Topic: [IMVU] Pose Troubleshooting

[EdieMaye]

Hello everyone. I am here today because I am trying to learn how to animate avatars for the community of the chat client IMVU. I seem to have caught a snag and I was hoping for some help. This is my first time ever posting on a public forum. So bear with me if there are a few hiccups. My main preference is Blender and I brought some images to share. Here is my breakdown:

I created a simple static pose for demonstration. Starting with the right shoulder:


Then the left:


De-selecting and then selecting all to place a keyframe on frame 1:


sliding the frame to number 10 and re-inserting keyframe whilst everything still highlighted:


sliding timeline to frame 20. Pose > Clear Transform > All:


Switch to object mode in preparation for FBX export:


FBX Export. Selected objects de-selected, Add modifiers unchecked, Leaf bones turned off, NLA-strips down, Force start/end not-ta:


Open IMVU > Create > Derive Product, "Empty Mood, Product ID - 10945930:"


FBX Import > Selecting 86 bones, 10 meshes:


Apply scale .01, Unchecked all objects and etc leaving only animation:


Enter all that applies for a static avatar pose:


I only seem to be able to export a part of the animation. Typically relevant to the left side of the avatar. This was only a simple demonstration, but more complex animations yield the very same to similar results. I am new to animations and my capabilities with Blender are a learn as I go experience, and everything is self-taught for me. So if anyone is willing to offer me some assistance/advice you will have my gratitude.

Thank you for your time,
EdieMaye

[kat]

Looking at the master file I noticed a setting that *might* be causing issues... I've uploaded an updated version of the Female04 pose file but just in case that isn't the issue download the zip below that contains a *.blend file and two fbx pose tests (exported as outlined below). Cross reference them with your project to see if there's any noticeable differences.

- Female04 (poses) test.blend: includes a simple similar pose.

Try the following exports;
- Armature selected in 3D View / "Selected Objects" set during export (fbx reference ["Female04 (poses) test_1.fbx" - this displays *no* skeleton on import to IMVU so DEselect "Hide skeletons that contain no meshes" in the "Select Skeleton Root" window so *all* skeletons are shown]).

- Nothing selected in 3D View / "Selected Objects" disabled during export (fbx reference ["Female04 (poses) test_2.fbx" - this may display two Female03 skeleton selections on import, try both 86 and 88 if they appear to see if/or/both work]).

[EdieMaye]

Hello again, and thank you for the extensive support.

I tested both the FBX exports you had provided within the zip file that included a similar pose to the project I had conducted the other day. Deriving from IMVU product ID 10945930. Here are my results with both exports:

Only the left arm was lowered whenever I selected the 88 option:


And, the only difference shown with the 86 option. Body unchanged, and the left arm now mangled:


Following this I opened the blender file provided in the zip folder that these two exports, I assume, were created with. Everything was identical to my work from my first attempt prior to today. The only difference I noticed was that the pose was re-named to, "Rest," from T-Pose. I exported this mimicking everything associated with the two exports included in the folder. Yielding the same results as the provided FBX Exports.

Afterward I opened the updated file also included within the reply, "Female 04 (Poses)." After changing the auto-key option previously saved as LocScale ---> LocRot I proceeded to imitate the same pose. Then exporting using all methods aforementioned with the FBX Exports provided to me. Testing both 86's and 88's within both exports. This too yielding the very same result as the images I linked today.

I am beginning to believe this may be an issue within my version of IMVU, or something within my software. Especially if the FBX export works on one system and then seems to, "break," when it downloads to mine. Although I am more than capable of creating my own meshes, adding armatures, creating animations, and exporting them to IMVU without a hitch. If there are any additional ideas to test I'd like to hear them. Otherwise I am grateful for the help I have received up to this point.

Thank you,
EdieMaye

[kat]

Hmm that is odd, using the *.blend file provided above as-is you should get a functional (but simple) pose - the FBX versions represent what you should have been able to export doing just this without change.

So.. yes, before going further make sure to be using the latest version of the client (534.6 at time of writing), download here - the auto-updated version isn't always exactly the same as the manual download. Use the test *.blend file again and export without changing it. Import into IMVU using the normal settings. If errors still occur import the test FBX files into separate products and compare, if these break then something very odd is going on.

[EdieMaye]

Hi again,

I have good news. I opened my client for IMVU and it was currently version 534.0. I updated to client version number 534.6 and everything turned out to work just fine.
See for yourself:


I used all the test FBX poses, and even exported a new and different static pose from the Blender file you provided. Everything had the same successful result.

I'll be sure to add version numbers to my process of elimination from now on.

Thank you so much for all the help,
EdieMaye

[kat]

Excellent! Welcome to the pose club ;o)