Coming up on today’s epsiode:

We take a look at how to animate extruding text in Maya. Animating extruded text is a nice effect to get the attention of your audience and it always makes for good screen candy.

If you use a custom font you can import an Illustrator file. For this example we will create the text inside Maya. We go to the create menu > create > text > option box. Enter in some text. Set output for curves. You can create a curve, or use an arc tool. Go under create > arc tools to make arc. Go into the side view and click to create a small arc.

Reset the pivot point the center by clicking the home key to bring up the editor. Then go to modify pivot > center pivot. I like to rebuild the curve to make sure it has an even number of  CV points. With the curve still selected go under the surfaces menu then

Rebuild surfaces > option box

Use the settings

• uniform
• 0 to 1
• keep ends
• for this example, I’ll use spans to 4
• degree to cubic

Position the curve close to the text. Back in the Surface menu we’ll go to the Extrudes option box

Use the settings to

• Tube for style
• At path for result position
• Component for pivot
• Profile for the orientation
• Complete the curve

and output to NURBS

Now we can select the letters curves first, then shift select the curve. If your letters have holes, Shift select letter’s outer curve first then shift select the inner curve. Center the pivot for each letter. then go ahead and Extrude each letter.

Select the outline and under Surface fill each letter with a Planer. Ok, so now that we have all the letters extruded, we can start to animate the letter’s extrude.

First lets increase the extrude quality, by going into the attributes for each surface. Under the Tessellation > enable Display > Primary Tessellation Attributes. Here you can set the uv’s to “Best Guess Based on Screen Size”. You can control the text through the curve we’ve create for the extrude. Just keyframe the point position to animate. To animate along the curve we’ll go into our options for the extrude node.

In the Channel box select the input for the sub curve of each letter. Here you can keyframe the Min and Max values
to animate for text!

To add a tapper, we’ll go into the extrude node and adjust the scale properties. Adjust your animation curves, camera and check your render!

Alright, and that is how to animate text extrusions inside Maya.

I’m Pedro for Pixil.info. See you guys next time!

Coming up on this episode of Pixil:
Today, we’ll look at how remote editing has become easier with the introduction of Final cut 7.Streaming draft previews is accomplished with the new iChat Theater option.

This very useful feature is great way to show off the latest cut to your clients. This option essentially  feeds your Final Cut Canvas screen to an iChat video message. Lets check out how the workflow I use in performing an iChat remote edit. When preforming a remote edit, it always helps to see a better frame rate. Editing across the net is never fun, but sometime necessary when completing deadlines.

When combined with remote access software, like logmein, iChat one can use a more powerful machine to edit off location! To do this we active the remote software on the remote computer. Offsite we log in and active iChat on both computers. Using two different iChat accounts we’ll message the control the host computer through Final Cut. We’ll start off by going into Final Cut

Under: View > iChat Theater > Start Sharing

Hit OK to active. While still in the remote account, go to the iChat buddy list and connect to the controller account. On the control computer, accept the invite. Using a second monitor, we can drag the iChat video screen over. Okay, and now we have a better frame rate to remotely edit to!

Okay and that’s how control final cut with iChat. This isn’t the best editing experience, but on a deadline it gets the job done. And that’s it for this episode of Pixil.info. I’m Pedro for Pixil.info See you next time!

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Optimize your iPhone games performance by Baking Texture Light Maps using Maya 2010. Today will be using Maya Baked Lightmaps to speed up game performance. The trick is getting fewer texture draw calls by baking your shadows into the texture.

First will start by creating a texture sheet. A texture sheet holds all of the textures that are used to make up characters and other models in the game. So by combining textures into one file, you can get a faster performance by using less cycles for each texture. For this tutorial we’ll be combining all the textures that make up this cell room.

For this example we’ll use a size of 1024×786. After all the textures are combined, make sure even plain color shaders are also in the Texture sheet.

Link all your texture UVs to the sheet.

Now we’ll Adjust the lighting in the scene, check the render to see the were the shadow are casting.

Now Select all polygons and in the polygons menu under

Mesh < Combine

Create a automatic poly projection for all the ploys in the polygons menu under

Create < UVs < Automatic Mapping Option Box

Using the default settings, under UV Set make sure the UV set name is: lightmap hit apply

Go into your UV Texture Editor and select the new UV set under: UV Sets < and then the lightmap uv set You can switch to original uv coordinates if you need to here

While still having the ploys selected go to the Render Menu Under:

Lighting/Shading < Batch Bake (metal ray) Option Box

The under Settings options check Back Shadows, the rest should be ok

under

Texture Bake Set Override Color mode < only light

Under prefix: use the name of the room to easily spot them out

For the iPhone will use the X and Y resolution of 256×256. Didn’t get any higher quality with a higher number so, We can leave the Number of samples to 4.

Fill Texture seams at: 3.0

Make sure Override mesh UV set assignments is checked with the UV set name to: lightmap

Click on convert to bake the map, This shouldn’t take too long

Ok, now if we look in our project file under

renderData/mentalray/lightmap/.

You can see the room0_lightmap.tif Maya created. Open it up to check it out, Pretty good

Ok we now have both of the UV sets in the scene and the baked lightmap.

Now we have to go to each object in the visible scene and create a Layered Texture shader for each. Then we have to attach the textures and UVs to the baked shadow’s UV set.

