Reallusion Forum / CrazyTalk / General / CrazyTalk5 Beta / Observations from a Few Tests / Latest Posts

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

motherreiver — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:24:58 GMT

Agreed; we are customers now and I love the product; but if it becomes difficult to manage Reallusion BETWEEN products, they may miss the long term boat. Even Adobe makes sure it's products interrelate - which is a reason why in the "olden days" it use to be a small product - now look at it. I was thinking of buying stock, but I'll hold off and see how they interrelate products. It is NOT counterproductive (price wise/bottomline) for CrazyTalk 5 to actively communicate with or export/import like features with companion program iclone3. I hope it does - it only makes sense; the face fitting feature of iclone 2.5 was never as good as CT4.6 - they eyes and mouth go all wacky and out of control sometimes where CT has a handle on it. ;)

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

Sifr — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:38:25 GMT

I third that request Motherreiver, this is the only reason I purchased CrazyTalk in the first place. I look at it as a plug-in for IClone, with no real standalone applications other than Skype or electronic greeting cards or things of that matter, with such limited head movement, the character always faces the viewer, but it has no option to turn the head to face, say maybe an off screen character, making the viewer observing it become just that - an observer. Now, if Reallusion includes dual dialogue and a side fitting face profile for full 180 degree head rotations, so my Iclone characters can converse with each other while both on screen following the 180 degree rule and cinematography, all from within Reallusion two flagship applications, there may not be a need for a CrazyTalk 6. I can cheat the effect by importing a photo taken at a one quarter profile but the teeth still face forward.

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

motherreiver — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:50:52 GMT

I second that request on exporting from CT5 to Iclone head/face features to take advantage of both products; iclone's face fitting is not as good as CT's; being able to export from CT to iclone the work we do would only make for excellence in animation productions. I hope your voice is heard:D

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

Cricky — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:40:44 GMT

Another Sample using a Song and importing it as Voice.

Much better recognition than CT4 in distinguishing Voice over Music Notes, so the lip removal of notes was not as extensive...not perfect, but easier. Not sure if there was an enhancement or not.

[url=http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/ReallusionForum/Alice_CT5BETATestImportSongasVoice.html]Video Sample of Alice[/url]

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

Cricky — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:35:36 GMT

Now in the Open BETA... testing continues

[b]When an import of a SFX image is done, the option to import a clean Background Opacity Mask (Black/White)

instead of using the Masking Option would be helpful and more efficient than trying to mask specific shapes.

Photo Editors are more efficient at this than manual masking.[/b]

[url=http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/ReallusionForum/CT5_BETAtest4_60secs.html]Sample Test Video[/url]

I also noted that the BETA version has a time limitation of 60 secs; for those of you that may be experiencing video and audio not synchronizing that I mentioned before. If you keep it 60 secs. or less then the alignment is fine.

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

Popeye — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:22:40 GMT

Got that too Cricky!!

On the plus side I have found the Puppeteering Control and Preview excellent . This has allowed some excellent modifications and enhances expressions. A very good tool which has been included.

The callibration preview has also been good to see.

The general layout is much better than version 4 and the effects you can build into the project are far better.

A real winner RL !!!

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

Cricky — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:25:12 GMT

New error encountered when attempting to edit the SFX

[img]http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/BETA_CT5/CT5_CacheError.jpg[/img]

RE: Observations from a Few Tests

Cricky — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:04:36 GMT

2nd Edit:

The eyes do not appear to close fully depending on the character used...this is observed while using the Puppeteer Tool and attempting to close them fully after placing the markers. Regardless of Default positioning or Customized markers being placed, the eyes do not appear fully closed.

The ability to export the RL Image for the face to re-use in iClone would be helpful to preclude the fitting of the markers again for the same face. This is a repeat request, as it did work a few versions back but doesn't appear to be supported any longer.

When exporting, in WMV/AVI using MicroftVideo1 Encoder Full or Cropped, the ending of the Video Output was cutoff for the Video, yet the audio portion played all the way through. The same thing happened for the Export to WEB feature...video and audio separated towards the end, and did not synchronize. Examples will be uploaded for each.

