If I save a .facefx file via the maya 2013 plugin. Will I be able to open it in FaceFX 2012.1?
I'm getting the error:
Command Failed: loadActor -file
Thanks for your help!
SG
Hi,
No, unfortunately the FaceFX 2013 file format is different than the FaceFX 2012 file format and only FaceFX 2013 supports Maya 2013. If you click the Console tab and then the SDK Log tab you should see something similar to "[ERROR] Format error: attempt to load archive saved with newer file format version!"
You can, however, save the actor as an .xml file rather than a .facefx file and then import that .xml file in FaceFX 2012.1. That should allow you to get the face graph setup into FaceFX 2012.
If you want to use Maya 2013 I highly suggest upgrading to FaceFX 2013, which has support for render assets (so you can see your character's mesh and skeleton) coming from Maya 2013 and also has a new FBX pipeline that significantly simplifies all of this setup.
I agree that in this case it isn't quite clear what's going on or what has failed with the error message you're presented in FaceFX Studio, so I will add a feature request to make that error state more explicit in a future version.
I tried exporting the actor out of Maya via the XML file. FaceFX 2012.1 was able to import the XML successfully.
However, FaceFX generated errors when trying to change the render asset.
"Errors were generated while loading the rendering asset. Please check the console for details"
The console details state.....
"Ogre failed to find and load either a .scene file or a .mesh file: Cannot find serializer implementation for current version [MeshSerializer_v1.8]"
I think the problem lies within the FxOgre exporter. It saves the Ogre files with capitalized extensions. i.e.- .MESH, .SCENE, .SKELETON, .MATERIAL
If I change these extensions to lowercase (.mesh, .scene, etc.) FaceFx does not generate an error when changing render assets. However, it also does not display the assets in the preview tab!?
At this point I'm not sure if upgrading to 2013 is an option. The project has already entered production. Is it possible to get the 2012 plugin?
That error message happens because FaceFX Studio 2012 uses Ogre 1.7.1, and FaceFX Studio 2013 (and the Maya 2013 Ogre plugins that come with it) use Ogre 1.8.1. FaceFX 2012 can't load the MESH and SKELETON files output by the FaceFX 2013 Ogre plugins.
Upgrading to 2013 is going to be your best bet. We have no plans to add support for Maya 2013 into FaceFX 2012. Also, The new FBX pipeline inherently fixes this issue if you ever want to switch to Maya 2014.
If you are really stuck, you could use 3rd party Ogre plugins like OgreMax (I believe they support Ogre 1.7 and 1.8 concurrently), but unless you have a really good reason not to upgrade FaceFX, I think it will make your job significantly easier. Contact us at support@ if you have any questions about upgrading.
Also, I can't reproduce any issues with the capitalization of extensions. I'd be interested in fixing any issues like that, but I think you are running into Ogre version issues.
To add to Doug's reply: the 2012 Maya plugins come with FaceFX Studio 2012 so you should already have them installed if you have Maya 2012, or you can install them from your FaceFX installer. FaceFX 2012 doesn't support Maya 2013 (only up to Maya 2012), so there are 2 options: upgrade to FaceFX 2013 or use Maya 2012 rather than Maya 2013.
Thanks Jamie for pointing out the Maya 2012 plugin is nested within the FaceFx 2012 program files... didn't notice that:) I have switched back to Maya 2012.
All is well now! Once the 2013 plugins were uninstalled, I was able to export again.
Hi,
No, unfortunately the FaceFX 2013 file format is different than the FaceFX 2012 file format and only FaceFX 2013 supports Maya 2013. If you click the Console tab and then the SDK Log tab you should see something similar to "[ERROR] Format error: attempt to load archive saved with newer file format version!"
You can, however, save the actor as an .xml file rather than a .facefx file and then import that .xml file in FaceFX 2012.1. That should allow you to get the face graph setup into FaceFX 2012.
If you want to use Maya 2013 I highly suggest upgrading to FaceFX 2013, which has support for render assets (so you can see your character's mesh and skeleton) coming from Maya 2013 and also has a new FBX pipeline that significantly simplifies all of this setup.
I agree that in this case it isn't quite clear what's going on or what has failed with the error message you're presented in FaceFX Studio, so I will add a feature request to make that error state more explicit in a future version.
- Jamie
Good suggestion Jamie!
I tried exporting the actor out of Maya via the XML file. FaceFX 2012.1 was able to import the XML successfully.
However, FaceFX generated errors when trying to change the render asset.
"Errors were generated while loading the rendering asset. Please check the console for details"
The console details state.....
"Ogre failed to find and load either a .scene file or a .mesh file: Cannot find serializer implementation for current version [MeshSerializer_v1.8]"
I think the problem lies within the FxOgre exporter. It saves the Ogre files with capitalized extensions. i.e.- .MESH, .SCENE, .SKELETON, .MATERIAL
If I change these extensions to lowercase (.mesh, .scene, etc.) FaceFx does not generate an error when changing render assets. However, it also does not display the assets in the preview tab!?
At this point I'm not sure if upgrading to 2013 is an option. The project has already entered production. Is it possible to get the 2012 plugin?
Thanks again,
SG
P.S. - At this point I'm using the Slade files
That error message happens because FaceFX Studio 2012 uses Ogre 1.7.1, and FaceFX Studio 2013 (and the Maya 2013 Ogre plugins that come with it) use Ogre 1.8.1. FaceFX 2012 can't load the MESH and SKELETON files output by the FaceFX 2013 Ogre plugins.
Upgrading to 2013 is going to be your best bet. We have no plans to add support for Maya 2013 into FaceFX 2012. Also, The new FBX pipeline inherently fixes this issue if you ever want to switch to Maya 2014.
If you are really stuck, you could use 3rd party Ogre plugins like OgreMax (I believe they support Ogre 1.7 and 1.8 concurrently), but unless you have a really good reason not to upgrade FaceFX, I think it will make your job significantly easier. Contact us at support@ if you have any questions about upgrading.
Also, I can't reproduce any issues with the capitalization of extensions. I'd be interested in fixing any issues like that, but I think you are running into Ogre version issues.
To add to Doug's reply: the 2012 Maya plugins come with FaceFX Studio 2012 so you should already have them installed if you have Maya 2012, or you can install them from your FaceFX installer. FaceFX 2012 doesn't support Maya 2013 (only up to Maya 2012), so there are 2 options: upgrade to FaceFX 2013 or use Maya 2012 rather than Maya 2013.
- Jamie
Thanks Jamie for pointing out the Maya 2012 plugin is nested within the FaceFx 2012 program files... didn't notice that:) I have switched back to Maya 2012.
All is well now! Once the 2013 plugins were uninstalled, I was able to export again.
Thanks again!
SG