Stockmoves Tutorials:
Foreword - SoftImage Connection -

When you have converted Stockmoves data into a scene for the package of your choice you will get a hierarchy with markers and a hierarchy with bones. Similar to the "Marker" and "Skeleton" views as they exist in the Stockmoves application.

Stockmoves Marker View vs. converted marker hierarchy

Stockmoves Skeleton View vs. converted skeleton hierarchy

What we'll do is bring this data into our 3D package (we'll be using Softimage) along with a skeleton that we want to use. For simplicity we will start by using a default skeleton in the first tutorial. Then we will constrain the skeleton so it moves along with the Stockmoves data. The reason we do it like this is that this allows you to have a great deal of control. You have a lot of freedom on how you want your skeleton to be setup. You can go with a default skeleton or build your own with a lot of extensive controls built in (like a flexible spine for example). Other advantages of this method are that you can create a character with totally different proportions than the Stockmoves character. Imagine a fat cartoon-like dwarf character with short arms and legs..... let's start with a simple skeleton....

Chapter 1. The Basics