2014f Day 4

Selecting and iterating over a group:

target = selected()
for i in range(0,len(target)):
	py.select(target[i])
	for j in range(0,106,6):
		currentTime(j)
		scale(4,4,4)
		setKeyframe()

First look at motion capture:
Brekel Kinect (free):
http://brekel.com/kinect-3d-scanner/
iPi Studio for Windows (30-day demo):
http://ipisoft.com/

Mac OpenNI installer: http://sensecast.com/files/Sensecast.and.Libs.Installer.v.0.02.dmg

Unity Kinect packages
...for MS SDK: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/7747
...for OpenNI: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/7225
...for OpenNI 2: https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/10693
PyMel API

Activate import/export formats by going to Window > Settings/Preferences > Plug-In Manager and choosing the formats you need. Especially important are:
objExport.bundle (OBJ files)
fbxmaya.bundle (FBX files)

If your manipulators get oddly sized (often, too huge), go to:
Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences > Display > Manipulators
Set Global scale to 1.

FBX import tips

• Make sure your FBX exports from Maya have Animation and Bake Animation checked.
  
• You may need to correct scale when importing into Unity; select the FBX in the Project pane and change its scale value in the Inspector pane. Click Apply when you're done.
  
• Also in the Inspector pane, you can turn looping on for imported animations. Click both Loop and Loop pose.
  

Install new scripts in:
Mac:
/Users/YOUR USERNAME/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/YOUR MAYA VERSION/scripts/

Windows:
C:\Users\YOUR USERNAME\Documents\maya\YOUR MAYA VERSION\scripts\

**Python scripting in Maya**
1. **Windows > General Editors > Script Editor**
2. Make sure you're on the **Python** tab, not the Mel tab.
3. Run a Python script by clicking the blue play icon or pressing Ctrl-Enter.
4. Begin a session by importing the Python library. I recommend:
from pymel.core import *
5. You might also see examples importing one of Maya's two Python APIs into its own namespace, like:
import pymel.core as py
import maya.cmds as mc
6. Some other useful Python libraries:
from random import uniform as rnd
7. Here's an initial script to try:

for i in range(0,1000):
    currentTime(1)
    polyCube()
    move(rnd(0,10),rnd(0,10),rnd(0,10))
    setKeyframe()
    currentTime(200)
    move(rnd(0,10),rnd(0,10),rnd(0,10))
    setKeyframe()

8. Remember that you can preview a really heavy scene with **Window > Playblast** instead of watching it in the viewport.
9. Most Maya Python commands return an object. You can store that object in a variable and access it later:

bob = polyCube()
select(bob)
move(5,0,0)

You can practice in Processing, using the Python mode.

Basic Java Processing sketch:

void setup() {
  size(640,480);
}
void draw() {
background(random(255));
if (mousePressed) {
fill(255,0,0);
} else {
fill(0,0,255);
}
for (int i=0; i<100; i++) {
ellipse(random(width),random(height),10,10);
}
}

Basic Python Processing sketch:

sW = 640;

def setup():
    size(sW,480)
    
def draw():
    background(random(255))
    
    if (mousePressed):
        fill(255,0,0)
    else:
        fill(0,0,255)
    
    for i in range(0,100):
        ellipse(random(width),random(height),10,10)

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