Looking for Discussions on Weight Mapping

dlm4001

Everytime I think I have a good understanding of something, I come into a situation where I realize I don't know it as well as I think. (I am starting to believe this is the nature of 3D).

One of those topics is Weight Mapping.  When mentioned I would say, "oh yeah", but beyond very basics, I have found I don't really have a sound foundation og knowlege. My "apply some smoothing and move" on technique is not longer working in my pipeline. It is good I ahve outgrown it, but now I must dive in learn some more.  I want to know how to paint them, methods for graded influence... etc.  I want to be comfortable with the subject.  I am sure I am not the only one. 

If you know of a discussion, a video, or other resource that covers the topic well beyond the basics, and made things clear for you, could you post it here?  I think a lot of people could benefit from having a list of good links posted here. 

As always, I appreciate it.This is a great community for learning.

dlm

L'Adair

My thread on dForce Has some information specific to using the Geometry Editor and Weight Maps. Although it's about applying weight maps to the dForce node, it might help you some. You won't need to go beyond page 1, either, so it will be fairly quick:

dForce, dWeight and dWardrobe. Chronicles of...

RainbowArtist

Try these Weight Mapping discussion links:

https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/163096/rigging-weight-mapping-beginners-thru-advanced

https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/22127/weight-mapping

http://wiki.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/interface/viewport_tools/weight_map_brush/creation/start

http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/interface/viewport_tools/weight_map_brush/editing/weight_map_direct_editing/start

 

Hope it helps.

grinch2901

I was learning how to weight map recently, using weight maps to try to adapt old hair models to dForce. Since I too always saw posts saying "use a weight map" bit not a lot of detail, I laid out my efforts step by step, with pictures. 

Here's that thread:   https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/249121/experimenting-with-dforce-on-older-hair

nicstt

For me the secret to understanding weightmaps is

1) What do weightmaps do?

2) What is the purpose of the weightmaps in a specific situation?

Answer.

1) They inform the 'item' using the map how much (either all or approaching all) to apply an effect; they tell how little (either none or approaching none) to apply an effect.

2) What is the weightmap being applied to? For example, the answer might be in dforce: what parts never move; what parts move a lot; what parts move an amount between those two extremes.

Knowing weightmaps control how much or how little is useless, without an understanding of what they are controlling.

dlm4001

I apologize for the delay, I was away.  This thread turned into a treasure trove of information.  Thanks to eveyrone who provided.  I am going to spend my morning reading all this info and doing some experimenting.

Learning, PJs, Coffee, Art....  relaxing.

 Thanks again.