Which 3D Formats are used in Manga Studio?

The OBJ file format DOES NOT support anything other than 3D geometry, materials, and textures (actually the texture locators and UV map information and so only one UV map per OBJ). Therefore, no bones, no animation, no lights, cameras, etc. This is the limitation of the OBJ file format.

If you need bones/animation then you need file formats like FBX or DAE. File formats are developed to carry with them specific information. For example the .max format for 3D Studio MAX will carry all the information for a scene made in 3D Studio MAX, including the way the UI is set up (such as if a view port is set to full screen when saved, etc.) and a lot of stuff that NO OTHER software will need or be able to use (since no other software is Max). Obviously, a piece of software like Manga Studio will not need 3DS Max UI info. So, export formats are used instead. Each format was developed for a particular purpose.

So all in all, if you only need a 3D object or simple 3D scene with one UV map, material information and texture locater info, then OBJ works fine. If you need additional information like cameras, animation, etc., then typically you need FBX or DAE, though DAE tends to be used a lot for 3D game development (though FBX gets used as well). Knowing a bit about various file formats will go a long way toward understanding which ones to use for whichever purpose. And it will also keep people from blaming a piece of software when it is not at fault (i.e. wondering why a skeleton did not export when using the OBJ format).

Besides Previz…

While Previs is a collaborative process that generates preliminary versions of shots or sequences, predominantly using 3D animation tools and a virtual environment. There are several other similar techniques in use today. Using digital tools these are used by various relevant departments of the film production crew.
• Pitchvis illustrates the potential of a project before it has been fully funded or greenlit. As part of development, these sequences are conceptual, to be refined or replaced during
pre-production. (Although pitchvis is not part of the main production process, it allows people like executives and investors to take a first look at the potential result.)
• Technical previs incorporates and generates accurate camera, lighting, design, and scene layout information to help define production requirements. This often takes the form of dimensional diagrams that illustrate how particular shots can be accomplished, using real-world terms and measurements. (In good practice, even preliminary previs is most often based on accurate real-world data, allowing technical data to be
more easily derived.)
• On-set previs creates real-time (or near-real-time) visualizations on location to help the director, VFX Supervisor, and crew quickly evaluate captured imagery. This includes the use of techniques that can synchronize and composite live photography with 2D or 3D virtual elements for immediate visual feedback.
• Postvis combines digital elements and production photography to validate footage selection, provide placeholder shots for editorial, and refine effects designs. Edits incorporating postvis sequences are often shown to test audiences for feedback
and to producers and visual effects vendors for planning and budgeting.
• D-vis (design visualization) utilizes a virtual framework in preproduction that allows for early in-depth design collaboration between the filmmakers. Before shots are developed, d-vis provides a preliminary, accurate virtual design space within which production requirements can be tested, and locations can be scouted. Approved design assets are created and made available to other previz processes.
In recent years, digital previs (in virtual 3D space) is playing a more and more dominant role. It offers a path to new forms of filmmaking (see later section on advanced  techniques). But traditional practical previs techniques also continue to provide economical ways to communicate desired action and imagery. Regardless of the technique chosen, the principal goal has always remained the same. By developing and then expressing the intention of a sequence in an accessible visual format, successful previz increases the likelihood that that intention will eventually be realized.

How to install Photoshop CS2 on Ubuntu 12.04

Well now that Adobe have apparently made Photoshop (along with several other Creative  Suite 2 applications) free to download. While we can’t say till when they will keep their activation servers disabled for this, we might as well install it in Ubuntu 12.04 while we can. And yes i know there’s already GIMP, then why Photoshop. My answer to that would be “WHY NOT?”.

Let’s get going! First download Photoshop from the Adobe site (hint: google “adobe photoshop cs2 download“). Also copy the serial number whilst on the download page.

Ok then with the download done, let’s get started. First we need to install all the files needed to support Photoshop in Ubuntu.

You can do that by running this command in the terminal:
winetricks gecko corefonts vcrun6
or just install wine 1.5, this will install all the necessary files/fonts require to run PS smoothly.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install wine1.5
sudo apt-get install winetricks

if gecko or vcrun6 somehow doesn’t get installed, here’s what you’ll have to do.
For vcrun6:
sudo add-apt-repository  ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
winetricks  mfc42

For gecko:
Depending upon your system config choose either the 32 bit file or the 64 one
32 bit:
wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/wine/wine_gecko-1.9-x86.msi
64 bit:
wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/wine/wine_gecko-1.9-x86_64.msi
After it gets done. Run these…
sudo mkdir -p /usr/share/wine/gecko

For 32 bit:
sudo mv wine_gecko-1.9-x86.msi /usr/share/wine/gecko/
For 64 bit:
sudo mv wine_gecko-1.9-x86_64.msi /usr/share/wine/gecko/
And finally…
Right click on the photoshop.exe file you downloaded earlier and select ‘Open with > WINE Windows Program Loader’.

Follow the on-screen prompts as they appear, not forgetting to input your serial-number  when asked.

When everything’s complete, you can launch Photoshop CS2 via the Unity Dash. Enjoy !!!