Xsi questions...

[wbcheater]

hey im trying to model an SG Gibson guitar (pretty symetrical) and ive done the right half very well tho the right is a little off so was wondering how to copey the right half delete the left and paste tje right on the left then switch it around...

 

[wbcheater]

ok, ive got the two halfs seperated but i dont know how to move them or even bind them together... ill post a pic later its not working at the moment

 

[softmonkey]

can you post a pic please?

 

[wbcheater]

yea the pics i think are too big 12 something by 1024 and when i upload it, it fails... im still tryin i already fixed it i think im doin good ive gotton used to the prog (its the first week ive tryed)

oh and one other thing, the files are saved as an .exp file? and i cant open .xsi files. is it because it a free trial?

later

 

[softmonkey]

Just checked here, the EXP saves in its own format: .exp. But you can also open XSI scenes from the production version and import any format not greyed out in the file menu. What's in the .XSI file?

 

[wbcheater]

well you uploaded an dotXsi file on another thread with an HL2 logo? and it said it doesnt support it..

 

[The Dark Elf]

dotxsi should be supported by EXP. Maybe its got a setting in it not compatible with EXP though? I dunno never saw the file :\

 

[softmonkey]

works fine here. Please Note: the logo isn't at the origin. press "shift+a" in a viewport

 

[wbcheater]

well are u usein the free version [EXP] or the retail version? mine only exxepts .scn and .exp files?

 

[softmonkey]

well are u usein the free version [EXP] or the retail version? mine only exxepts .scn and .exp files?

Both!

Here is is working.

What error do you get?

 

[The Dark Elf]

Oh wait.. I bet I know whats wrong

wbcheater: Are you loading it or importing it? By the sounds of it your trying to load it directly, you need to import dotxsi (further down the File menu)

 

[wbcheater]

well i was just opening it... imma try 'importing' it... brb Xsi is on my other comp because im runnin ME on this comp....bye

 

[softmonkey]

Most likely... doh!!!

Its safer just to Drag&drop the file into a viewport. XSI will automatically pick up it up if its a scene or dotXSI.

 

[wbcheater]

jesus i feel stupid, just tryd it by importing and it workd, thanks guys, if anyone else has any more models that they wouldnt mind sharing my msn thing is on my name i think---u can email me too---

 

[wbcheater]

hey can u guys help me make a video of the HL2 model like spining or melting some other effect... any videos u guys have done... can u even make videos in Xsi, do i need any other prog to do vids?

 

[wbcheater]

i need u guys to help me with the video thing cause i wanna make an eye and start out with the pupil large then go small like its sucking

 

[softmonkey]

Model your eye shape.
Open a netview Alt+5
Click on the "XSI Local" link at the top
Click on the "render" link
Scroll down this page to the section called "Shader Presets Toolbar"
The sixth one down is a toolbar for eyes, just follow the instructions.

 

[wbcheater]

so have u made a movie befor? like a rotating Hl2 logo? can u make one to show me how...

 

[wbcheater]

dude it says
'No scripts available for the Exp version in this section.'
i only have the free version

 

[wbcheater]

ok i found the render thing but how do i do movies?

 

[The Dark Elf]

dude it says
'No scripts available for the Exp version in this section.'
i only have the free version

You should still be able to access netview and the features in it.. I think. Or does that preset use expressions or something? I never use presets so I wouldn't know.

 

[wbcheater]

look i found the render menu thing but nothing on make videos of it in action..

 

[The Dark Elf]

look i found the render menu thing but nothing on make videos of it in action..

Well at this point I have to say RTM (read the manual) specifically, keyframes, recording, rendering a sequence. Also read up on the graph editor which is an invaluable tool for tweaking animations, even if it is a bit daunting for beginners its worth learning as early on as possible.

 

[softmonkey]

look i found the render menu thing but nothing on make videos of it in action..

Like Fenric says - you will have to read the manual as it ain't easy summing this up quickly. But basically rendering is where it's at.

I just checked, and the EXP comes with some tutorials which should help you out here. Just follow the link in the startup screen.
Learn the basics before you start any complex animations like fluids.
---
You you just want a spinning logo, save the presets below:

1. spin
2. flip
3. whirl

Open an animation mixer (Alt+0) and right click. Choose insert from file and choose one of the three presets. Repeat for the others.

You should have three clips of animation controlling the rotation of you HL2 logo. You can scale, bounce and cycle the animations easily this way.

PM me if you have more questions or perhaps join the XSI EXP forums at softimage.com

 

[wbcheater]

thanks , imma go try it...

 

[wbcheater]

ok once ive made it rotate how do i make it a mpg or some other video format readable by others?

 

[wbcheater]

seriously folks how do i make or export to an mpg or something?

 

[wbcheater]

well soory i just wanted to bump it up there because once again no one has posted helping me. like you.

 

[The Dark Elf]

wbcheater: Your trying to run before you can walk and I think your attitude expecting people to do the hard work for you at every step is beginning to irritate them now. You've been given a LOT of help, even from a guy who works at Softimage. Maybe XSI is too much for you right now? You might be better learning on a less powerful application, until you've learnt the basics and then move back to XSI|EXP

 

[wbcheater]

look dude i appreciate everyones help i just need this last piece of information to be on my own---ive tried 3dmax, maya, gmax? all not as complicated as XSI--- which guy works as soft image?---it may be hard to deal with but im all about challenges.

 

[softmonkey]

Hi All,

I am all for helping people on the forum. Sometimes, requests can get too detailed to be use to everyone. This thread is an example of that.

When you are thinking about starting a project, and are new to the tool, read the manuals for a day or two. This means you will be able to approach your project from a better perspective. Try breaking it down into steps - like modelling and texturing and read up on those. Most manufacturers structure their manuals in a way that makes this process easier.

For XSI problems, you should be on the XSI EXP forum at softimage (here)

Also try http://www.xsibase.com/ for more help.

Just make sure you have read the manual first.

BTW- just to end this thread, you can render the images (one per frame). You will need a program that takes images and converts them to a movie format though. Check the manual pls.

 

[wbcheater]

jesus christ thank you, thats all u had to say...
"BTW- just to end this thread, you can render the images (one per frame). You will need a program that takes images and converts them to a movie format though."

that woulda saved a whole lot a bitchin from everyone[mods].
now we can end it.

[by chance do u know a prog that take images and convert them?]

softmonkey do u have msn messenger? email me or something to contact me.

 

[RMachucaA]

Within XSI theres a program called "flipbook" which you can use to load up a sequence of images and then export them to any format you want. Im not sure its in EXP version though..ill have to check.

 

[wbcheater]

its not i checked...bummer...

 

[Shinobi]

flipbook comes with XSI???

I use that for making hand drawn animated movies,, never thought to use it for anything else.... it's not made by softimage though right? they just licensed it?

 

[softmonkey]

flipbook is made by soft