ajc27-freemocap-blender-addon

FreeMoCap Blender Addon

This is a Blender add-on for loading and visualizing the output of the freemocap software.

The core functionality is run automatically at the end of a standard freemocap recording session, but this add-on allows for manual loading and visualization of the pre-processed freemocap recording data in Blender.

Installation

1. Download the freemocap_blender_addon.zip (from the latest release)
2. Open Blender
3. Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Install...
4. Select the freemocap_blender_addon.zip (likely from your Downloads/ folder)
5. Verify installation by searching freemocap in the addon tab and ensuring the box next to freemocap_blender_addon is checked

Usage

NOTE - We strongly recommend activating your System Console before running this addon, as it will show oodles of valuable information about the underlying process. On Windows, you can toggle this console on from the Window menu in a running instance of Blender. On Mac/Linux, you must launch blender from a Terminal by typing blender into a terminal after install.

Pre-requisites - Data!

You must have should have a fully processed freemocap recording folder on your computer somewhere.

If you are processing a recording from the freemocap software, it will probably in in [path_to_your_home_directory]/freemocap_data/recording_sessions/[recording_name]

If you have downloaded and processed the test data from the Data dropdown in the menu bar of the freemoap software, the addon should detect that automatically and set that path as the default.

You may download a pre-processed freemocap_test_data recording on the freemocap==1.3.0 release notes:

https://github.com/freemocap/freemocap/releases/download/v1.3.0/freemocap_test_data_processed_with_freemocap_v1.3.0.zip

Running the skeleton building pipeline

1. In the 3D viewport window, press n to show the sidebar
2. Select the 💀FreeMoCap tab
3. Set the path to the FreeMoCap recording you want to load (path should point to the directory that contains the output_data/ and annotated_videos/ folders)
4. Press the RUN_ALL (keep an eye on the terminal window for useful output)

💀✨ Time for skeletons \o/

If all went well, there should now be a friendly spooky skeleton in your scene along with the annotated images-as-planes, and a new .blend file saved to the specified recording folder named [recording_folder_name].blend (i.e. the same way it comes out of a standard freemocap recording session)

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Considerations:

• The rig has a TPose as rest pose for easier retargeting.
• For best results, your recording should include a few seconds where the particapant is standing still with their feet clearly visible flat on the ground.
• If the data comes out rotated relative to gravity, it can be globally manipulated using the parent empty object (usually named [recording_name]_parent_empty) in the scene.
• This is a Work-In-Progress with significant refactors/overhauls planned for the near future. You will always be able to re-process old freemocap recordings using new versions of software, but things like naming conventions, armature configuration, etc may change without notice! Save your work often and back up your data often :D

Special Thanks

Special thanks to @ajc27-git for the original work developing this addon and supporting the freemocap community! Check out their work at: https://www.youtube.com/@fluxrenders

Join the FreeMoCap Discord Community for support, feedback, and collaboration!

Click this link to join the our community Discord server - https://discord.gg/XpRQJnqZxf