One Example is [url=http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/BETA_CT5/WMV_BRoadband_320x24030FPS.html]here[/url]

There is a slight pixel pattern (White Pixels) around the head/image during motion, when the masking feature was fit exactly around the characters head.

Image Shown here was a Video Display washout error which I had to click around on to find all the buttons. The project was eventually saved after enough clicks for the individual selections to re-appear.

[img]http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/BETA_CT5/CT5VideoError1.jpg[/img]

Wishlist Item:
I was trying to copy and paste Facial Expressions / Lips / Eyes from one Project and use them in another that way the expressions would be the same...Sample video of Facial Calibration will be made available. I couldn't copy the individual sections such as Eyeball movement, lips, expressions as such by highlighting them on the timeline and saving them as Customized products for each component. If this were possible then the users would be able to change voice inflection then apply the customized facial changes as separate pieces, which was my entire purpose, and use the facial motions, etc. from another character to repeat them with another characters face only with a different voice. [b][i]Grouping them seemed to work just fine and saving them that way, yet being able to select individual parts would be useful depending on the situation.[/i][/b]

[u][i][b]These files and the Photo above are currently being uploaded and may not work until the uploads are completed...try again later if they do not work when you try them.[/b][/i][/u]

[url=http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/BETA_CT5/MaleCalibration640x480_30FPS.avi]Sample1[/url]
[url=http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/BETA_CT5/WMV_BRoadband_320x24030FPS.wmv]Sample2 Web Output WMV Only[/url]
[url=http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/BETA_CT5/Wanker.html]Sample3 - 1st Test Yesterday[/url]
[url=http://www.coolclones.net/cricky/CoolCreatorDocs/BETA_CT5/Punchy.html]Sample4 - 2nd Test Yesterday[/url]

Observations from a Few Tests

Cricky — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 11:31:31 GMT

Face Profile: The ability to see the Characters face in Action using the Facial Profile feature before application is helpful so you know how the reaction settings will appear in advance.

[b]Puppeteering:[/b]

Puppeteering Control and Preview is an excellent addition. With the various settings you can control various functions directly linked to the characters facial components and see how they would actually move when modifying them on the timeline. This allows expressive measures that produces more reality in the facial expressions previously not available except through manual manipulation....really handy tool addition that should be experienced.

The Edit Control Fly-out for the Puppeteers Control is fantastic to allow editing of specific parts related to the components of the expressions. It allows manipulation control by deciding beyond the defaults how much each portion is actually manipulated...extremely handy feature. Kudos to this being added. Works great!

I would like to see puppeteers control for the character ears perhaps. It would come in handy to see the ears flap
depending on the character used (i.e. Elephant) and the script applied... think Dumbo the Elephant and his ears were always mobile horizontal, vertical, or in depth perception.

[b]Motion Clips:[/b]
Movement and resize of the Motion Clips is a breeze. The expansion and contraction of the clips to fit the situation makes it easy to apply specific facial sequences where they belong or fit without having to repeat the copy/paste process in the previous versions.

The ability to un-group motion clips allows movement of specific pieces as necessary too...big difference in the
previous version to this one...well done on this ability being added. Once un-grouped they become part of the timeline and can be selected using the drag process and then re-grouped again and saved as a customized Motion Clip for future use. Basically an overlay feature to the script that can be further modified or enhanced as the author sees fit...very flexible addition to the program, to say the least.

The presets are extremely time savings with the ability to use portions and join clips to another to make customized ones from pieces of others...can't say enough about the features added...impressed with it is a good start!

One thing that would be nice is if the addition of Motion Clips wouldn't wipe out the SFX that are already on the timeline such as TEXT balloons, etc. They wipe out these and then they have to be re-created to add them back in. This is not a problem as long as there is awareness of it happening before hand. I just right clicked, copied the SFX to the clipboard, placed the Motion Clip on the timeline and then slid it over to create a clear opening so I could paste the SFX back into the timeline where it was before the Motion Clip was added. The Motion Clips can then be moved back and it no longer wipes out the SFX like it does when just placed over it. The user should be made aware of it, so they don't accidentally wipe out something and then wonder where it went. The UNDO button comes in extremely handy when something like this happens however, so nothing was lost.

I will still continue the tests as time allows. But so far the only glitch really is the Flash Output which as already stated, will be functional in the final version so that was expected.