Hasta La Motion!

So far i can count many different ways of transfering animation data betwen assets in Maya:

– Retargeting
– Non linear clips for characters
– Mocap
– Mel scripts
– There may be others

I guess all these different techniques aim at different needs. But i would like to compare them. For that i need your help because i have been studying Maya mostly from the teaching angle not really a professional user.

For you, which of those animation data transfert methods or technique is the best and if you only had to choose one, why would choose that one instead of the others?

Last but not least, what are the pros and cons of each of these techniques?

Thank you

Very very simple scene, just a sphere sitting on a box and the box has the mip_matteshadow applied to it.
Utilising the typical workflow (rayswitch enviroment/mirrorball/cameramap) that is outlined in the ‘production’ pdf on the mental images website.

I’ve changed the default Mentalray Texture Node with the maya File Node and loaded the ‘back plate’ image sequence with the Use Image Sequence cheked.
In the Render Current Frame it all looks good and I can scrub through the timeline and everything lines up but when I Batch Render only the first frame is correct. As the box with the mip_matteshadow appears to be using the first frame (basically just looks weird!).

Any thoughts or ideas how to work around this for now ?

I am trying to use "Maya Style Alphas" with mental ray and it works in the editor, but when I try to batch render, the nodes default to off. Is there a way to change the preferences on the actual nodes or a batch command to force the "Maya Style Alphas" option? Maybe a script to force the option?

Again, it is correctly set on the editor (and the local renders are correct, just none of the renders from the nodes.)

Thanks for any help!
M

I have also used mayas writeTo buffers together with custom color in the pass system in order to get stuff out of Mia X Passes. So what I am saying is that I am comfortable using either mayas built in buffer system or ctrl buffers, however the question lies with performance.

I’ve read tons of opinions on both using old school buffer systems and mayas newer buffer nodes. I’ve heard about maya getting really slow after using a certain amount of buffers (never reached that threshold) or how the passes system with buffers is broken for mental ray. Like I said..I’ve worked before, but have not made any performance tests as from what Ive seen both are pretty much the same deal. So I’m asking you guys, what is more efficient, less broken, better performance at rendertime? Or should I stick with both..mayas pass/buffer system for maya materials..and ctrl buffers for MR?

Same deal goes with la Maisons motion vector shader…

Any thoughts would be appreciated since I’ve got a collection of shaders which might be getting a little obsolete and want to make the list a little shorter.