IC Python API:Uses and Capabilities

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Revision as of 22:59, 25 December 2019 by Chuck (RL) (Talk | contribs) (v0.7.4)

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Main article: iClone Python API.

The iClone Python API helps you to extend and customize iClone, and more easily integrate it into a Python-based pipeline. It provides a bridge between iClone and Python libraries and Python tools. The Python SDK is built on top of the iClone C++ SDK, and you can access a subset of the iClone API from Python scripts and execute them in iClone.

The iClone Python API can do the following:

Character Prop Camera Light
Std(G5, CC, etc.) Non-Std Non-Human
Transformation (RTS) 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4
Facial Expression 7.4 Mo-cap Module 7.4 Mo-cap Module - - - -
Morph Animation 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental -
Material 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental
Parameters - - - - 7.4 Experimental 7.4 Experimental

Capabilities

As the iClone Python API continues to evolve, additional capabilities will be added over time. Below are lists of iClone Python API's current capabilities categorized by version number. The lists below are by no means exhaustive.

v0.7

iC 7.4x
Load iClone Formats This includes *.iProjects, *.iAvatars, *.iProps, and any number of supported file formats readable and writable by iClone.
Animate Props RTS (Rotate, Translate, Scale) prop transformations, including playing their animation clips.
Animate Characters Play motion clips and rotate joints of a character in FK mode (Forward Kinetic).
Morph Animation Drive morph sliders and key morph slider values in the timeline.
Add audio to objects Add or remove audio tracks to props and characters that can playback in real-time.
Adjust Materials Adjust strength contributions per texture channel, UV settings, diffuse color, ambient color, opacity values, etc.
Camera Controls Adjust focal length, angle of view, near and far clipping planes, etc. on any camera in the scene.
Light Controls Control settings for direction, spot and point lights. Such as range, angle, falloff, attenuation, etc.
Device Input Drive animations and object parameters with the keyboard, mice, joystick, etc.
TCP/IP Drive animations and object parameters remotely with IOT (Internet of Things) from other computers, cell-phones, etc. Or, have iClone drive IOT with smart network connectivity for lights, doors, etc.
Get Events Setup callbacks for iClone run-time events such as on load, on selection, on parameter value change, on set timer, etc. Useful for tasks that need to trigger following an event like adding newly created items into a list tree, deploying automatic settings on load, or driving corrective morph targets when certain combinations of morphs are activated.
Render Project Write batch render scripts and specify target directories for output.
Custom UI Design Use iClone's native UI classes, or extend beyond it with QT's Pyside2 to create buttons, forms, dropdowns, modal windows, etc.
Animation Keys Set timeline keys for various motion clips. Animate props, characters, lights, etc. via scripting.

v0.7.1

iC 7.4x ( 01/17/2019 - 01/31/2019 )
LocalTransform & WorldTransform Fixed incorrect transform rotations for RIObject, RIAvatar, RIProp, RILight, RICamera.
RINode::WorldTransform New WorldTransform for RINode; No need for the user to write a function to retrieve it.
Rkey New RKey can be used to carry additional data such as Time, TransitionType, and TransitionStrength.
Material Component Fixed kTime > kKey for the MaterialComponent; Besides setting the frame time, one can also set the Transition Type and Strength.
LoadImageToTexture Ability to load texture images to any channel within a material accessible via Mesh > Material Name.
RIHikEffectorComponent Established framework for the RIHikEffoectorComponent API and test case is provided (not yet implemented).
Ignore API Fixed RAudio:SetAudioPtr and RScene:SetScenePtr not being ignored (currently the online documentation also has this problem).
RApplication class New RApplication class can retreive registry related data and API version number. Test case has been added.
RIObject::SetParent(RIObject/RINode) All classes that derive from RIObject also inherit the SetParent member function.
RIObject::LinkTo(RIObject, RTime) All classes that derive from RIObject also inherit the LinkTo member function.
RIObject::Unlink(RTime) All classes that derive from RIObject also inherit the Unlink member function.
RIFaceComponent::GetKey( args... ) Used to retrieve the current time's Facial Expression, Eye, and Head key values. Usage: RIFaceComponent::GetKey(RTime, Head, LeftEye, RightEye, Morph, Custom, Bone, Weight)
RIFaceComponent::AddClip(RTime) Adds a default Facial clip at the designated point in time.
RIFaceComponent::AddEyeKey() Create a EyeKey under the Facial Layer.
RIFaceComponent::AddHeadKey() Create a HeadKey under the Facial Layer.
RIFaceComponent::AddExpressionKey() Create a ExpressionKey under the Facial Layer.
RIFaceComponent::AddVisemeKey() Create a LipsKey under the Viseme layer.
RIObject::SetName(std::wstring) Used to change the name of an object.
RIObject::GetPivot() All classes that derive from RIObject also inherit the GetPivot member function.
RIObject::SetPivot() Provides a way to retrieve the pivot point of a prop.
RIObject::GetBounds() All classes that derive from RIObject also inherit the GetBounds member function.

