock. But, what if I want to put him behind a rock in a VIDEO?

Question #3:
How to make a character walk, turn, than wave (or any other combo of moves) smoothly and using only Model Viewer and the editor.

Please help me in my quest of finding the answers to these questions.

-Wingedillidan

PS: These questions may sound nooby... EVERYONE was once a noob... right?! AM I RIGHT?! Oh god... maybe im the only noob!!!! AAAAGH!!!! I can't go on... I'll NEVER be a not-noob!!! I WANT MY MOMMY.... End PS Message.

[StoneFalconProdu...]

One trick I've been using lately for modelviewer animation combos is, to have the first one running and then, while frapsing that, hit the second one at the right time so they meld smoothly and I don't have to try to line em up in AE. Sometimes it takes a few tries, I just toss the mistakes. If there's more than 2, I then move to the third one and edit out the repeated moves in between the first and third, which is easier than lining up separate captures. Of course this doesn't work quite as well with walking and running.

[wingedillidan]

One trick I've been using lately for modelviewer animation combos is, to have the first one running and then, while frapsing that, hit the second one at the right time so they meld smoothly and I don't have to try to line em up in AE. Sometimes it takes a few tries, I just toss the mistakes. If there's more than 2, I then move to the third one and edit out the repeated moves in between the first and third, which is easier than lining up separate captures. Of course this doesn't work quite as well with walking and running.

Uhhhhhh... Can you please be more specific?

[StoneFalconProdu...]

Uhhhhhh... Can you please be more specific?

Hm. that would be tough w/o visuals. Can someone who knows what I'm talking about make some screen caps? :whistling:

[Forgotten Light]

Hm. that would be tough w/o visuals. Can someone who knows what I'm talking about make some screen caps? :whistling:

Quit scaring the poor noobs! :biggrin:

Question #1 (Kinda Nooby):
I wanna make a standstill picture move from left-to-right or on a path... How?

Not sure what you're asking here, because you question could be interpreted several ways each with vastly different answers. For what I think you want, you want to have the image on the timeline, sized to the appropriate length of time, then right-click on it and open Event Pan/Crop.
The dash-lined box you see is your Frame. First think right-click and select Match Output Aspect. Next size and place the dashlined box to where you want it to start, the first Keyframe should already be there.
Next, drag the little timeslider to the end and move the dash-lined box to where you want it to end. As soon as you move the box a Keyframe should be placed on the timeline automatically. If you accidently place a Keyframe that you don't want, just rightclick on the little diamond and delete it.

Question #2:
How do you interlace a video into another video/picture/screenshot/map viewer map. For example, I want a walking dwarf character behind a rock in the video. Do I have to photoshop and cut out everything in the scene BUT the rock. But, what if I want to put him behind a rock in a VIDEO?

First off, "interlace" is VERY wrong terminology, but that's not really relevant.

To do what you want, take your background layer, and copy it so the copy is synced exactly and also Above the tracks that you have characters on.

Then right-click on that top layer and select Pan/Crop. in the bottom right switch to mask-mode and check the checkbox to activate that event's mask.

Next, use the tools there to place points around the object you want to stay in the forground. You may have to fiddle with it because creating the path you want can be a little difficult until you get the hang of it. Once you've got the path, the parts of the layer that will be invisible should darken slightly. There are settings for this, which are pretty easy to figure out.

At this point, if the object is solid and the background is an image, you're done. (Mask-Mode lets you keyframe-animate every point in a mask for video effects, but that's advanced, time-consuiming and pain-in-the-ass-to-get-right stuff)

Question #3:
How to make a character walk, turn, than wave (or any other combo of moves) smoothly and using only Model Viewer and the editor.

The simple answer is, you don't. It is possible, but there is no secret method to doing so. The only way is to very carefully record each animation/movement in model viewer. If you're trying to do this NEVER use your mouse to move the character. Be very careful about not moving the character at all while changing what animation is playing or whatever else you need to do between recordings.