Background Library_Is it functional?

[modelskir]

First off, team, I really appreciate what your capabilities are bringing out in this programming project! It is really coming along, and I look forward to future advances.

I am a hobbyist artist, and I am interested in your program from that point of view. But it would be at times valuable to create a face or form and look at it from different points of view, to see how the light plays across it.

I have two questions.

The first is regarding the background library. Did you actually make it functional in the 'alpha6' version? When I go into the tab, a selection window does not come up from which I can choose a 2D-model. If you have made this portion functional, what might my challenges be?

The second is regarding the Aqsis renderer. I went and down-loaded v1.6 from their website and loaded it. Through MakeHuman, the on-screen model did not render, and the python screen said there was an error. I removed that Aqsis version and replaced it with v1.4, only to get the same result. The computer I am using is a Home XP system, and reasonably capable (it handles Blender easily). What might the challenges be?

Thanks.

[Manuel]

The first is regarding the background library. Did you actually make it functional in the 'alpha6' version? When I go into the tab, a selection window does not come up from which I can choose a 2D-model. If you have made this portion functional, what might my challenges be?

It's not fully functional, but you can add background just copying your custom images in the "backgrounds" folder.

The second is regarding the Aqsis renderer. I went and down-loaded v1.6 from their website and loaded it. Through MakeHuman, the on-screen model did not render, and the python screen said there was an error. I removed that Aqsis version and replaced it with v1.4, only to get the same result. The computer I am using is a Home XP system, and reasonably capable (it handles Blender easily). What might the challenges be?

Thanks.

Can you post the error?

Best,

Manuel

[mflerackers]

The reason there are no backgrounds to choose from is that you didn't place any images in makehuman/backgrounds in your home folder.

[modelskir]

Good day!

Thanx for getting back to me so quick! But please, I am going to need a little more help with this.

I think you're response has brought up more questions for me than answers. I am going to need a little more clarification regarding the background library. In your message back, you suggested that the background library is

"... not fully functional, but you can add background just copying your custom images in the "backgrounds" folder."

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I admit I am probably missing something here. Before I sent the initial message out, I had put a single picture, in various formats (gif, tif, png, bmp, jpg) into the 'background library' folder, but an 'open file' window did not open in the program to load any of these pictures from. Now, when you say to "copy custom images in the backgrounds folder", what precisely do you mean? Do you mean a 'drag'n'drop' process, a 'cut'n'paste' process or another methodology? From where to where? In which format, at what picture size and/or resolution? Is there anything else we need to know that would simplify things (and make your life easier too)?

Now, I must also apologize. I had made a comment about aqsis not rendering a picture... what I had forgotten was how long it takes. I had initiated the process after I sent the message, and was then called away. Lo and behold, when I came back, I had a rendered model. It didn't have a skin texture, but it was rendered. However, the python box registered a number of errors:
... syntax error at ... /renderman_output/ ribFiles/ hairscalp.rib line 3
... could not load shader "mixer'"
... could not load shader "bakelightmap"
... could not load shader "scatteringtexture"
... could not load shader "skinbump"
... could not load shader "skin2"
... could not load shader "eyeball"
... could not load shader "cornea"
... Unrecognized RIB request at ... /renderman_output/ ribFiles/ hairscalp.rib line 3

Those pretty much cover the recognized challenges!
Hope they help your team out!

And thank you for your time.

[Manuel]

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I admit I am probably missing something here. Before I sent the initial message out, I had put a single picture, in various formats (gif, tif, png, bmp, jpg) into the 'background library' folder, but an 'open file' window did not open in the program to load any of these pictures from. Now, when you say to "copy custom images in the backgrounds folder", what precisely do you mean? Do you mean a 'drag'n'drop' process, a 'cut'n'paste' process or another methodology? From where to where? In which format, at what picture size and/or resolution? Is there anything else we need to know that would simplify things (and make your life easier too)?

You can use any picture, any size, and most of common formats (png, jpg..).
But then you dont have to go in "open file", but in library->background tab.

Now, I must also apologize. I had made a comment about aqsis not rendering a picture... what I had forgotten was how long it takes. I had initiated the process after I sent the message, and was then called away. Lo and behold, when I came back, I had a rendered model. It didn't have a skin texture, but it was rendered. However, the python box registered a number of errors:
... syntax error at ... /renderman_output/ ribFiles/ hairscalp.rib line 3
... could not load shader "mixer'"
... could not load shader "bakelightmap"
... could not load shader "scatteringtexture"
... could not load shader "skinbump"
... could not load shader "skin2"
... could not load shader "eyeball"
... could not load shader "cornea"
... Unrecognized RIB request at ... /renderman_output/ ribFiles/ hairscalp.rib line 3

It seem aqsis don't find the shaders...can you here the YOUR_DOCUMENTS FOLDER\makehuman\render\renderman_output\ribFiles\scene.rib ?

Best,

Manuel

[modelskir]

Thank you Manuel for getting back to me regarding the above.

I think we've come down to the challenge with the background library. Under 'My Documents/makehuman/mybackgrounds/*.jpg ' I have some jpg pictures (though I have had the other formats there as well). When I open up makehuman alpha 6 and go to < library -> background >, I am greeted with an all but blank screen. Down in the bottom-right of the program screen are the buttons for 'Undo', 'Redo', 'Reset', 'Global cam', and 'Face cam'.... Nothing else, even if I move into either of the 'Hair' or 'Texture' tabs and back again.

As for the aqsis render challenge, in the folder heirarchy ' makehuman/renderman_output/ribFiles/shaders/ ', there are not any files present anywhere within, before or after running a render (ie., the render frame is still open on the desktop).

I will try reloading aqsis 1.6 and see if it improves the situation...

Otherwise, what other suggestions are you able to send our way?

Thank you for your time and patience, it is greatly appreciated.

Have a Great Day!

[mflerackers]

It's C:\Program Files\makehuman\backgrounds.

[modelskir]

Sorry, I'm back with a self-correction.

Yes, there is a file heirarchy ' .../render/renderman_output/ribFiles/*.* ' that does contain a 'shaders' folder holding files in slx format (bakelightmap, cornea, envlight, etc.) , a 'textures' folder holding files in texture format, and assorted other files in rib, shad, and zfile formats. Obviously the rendered models are here as well.

So, contrary to what I stated in the above post, the rib files are here.

What should I look for now?

Thank you for your help, and have a Great Day!

[modelskir]

Thank you mflerackers for the info (see post log above).

However, please note that changing the folder 'mybackgrounds' to either 'background' or 'backgrounds' did not improve the situation.

Have you any other possible fixes?

Thank you for your time.

[mflerackers]

Not in my documents, but in the makehuman program folder.