Converting alembic object to animated geometry - possible?

[PaalGustavWiderberg9222]

This is somewhat more of a PFtrack issue than a 3ds Max issue - but maybe there is a solution it in max anyway:

Here's the case; I've tracked a 3d guitar to some live action footage. PfTrack crashes on all kinds of export except Alembic - so that's the only thing I can get into max.

I need to edit the guitar and attach some geometry to it, but I cant find any way to extract the tracking data, the object looses all its animation if converted to a poly, and I cant attach anything by linking either.

Any ideas how to go about this?

[ads_royje · Accepted solution]

Hi @PaalGustavWiderberg9222,

once you have imported Alembic file in Max, you should have Alembic object type.

If you convert to Edit Poly on the Base object, it won't work indeed.

On the animated Alembic object, add Edit Mesh modifier.

Collapse All from Edit Mesh.

Add Edit Poly and Collapse that too.

You should have an Animated Geometry.

The animation is still an Alembic data.

Another way is to Export to FBX, then Import FBX.

You should have animated Editable Meshes, can be converted to Edit Poly.

This will have generate mesh key frames.

This can convert Alembic Animation to Animated Mesh.

Although not required to follow the animated Alembic mesh.

To be able to "attach" other objects to animated Geometry :

For the object to follow the animated one, you can use the Position Controller "Attachment" and pick the animated mesh.

The Attachment uses "Faces" to attach too. In the Controller, select the Mesh and use the Set Position to set you object on the animated mesh.

I've recorded the Attachment controller in Max here :

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/e0c9b37f-ced5-4119-8d65-2586c55cc8d5

I hope this can help! 🙂

[PaalGustavWiderberg9222]

Thank you very much for your response!

Unfortunately, the first and second method did not work - the edit mesh geomtry did not contain any keyframes after applying edit mesh modifiers and then collapsing.

Exporting the animated alembic as FBX did also not yield any keyframes, I tried several variations of baking and resampling.

Using the attachment list controller however - did work! So again - thank you!