v0.7.2

iC 7.4x ( 02/15/2019 - 02/27/2019 )
CICFileIO <RIObjectPtr> CICFileIO::LoadObject( strPath ): Function that can load objects, and directly get the loaded objects, currently only the types that inherit RIObject can use this API
RlVisemeComponent RlVisemeComponent::AddVisemesClip( RO::RTime kTime, const std::wstring& nClipName, RO::RTime kTimeLength ): Used to create Viseme Clip.
RIProp RIProp::SetDummy( bIsDummy): Used to set whether Prop is Dummy.
RIProp <bool> RIProp::IsDummy(): Used to check if Prop is Dummy.
RIMorphComponent std::vector< std::wstring > RIMorphComponent::GetMorphNames(): Get all morph names for the specified mesh.
RIObject RIObject::Clone(): Used to copy the object.
RIObject RIObject::IsSelected(): Confirm whether the object is selected in the scene.
RemoveVisemesClip RemoveVisemesClip( RO::RTime kTime ): Remove a viseme Clip at the specified time.
RlVisemeComponent RlVisemeComponent::RemoveVisemesKey( RO::RTime kTime ): Remove a viseme key at the specified point in time.
RlVisemeComponent RlVisemeComponent::GetVisemeMorphWeights(): Used to get the weight of each Morph of viseme.
RlVisemeComponent RlVisemeComponent::GetVisemeBones(): Used to get the Bone used by Viseme.
RlVisemeComponent RlVisemeComponent::GetVisemeKeys(): Used to get the time of all Viseme keys, and return RTime as an array.
RlVisemeComponent RlVisemeComponent::GetVisemeKey( RO::RTime kTime, RO::EVisemeID& eVisemeID, float& fWeight ): Used to get the VisemeID and Weight of Viseme at a specified point in time.

