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Time track for point cache and particles?
Posted: 23 June 2021 02:07 PM   [ Ignore ]  
Total Posts:  80
Joined  2020-01-07

I am working on a VFX shot of a shark jumping out of the water. It is a mix of hand keyframes shark, with XPartciles for the ocean and foam. We have baked out the shark with a point cache, and have caches on the XParticle ocean mesh, and the particles driving the foam.

The client now wants a speed ramp, from normal speed to slow motion. After doing a little research, I saw there is a “Time track” option which seems great. I know it works on keyframes, but he mentions caches but does not show it. Of course, if I can tie all these animations to one “time track” and do a global scale, it would be great.
So, my question, can I attach a cache, and a point cache to a “time track”? I don’t see the option. Hoping I missed it.

Before you ask, I would love to upload the scene for you to review, but I am under NDA wink

Thanks in advance.

P

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Posted: 23 June 2021 02:30 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 1 ]  
Total Posts:  19
Joined  2021-06-02

I haven’t used the time track method but i have used a little xpresso and userdata to manage more than one aspect in one track though. There’s also a very handy free plugin for c4d called Magic Slow Motion that can be applied to the whole project for global control.

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Posted: 23 June 2021 02:41 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 2 ]  
Total Posts:  80
Joined  2020-01-07
chris_rossi83 - 23 June 2021 02:30 PM

I haven’t used the time track method but i have used a little xpresso and userdata to manage more than one aspect in one track though. There’s also a very handy free plugin for c4d called Magic Slow Motion that can be applied to the whole project for global control.

Wow..that sounds promising! Will look now.

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Posted: 23 June 2021 02:54 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 3 ]  
Total Posts:  80
Joined  2020-01-07

well, sadly, the link is dead… :(

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Posted: 23 June 2021 02:56 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 4 ]  
Total Posts:  80
Joined  2020-01-07

hmm..works in Firefox. Woohoo..gonna install now..let’s see if it works with all the different caches.

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Posted: 23 June 2021 03:14 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 5 ]  
Total Posts:  80
Joined  2020-01-07

Ok, good try, but does not seem to work with Caches.

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Posted: 23 June 2021 03:38 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 6 ]  
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Hi psussi,

Perhaps try this:

Export the Shark as an Alembic file.
Switch the Shark to invisible for any render.
Merge this file back into the scene.
You get an Attribute Manager> Object> Time Remap.

With X-Particles: Cache it and have a look at the Cache object,
Attribute Manager> Object> Playback> Retiming> Custom.

Now all you have to do is feed the Spline interface from one into the other. XPresso.
Example:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/sR9Gcwie9hoDaMiWFuOYvwDRPBSd6koEAYoLrZmpkXk

IN this case the X-Particles Spline interface is made the control station. Here you edit your timing.

Please test this carefully, as I have never done this with X-Particles in the mix!

I would avoid Time Track. Why? Because there is no way in a complex project to see where it is applied to. This might create a very uncomfortable situation at one point. Nothing that I wish to happen for anyone.

All the best

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
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Posted: 23 June 2021 07:35 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 7 ]  
Total Posts:  19
Joined  2021-06-02

I’m glad you got the plugin but sorry to hear it didn’t work, Dr Sassi’ method is defo the better option tbh lol

Hope you manage to solve the issue though.

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Posted: 23 June 2021 07:39 PM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 8 ]  
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Thanks, Chris, for your contribution.

It is never an easy undertaking to support while having no access to the project; For many reasons.

Enjoy!

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Dr. Sassi V. Sassmannshausen Ph.D.
Cinema 4D Mentor since 2004
Maxon Master Trainer, VES, DCS

Photography For C4D Artists: 200 Free Tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DrSassiLA/playlists

NEW:

NEW: Cineversity [CV4]

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