iClone 4.31 3D Animation: Beginner's Guide

508 Pages·2011·13.2 MB·English

by  M.D. McCallum

iClone 4.31 3D Animation
Beginner's Guide
Animate your stories and ideas to create realistic scenes
with this movie making application geared towards new and
inexperienced film makers, video producers / compositors,
vxf artists, and 3D artists / designers
M.D. McCallum
BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI
iClone 4.31 3D Animation
Beginner's Guide
Copyright © 2011 Packt Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the
publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the
information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without
warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers
and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or
indirectly by this book.
Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the
companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However,
Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
First published: October 2011
Production Reference: 1171011
Livery Place
35 Livery Street
Birmingham B3 2PB, UK.
ISBN 978-1-84969-178-9
www.packtpub.com
Cover Image by Rakesh Shejwal ([email protected])
Credits
Author Project Coordinator
M.D. McCallum Shubhanjan Chatterjee
Reviewer(s) Proofreader(s)
Guy Langlois Kevin McGowan
Susanne and Joe Pass Linda Morris
Aaron Nash
Acquisition Editor
Chaitanya Apte
Indexer
Rekha Nair
Development Editor
Reshma Sundaresan
Production Coordinator
Arvindkumar Gupta
Technical Editor
Pramila Balan
Cover Work
Arvindkumar Gupta

Foreword
First and foremost, I would like to thank Mike (M.D. McCallum) for the idea and inspiration
that has taken to create such an endeavor. This is truly a noble cause that will undoubtedly
inspire many throughout the years.
This all started a while back when Mike contacted me about his idea of writing a book
about iClone. From the get-go, we were completely ecstatic that iClone would finally get the
personal treatment direct from the mind and hands of a true production industry veteran.
From its inception, iClone has been an untamed breed of 3D software designed especially for
creative users without prior 3D backgrounds. A software that, even though was jam-packed
with the latest features and technology, was always missing something. Apart from its heavy
feature-based manuals and tutorial videos, iClone always lacked a proper guide to personally
lead and inspire users to nurture an entire project from scratch.
I am deeply grateful that M.D. McCallum, the author who has contributed so much of
his enthusiasm to the iClone community, has now volunteered to make this book. M.D.
McCallum is the first featured iClone professional who is honored with several iClone
movie awards, along with being one of the first users to set up the iClone Wikipedia page.
His kindness and generosity has always permitted him to share his knowledge through the
iClone Revolution website, which he started as a need to address so many iClone inquiries.
Being a senior iClone Content Developer has also allowed him to push the limits of creativity
not just of himself, but also of the entire animation community.
As most of you know already, iClone is not just a collection of years of heartbeats and oceans
of fervor from the Reallusion team, but it is also a chest of dreams and collaborated efforts
from dozens of worldwide content contributors who over time have made the world of 3D
production so much more accessible and inspiring to all of us.
Thanks to Mike's gamut of iClone animation knowledge, readers can now get a
comprehensive view of what an iClone production platform is, including, how to master
tools, access fast growing content libraries from talented developers, and how to make the
most of being a community member. His work not only holds the hands of beginners who
yearn to explore iClone in a structural way, but it also lends itself as an enjoyable must-read
for any iClone veteran.
This galvanized book has been long overdue and awaited by many users who have spent
hundreds of thousands of man-hours figuring out how to get the most out of their iClone,
not to mention those who have hungered to enter the world of independent film making
with a great self-taught companion.
This piece of work is also a great reward and humbling reminder to the iClone development
team that has witnessed their software being used across every continent and industry on
the planet. There is so much that our words cannot express… Thank you.
Charles Chen
CEO and Founding Partner of Reallusion, Inc.
About the Author
M D. McCallum, aka WarLord in the iClone community, is an international award winning
Commercial Graphics Artist, 3D Animator, Project Director, and Webmaster with a freelance
career that spans over 20 years and includes over one hundred individual and team-
based awards. M.D. has worked as a freelancer for animation companies, 3D application
companies, game development studios, indie film and animation studios. His experience
with computers dates back to home-built kits in the late 1970s.
M.D. is the author of eleven whitepapers for the Reallusion iClone Developers Center and
has been selected two times as a Reallusion Featured Developer. M.D. has been a loyal user
of iClone since version one and is a Certified Content Developer and Reallusion Director.
M.D. was previously published as an outdoor writer in national magazines before turning his
attention to full time digital freelancing.
M.D. operates a freelance production studio in partnership with other highly skilled
freelancers across the world to provide web and television-based commercials, product
presentations and visualization. He also creates and provides quality iClone props
including his innovative Destructible line of props and iClone freebies and tips at www.
iclonerevolution.com.
I would like to thank Charles Chen and Jason Lin at Reallusion for their
unwavering support of the book project. I would also like to thank Shirley
Martin who helped me work out the kinks early on and the technical
reviewers for their time and generosity. I particularly want to thank Guy
Langlois (BigBoss) for taking the time out of a very busy schedule to
help. And of course, I want to thank the incredibly patient team at Packt
Publishing for guiding me through the writing and shaping this book in
a way that no words could adequately describe. And last, but certainly
not least, my wife Rosemary and stepson Zac. Two people that go out of
their way every day to make sure I have the time to complete my various
projects, meet my deadlines, and otherwise get to have fun doing what I
love all day and long into the night.
About the Reviewers
Guy Langlois is a Computer Engineer with a Master's degree in Business and
Administration (MBA). He works as an Executive in an engineering firm specialized in the
development of high-end audio/video and 3D equipment and authoring tools for the Film
and Broadcasting industry. Aside from work, Guy plays in a rock band and is a recognized
Reallusion Certified Content Developer, Director, and Trainer who excels in the creation of
specialized iClone characters and other derived iClone products.
Guy is known in the iClone industry as "Bigboss". He also manages the "Bigboss's Treasures"
Theme Store in Reallusion City, which features his personal work as well as the work of other
excellent Certified Content Developers, each with their own special aptitude for creation and
design; http://city.reallusion.com/store/BigbossTreasures
I would like to thank the iClone community who so gracefully support
my work!

Cheers!
Susanne and Joe Pass discovered their passion for animation, 3D modelling, and image
editing. Susanne and Joe Pass worked in different jobs, she came from the social sector and
he was a workman.
Joe concerned himself more and more with graphic art. His work has been presented in
several exhibitions. Susanne was interested in photography.
The couple began to learn how to work with image editing programs like Photoshop and
made their first flash animations. In 2006, they completely switched and offered, under the
name digiMagic, services in the field of Animation and Web Design, shortly after they bought
the first Reallusion products: CrazyTalk5 and iClone3.
They were directly thrilled by the new possibilities that opened. They expanded their service
by content development and training courses for iClone or CrazyTalk Animator in Germany.
Susanne and Joe are Reallusion Certified Content Developers, Trainers, and Directors. You
can find their content packs in Reallusion Content Store and Marketplace.
They count themselves lucky that they found a job they enjoy and can work together.