Organizing Scene Files

# 1 04-02-2014 , 02:14 AM

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Join Date: May 2006

Location: Williamson, WV

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Hey guys, I want to start a new project (an animated short) with a few characters and a few different locations. There will be various things in the scenes like houses (indoor and out), objects such as furniture, toys, etc. Outside there will be more toys (bicycles, swingsets, etc...) and other everyday items. There will be two main characters and other characters for support roles. As I am approaching this project on my own with no previous experience, I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed. I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle it yet so I have been practicing modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, animating and whatnot and also watching as many tutorials as I can. I am really trying to make it look as professional as possible (star wars clone wars is a big inspiration). It is for myself so I'm not pressured for deadlines (that is probably bad... procrastination is one of my better qualities...haha) I haven't started modeling the main characters yet but I have been thinking about how I want to do them for a long time. My main question(s) for now are these: How do I go about organizing my scene files? Do I create one project and save each scene in it? And what about the characters? Do I make separate files for them and just import them when they are to be in the shot? Where do I save them? And what about the "everyday" objects? What are they called? Assets? Where do I save them? Do you import them when you need them as well? I use default folders when I create a new project and most of them are self explanatory like source images and render scenes but I'm not clear as to where I'm supposed to be putting the others. I would like to know if anyone has a great way of doing this. What is the pipeline or workflow that people in the industry use? Sorry this is so wordy, just have been looking around the net and haven't found the answer. I am using Maya 2013. I also have Adobe CS6. Where to start?.... Thanks

Sampson

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# 2 04-02-2014 , 02:37 AM

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Join Date: Feb 2013

Location: Down Under

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Hi Sampson, I'm in the same boat as you. I'm looking at making a short film to test what I know too. I've found that the book 'Inspired 3D Short Film Production' by Jeremy Cantor and Pepe Valencia has answered a lot of my questions and problems that I've been pondering. It goes through all the steps involved in making a short chapter by chapter, and whilst it's not software specific, it really helped me to get an understanding of what putting together an entire short entails. I'd recommend that you get a copy (even just from a library or second hand book store as it is a little pricey {though I think it's worth its price three times over}) and check it out as it goes over a lot of your questions in depth.

Also I'd love to see you start a WIP here of this, I'd follow it with great interest. Would also help if you ran into problems and such. Good luck.

Cheers, the Yeti.

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# 3 04-02-2014 , 11:26 AM

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Location: Bolton - UK

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I was taught in uni to keep the files seperate (characters, backgrounds, useable props) and then import them in as referance files. That way any changes you need to make to those model will be updated straight away in your scene. Then save the animation by shot. The company I then went to work for straight out of uni did the same thing.

But its been a long time since I did a full animation and not sure if the referance file thing has changed in Maya and is now called assets or not. I know the same process was called that in the unreal engine, but thats games.

Good luck and dont worry too much. But defo dont keep all files in one big file.

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# 4 04-02-2014 , 08:54 PM

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Join Date: May 2006

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Thanks MrYeti. I looked up that book online and have "kindly" asked my wife to get it for me. (It'll be ordered this Friday) haha... Anyway, I don't have a clue when I will get started on this project (I guess I already am in preproduction). I really can't wait to start doing the characters. I know it will be fun once I get going. I'll definitely post up some WIPs and any probs I come across. Thanks again...

Sampson

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# 5 04-02-2014 , 08:56 PM

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Join Date: May 2006

Location: Williamson, WV

Posts: 121

Thanks Tweety. I'm gonna need to do alot more research it seems on organizing scene files before I actually get started. Hopefully this book that MrYeti suggested will help some.

Sampson

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Organizing Scene Files

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