Looking for Set-Design-Software

[treppenmanfred]

Hi,

I was wondering if there is a software to create individual film-scenes for my animations (created in AS). The usually 3D-programms would do the job, but in most cases I would rather have some things preset like e. g. gravity or lighting. I am thinking of a virtual environment, that would have a stock of props (like in a real film studio) so you' only have to "place" things like in real life (the software kind of understands that you are building a film set). I don't want to create every peace of property in 3D by hand since the animating of the actual characters is enough time-consuming. And I don't wan't to draw every 2D-Backround. Rather I would like to have a 3D-set imported into AS, where i can then adjust the perspective and place my characters.

Does anyone know a software like this or does anyone know a workflow?

thanks, manni

[dm]

Give Vectorworks a try: http://www.nemetschek.net Lots of drag and drop pieces. Architecturally friendly.

Otherwise, collect parts, and use something like: Blender: http://www.blender.org, Cinema4D: http://www.maxon.net or any of the myriad other 3D software out there.

Depending on what you want, something like http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/pro ... gnersuite/ or
http://www.microspot.com/products/inter ... /index.htm might take care of your needs http://www.microspot.com/store/3ds.htm too.

edit: Missed this one, maybe along the lines of what you want?: http://www.microspot.com/products/3dtoolbox/index.htm

http://www.turbosquid.com has a bunch of models available. Many more at other places, depending on what formats you need to support.

So, more to the point, what sort of sets do you want to make?

'Sets' are a pretty broad subject. I would imagine if you were a little more specific about the bits and pieces, you'd get more succinct answers. Windows, Linux, Mac? How much are you willing to pay, too (that one is a pretty good determination of what you can end up with in the end).

Yes, there are workflows. More info will help with that one too (I could go on for pages about this stuff, but don't really want to).

[treppenmanfred]

thanks,

I'm on a mac.

Of course I'm primarily looking for free or open source solutions. But since I'm a professional motion designer, commercial software is interesting too.

At the moment I'm experimenting with some animation ideas, which would be created in AS. Most of them would recommend creating stuff like houses, supermarkets, cars, streets, landscapes, etc.

My goal is to break down the whole progress of animating and end up with a solution where the biggest part of work and effort is used on the actual storytelling and not so much on the technical recommendations.

I made a bunch of independent short-films (mostly not animated). I was looking for locations and props. Due to the limited options I took what i could get. Not everything I made up in my mind before was possible. But it did the job and the given conditions became some kind of part of the art.

So why not do this with an animation project? But instead of going outside, find it in the internet, in a software or some kind of virtual stock.

I think architect software would work for the set building (as long as it provides exporting it in *.obj format). Another question: Would you actually recommend using the 3D-placing-feature of AS?

I could go on for pages about this stuff, but i thing that does it for a start

thanks. manni

[dm]

I don't use 3D in Anime Studio. My early learning attempts always seemed to end with it not functioning somehow. Post about 3D in a different forum category-I'm sure you'll get some reasonable advice there.

From the sound of it, you're pretty much doing a compositing job. Does you set really need to be in 3D? Multi-layer (Z-depth) 2D might do it for you. Or a combination of techniques. Or even make the animation in AS, and then assemble backgrounds and sets elsewhere (like After Effects, Combustion, Motion, Etc.)

There are a lot of people doing animation with this software that's cut-out 'scrap' art assembled to make a final product. Seems to me that trying to use 3D sets might not be the most effective way to do this. Or, maybe it is. Wouldn't be for me though. I'd bet that 3D geometry will slow things down.

Free: Blender 3D, Wings-can both output to .obj (from other formats too).

[Mikdog]

Toon Boom Animate Pro showcases exactly what you're after - building a set in 3D space and then adjusting the camera angle accordingly.

Check out what I'm talking about on www.toonboom.com

Their stuff's a bit pricier than AS though.