Very interesting the direction that iClone is trying to take. I've been keeping my eye on the iClone products for a couple years, and they've always seemed like great "toys," but never useful in the real world of paid projects.

This is an awesome price, but I'm not sure it'll be much more useful to me than something like Bluff Titler.

I have the package DJ sells and a number of Reallusion products. iClone is focused on real time 3d animation. Because of that, it uses low polygon count models and limited rendering types for lighting. The result is a video game look.

iClone's price is misleading in some ways. Keyframe tools require the Pro version. Characters really have to be purchased from Realluision. To dress most of them you have to buy two $99 add-ons plus the essential packs. To import Google SketchUp models you have to buy another add-on. You can run up a big tag in a hurry.

Without spending additional money, you can use the set packs that DJ is selling with it and create some fun virtual sets perfect for adding a chroma keyed host for a video introduction etc. The set pack has a good set of parts that you can combine in many ways beyond the stock looks. As long as you have the PopVideo Converter from Reallusion, you can place your host and use camera movements etc. It does things that I used to do with Serious Magic's Ultra, except with iClone I build my own sets. It takes more work, but has more flexibility.

In my opinion, this is the only real use for iClone for a video producer. If you buy the Xchange software for importing Google SketchUp, you can quickly use SketchUp to extrude objects from photos or illustrations and place your host in a quick virtual set for short spots.

JMHO

KK

Thanks for the clarification, Keith! Just what we needed to hear.

I tried the free version just to get a feel for it. Like all things 3D it is not obvious how to get something done and I couldn't find anything in their help files that helped.
The DJ package included 20 upper and 20 lower case letters and that's it folks. So you're stuck with that typeface. Maybe there's an option to buy more fonts but if so that would be very restrictive and expensive compared to other 3D packages that can extrude any vector font. If they want to find a market for the product amongst us video guys they need to rejig the product.

Bob.

To make other 3D text, you create it in Google SkecthUp and import it into iClone through the Xchange software.

iClone wasn't designed as a 3D titler. There are better apps for that.

KK

I have a hard time thinking about 3D. May I confirm that PopVideo Converter effectively turns a real person into a semi-3D character able to move through a virtual set?

Without PopVideo converter Vegas can place a green screened person in front of a virtual set. But can't virtual sets have areas masked out - in which case an actor could be placed behind a virtual wall and move out behind it without the use of PopVideo Converter? Still not quite sure what the limitations/possibilities are, but I noticed that Pop Video Converter costs about the same as the Digital Juice offer, basically doubling the price.

Thanks,

Kit

As I mentioned before. The price is misleading because most useful tasks require additional purchases. I am working on learning Blender for that reason. I own enough other Reallusion products already that I can do things with it.

PopVideo converter is just a file format converter. You still have to chroma key the footage and prepare a separate mask file. It can't even read an embedded alpha. It converts it to a file format that iClone can read. It then goes in as a 2D plane. As a 2D plane it can be placed anywhere in the set and object will automatically mask themselves. It works to composite things into the set, but it does not give the imported video any extrusion or depth.

Hi Kieth

If I "just" want it to make introes with footage and stills and maybe a little text - no models etcs., which version should I pick, pro or reg. ?

Or should I get the DJ deal?

http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/products.asp?pid=1139&tab=t2

I do not have after effects, so I was hoping this one cold do just a fractal of AE for me to a reasonable price.

Thanks.

/Ulf

Thanks for sharing the YT video Bob...

the most impressive thing imho is the dragging of the images/video stright on to the surfaces you want them. If I could do that in blender I wouldn't think this app is cool, but that UI feature right there makes this pretty neat!

" If they want to find a market for the product amongst us video guys they need to rejig the product."

I think that's their problem with this product. A year or two ago, they were trying to market this as a product where you could make Machinima type films within the program. You can see a number of iClone "films" on YouTube. It was very interesting, but it seemed like a lot of work. That must not have gathered a large clientele, because they're trying to market their product now for video production.

I still think it has great potential, but something's just not right yet, and I'd hate to learn yet another software program with minimal benefit.

If you want to do what is demoed on the DJ site, then that bundle is good for that. Take a look at Eric Franks video on DJ. He shows what you can do if you add the PopVideo Converter. Without the Converter, you are stuck.

I have the Standard version but I really wish I had the basic keyframe editing ability that comes with Pro. I just can't see spending more money for an application that has as little application for what I do.

It is NOT in any way a replacement for AE. For that, look to Boris or FXHome or many others.

I wish you good just drag video to surfaces. That only works with the stuff purchased from Reallusion. If you cook your own it is more difficult.

KK