Moho Animation Forum

Hello All,

I am trying to practice the smooth bones techniques on a bone chain by using the crop image hack. but the problem I am facing is that artifacts of the original layer are still visible when i move the bones of the arm i am working on. Will masking help and how do it? I tried the ordinary mask technique, but the layer settings is not showing the masking tab though a dummy grouped vector layer sits above the png layer. Is there any workaround?

Here is a pic of the image i am facing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18_s3HB ... sp=sharing

vivekchakraverty wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2024 2:28 am ...
Here is a pic of the image i am facing.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18_s3HB ... sp=sharing

that isn't a pic! (It's your working text...)

As mentioned in the other thread, I believe Smooth Joint uses the 'width' of the artwork (relative to the bone pair's width) to set the diameter for its deformation, so it's best to export the image art from your paint program pre-cropped.

For many years, this was one of the reasons I used the free Photoshop-Export-Layers-to-Files-Fast plugin to prep images for Moho. Among its many useful options is the ability to save each layer cropped with or without a margin. (I always added a slight margin in case I needed the area for future image editing.)

Nowadays, however, I like to use Moho 14's layered PSD, which automatically crops each layer and also keeps the items correctly positioned. I was not a fan of this feature in previous versions of Moho for a variety of reasons, but Layered PSD in Moho 14 usually works great. The key is to make sure your layers are clean (no artifacts or unwanted pixels.) Also, make sure each layer has a unique and sensible name.

If you're using a version of Moho older than 14 (like Moho 12.5,) I still recommend exporting to PNG layers over using layered PSD. The Photoshop plugin I mentioned above is a great way to do this, but this plugin only works for Photoshop. The free Krita program has a built-in script that's basic by comparison, but it can work well enough for Moho layers.

Tip: When using PNG exports as layers for Moho, I like to include one layer in the stack that's a flattened version of all the separate layers. I use this layer as a layout reference for placing the images in Moho. After importing this layer, set it to Don't Render and Ignored By Layer Selector.

I hope this helps.

Sorry, about sharing the wrong file, here is the correct one:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1opiMCv ... sp=sharing

Got it working, looking back the solution was easy, only this is that i am kind of a newbie. You just need to crop out the body part artifacts in the base image layer!

Unfortunately, I spoke too soon, as the fresh crop breaks up parts of the joint when bent at extreme angles

vivekchakraverty wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2024 6:20 pm Sorry, about sharing the wrong file, here is the correct one:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1opiMCv ... sp=sharing

The bone influence areas are too large. You don't have a bone for the head. It would be usual to have a torso bone from the waist up and then bones for the abdomen and legs (although if you're intending only that she's moving her arms this may be unnecessary - but it will probably help you to fit the upper body bone influence areas more precisely. )

HOWEVER

you're on Moho 12.5??? This sort of work would benefit from using the warp mesh rather than bones.

hayasidist wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 4:16 am

vivekchakraverty wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2024 6:20 pm Sorry, about sharing the wrong file, here is the correct one:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1opiMCv ... sp=sharing

The bone influence areas are too large. You don't have a bone for the head. It would be usual to have a torso bone from the waist up and then bones for the abdomen and legs (although if you're intending only that she's moving her arms this may be unnecessary - but it will probably help you to fit the upper body bone influence areas more precisely. )

HOWEVER

you're on Moho 12.5??? This sort of work would benefit from using the warp mesh rather than bones.

I'll try out the warp mesh next! Thanks for your tips!

vivekchakraverty wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2024 9:00 pm Unfortunately, I spoke too soon, as the fresh crop breaks up parts of the joint when bent at extreme angles

Are you using the built-in Crop Tool? This tool applies a non-destructive crop, which is great for static art but less so for a deforming part. It's also no good if you use custom mesh warps.

If the image layer you're cropping is used in a deforming rig, it's better to use real cropping in the original image file. Cropping is something to consider when designing and creating the character art in your paint program; for example, you may want to keep limbs aligned horizontally or vertically and not at a 45-degree angle. The layer export tips mentioned earlier will automate layer cropping during export, so you don't need to do this in Moho.

Greenlaw wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 10:01 am

vivekchakraverty wrote: ↑Sat Nov 23, 2024 9:00 pm Unfortunately, I spoke too soon, as the fresh crop breaks up parts of the joint when bent at extreme angles

Are you using the built-in Crop Tool? This tool applies a non-destructive crop, which is great for static art but less so for a deforming part. It's also no good if you use custom mesh warps.

If the image layer you're cropping is used in a deforming rig, it's better to use real cropping in the original image file. Cropping is something to consider when designing and creating the character art in your paint program; for example, you may want to keep limbs aligned horizontally or vertically and not at a 45-degree angle. The layer export tips mentioned earlier will automate layer cropping during export, so you don't need to do this in Moho.

Thanks a lot!