We can do this by right clicking on an object Assign new Texture < layeredTexture

Object goes green, The first layer will hold the lightmap file. Add another file node and link it to the lightmap. For the Blend mode use: multiply.

now we can go to the second layer and select a file node. We’ll link that to the color texture sheet. The blend mode should be at: none.

Now we can link the UV sets together for this object and it’s texture.

To set up the UV relationship we’ll go Under

Window < Relationship Editors < UV Linking < UV-centric

Scroll down to find the texture for this object. By default both are linked to the color texture. Select the lightmap and link it to the lightmap UVs

Map1 should deselect the light map UVs from the color UVs.

Now let’s test link by going into the UV Texture Editor and switching between the sets.

Now lets do a test render of the scene with the light off. If linked properly the shadows from any objects should still be in the render!

Now we just have to attach each object and texture to the lighmap UVs, thats how to bake light maps in maya. Hope this helps in optimizing your next iPhone/iPad game.

Giveaway: iPad 3D Model for Photoshop

Today, we’re giving away a free 3D Object of the new Apple iPad. You can import it into Photoshop Extended and start designing your app mockups.

Features fully editable textures and layers. Realistic 3D iPad features buttons, speakers and editable screen.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Remotely Editing in Final Cut on your iPhone

Being able to remotely monitor renders and edits, is a major timesaving workflow that can really speed up production.

In addition to being able to upload client previews, you can obviously edit through any application on the the host computer.

I like using the term editing at a red light, because although i don’t advise you edit while driving, I do use red light time to monitor edits or quickly catch and correct small mistakes during production.

Couple of apps that let you remote your computer, I use log me in. You can setup an account for free, and works at decent speeds over 3g.

Although only recommend for extremely tight deadlines, patients is required – especially when over a 3g connection.

Install on your Mac or PC. You can get the iPhone version from the AppStore. Link your accounts and your good to go.

If you’re on the same wifi network , I use Jaadu.

For your computer setup, Go to Screen Sharing setup and enable remote access under VNC. Setup a password , and your ready to remotely monitor and control.

Those are just a couple of ways you can use an iPhone for remote monitoring and editing, on the go. Thats it for this episode of pixil.info, see ya next time.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

We’re going to look at how we use Jaddu and Veency for monitoring and controlling cameras in production.

Remote-Controlled captures with Jaadu

First we’re going to look at how jaddu can help during production. While working on multiple projects we’re able to monitor and control camera captures. Its a geat tool for this type of workflow. Inside jadu we have access to a keyboard and function keys.

It’s also a great lifesaver when the crew can monitor renders while finishing a game. For remote access you can also use log me in to access homes, offices and servers. You can control any of your macs connected from any where with a wifi or 3G connection.

Next we’ll look at better iPhone screen captures with veency.

iPhone screen capturing with Veency

Instead on getting fingers in the way when reviewing applications, you can record what’s displayed on the iPhone screen. We use veency to control and record iPhone screen captures. Once connected, you can use your favorite screen capture program to capture whats running on phone.

And there you have it, a couple iPhone workflows we use in production. Thats all for this episode of Pixil.info See ya next time.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

We’re going to take a look at Photoshop’s new 3D features.

Adobe added features but deleted some compatibility available in CS3. Being able to import Product models for print, video and web makes a very efficient workflow.

Although new camera control abilities were added in CS4, an incredibly useful ability is no longer there.

Features add and deleted

3D mesh animation support no longer works in CS4. This mean 3D models with animated parts no longer playback inside photoshop. The new 3D UI has deleted the timeline scrubber for the mesh. Making layer styles out of one object with different product stages would be a great workflow. You can still use CS3 for this, but wont be playback in CS4. Hopefully Adobe is able to bring this feature back. Being able to save all collateral as one psd file would save a lot of headaches. So to use playback, I import my Maya model into 3D Max and export it as a .3DS file.

CS3 Mesh Animation Workflow

You can just open it photoshop cs3. Then just set each layer at the need keyframe. Now set a layer comp for each state.

Coming up on today’s epsiode:

Posting your content online, using your iPhone

Today we’re gonna take a look at keeping up with your social sites while your on the go. Being stuck at a red light might not seem like the best place to keep up with the latest breaking news. But if your in terrible traffic, being able to scan the latest headline can help you keep your sanity.

My favorite rss reader for this is Google’s mobile reader. It’s very easy to read, and share content. You can star an iteam to read later. Sharing will post stories you like to other services like friendfeed or a blog. You can also attach notes with comments.

My next favorite iPhone app is Qik. Qik allows you to broadcast live video. This opens the door to turing you into your own broadcasting station. You can edit your titles by clicking on the screen. Your titles and tags can default to the last used if you forget. You can control wether you want your video to be public or private. Here you can toggle audio and user chats. When recording, you can send twitter a link to your recordings. When your finished recording, the red text on the top right tells how much of the video is finished uploading.

Now we’ll look at posting pictures. My preferred method of uploading and tagging my photos, is through Klick. Klick links to your Flickr account. You can acces all of your contacts photos. We can use the geo-location features to find photos taken around your area. You can upload your photos under the more tab, and pick a photo from the camera roll. You also take a picture from with klick.

And now my last one for this episode is, Netshare. Netshare allows you to link up your phone’s net connection to your laptop. Although the iPhone can juggle many task, there’s still times when you’ll need a computer. And there you have it, a couple of my on the go iphone work flows, utilizing these apps on the go can really help empower your mobile office.

So thats it for this episode of pixil.info, see ya next time