v0.7.4

iC 7.5 ( 04/08/2019 - 07/01/2019 )
CCameraObject New <RO::RCameraDofData> CCameraObject::GetDOFData(): Get camera Dof data.
RScene New <RO::RICameraPtr> RScene::GetCurrentCamera(): Get the camera currently used in the current scene.
RGlobal New <RO::RStatus> RGlobal::GetScreenSize( int& nWidth, int& nHeight ): Get Export Render size.
RIObject Fixed RIObject::SetName: SetName will now be recorded into undo/redo history.
RScene <RO::RStatus> RScene::ClearSelectObjects(): Added the state of deselecting objects in the scene.
CCameraObject <float> CCameraObject::GetAngleOfView( RO::RTime kTime ) const: Get Iclone camera FOV.
CCameraObject <RO::RStatus> CCameraObject::GetAperture( float& fWidth, float& fHeight ): Get Filmback width and height.
RIVisemeComponent Modified RIVisemeComponent::AddVisemeKey( RVisemeKey ): Pass in RVisemeKey instead.
RIVisemeComponent Modified RIVisemeComponent::RemoveVisemesKey( RVisemeKey ): Pass in RVisemeKey instead.
RIVisemeComponent Modified RIVisemeComponent::GetVisemeKey( RTime kTime, RVisemeKey& kKey ): Pass in RVisemeKey and Reference to retrieve data.
RIVisemeComponent Modified RIVisemeComponent::GetVisemeKeys(): Directly return std :: vector <RVisemeKey>.
RIAvatar Modified RIAvatar::GetGeneration: Added two types CC_Game_Base_One & CC_Game_Base_Multi.
RFileIO Modified RFileIO::ExportFbxFile: Take one more parameter std :: wstring strIncludeMotionPath to output together with Object.
RGlobal New <bool> RGlobal::IsTrialContentMode(): detect whether the current AP is loaded with trial content (for internal API).
RISkeletonComponent New RISkeletonComponent::ConvertBoneAxisAndParent(kAxisMaps, kReParentMaps): Calculate the current RTS according to the incoming axial map & change the parent's map.
CCameraObject New <RO::ECameraFitResolution> CCameraObject::GetFitRenderRegionType(): Get Camera fit render region type (Horizontal / Vertical).
CCameraObject New <RO::ECameraFitResolution> CCameraObject::GetFitFovType(): Get Camera fit fov type (Horizontal / Vertical).
REventCallback New REventCallback::OnObjectDataChangedWithType( int nObjectChangeDataType ): Added the type corresponding to the event when the AP triggers the ObjectDataChanged event.
OnHierarchyChanged New REventCallback::OnHierarchyChanged(): AP to trigger HierarchyChanged event, currently occurs in reach effector.
RIAvatar New RIAvatar::GetAvatarType(): Which Type is used to get the current character (Standard, NonStd, StandardSearize).
RFileIO New <bool> RFileIO::CheckExportFbxHasLicense( RO::RIObjectPtr spObject ): Added judging whether the output Fbx comes with a sell / export license (for internal API).
RFileIO Modified RFileIO::ExportFbxFile: When exporting Fbx, judge whether it has a sell / export license
RISkeletonComponent New RISkeletonComponent::ConvertToOriginalBoneAxis(): Turn the current Pose into the axis of the original skeleton (NonStd characters only).
RICCamera Modify RICCamera::GetFocalLength(): Correction If it is judged that the control (CameraFovClipControl / CCameraFovKeyControl) is wrong, the focal length is calculated based on the FrustumFov in the current camera.
RGlobal New RGlobal.TrialVersionRemainingTimes( const std::wstring& strBinPath, unsigned int uProductID, const std::wstring& strProductFold,const std::wstring& strRegRoot,unsigned int uTimeNo ): Can check the remaining number of trails (some Trial will be useful, ex 3DX).

v0.7.5

iC 7.6 (07/05/2019 - 07/29/2019)
Modify RLPy.RCameraDofData Set Function can now be used. Originally all SetEnable, SetFocus, etc. were hidden functions.
RLPy.RICamera New <RStatus> AddDofKey( RKey, RCameraDofData ): The key used to download the Camera Dof, the Preview Camera cannot be downloaded (not Pause).
RLPy.RICamera New <int> GetNearClippingPlane(): Get the near clipping plane of the camera
RLPy.RICamera New <RStatus> SetNearClippingPlane( int nNearPlane ): Set the near clipping plane of the camera to nNearPlane
RLPy.RICamera New <int> GetFarClippingPlane(): Get the far clipping plane of the camera
RLPy.RICamera New <RStatus> SetFarClippingPlane( int nFarPlane ): Set the far clipping plane of the camera to nFarPlane
RLPy.RIObject Update(): RTS & Geronetry to update all Child bone & Mesh of this object
RLPy.RINode Update(): Transform to update all Childe Nodes
RLPy.ELinkObjectAlignType AlignType referenced when adding Link objects
Modify RIObject::LinkTo( args... ) Modified RIObject::LinkTo( std::shared_ptr< RIObject > spTargetObject, RO::ELinkObjectAlignType eAlignType, RTime kTime ): Link objects often pass AlignType to determine the Position / Rotation of the Target object.
RLPy.RIClip.SetLength() Fixed RLPy.RIClip.SetLength(): that now even the props from the Prop SetParent group can correctly modify the Clip Length of each Child Prop
RLPy.RScene Modified GetProps(): Restricted to get only the outermost Props on the scene (excluding the meaning of Props children)
RLPy.RScene Modified FindObjects( RO::EObjectType eType ): Restricted to get only the outermost Props on the scene (excluding the meaning of Props children)

Limitations

As the iClone Python API continues to evolve, limitations may expand or contract over time. Below are lists of iClone Python API's currently known limitations. This list is not exhaustive.

Inoperable Assets

The following items can not be manipulated and acted upon with Python scripting:

  • Particle FX (iClone & PopcornFX)
  • SpeedTrees
  • Substance Materials
  • Textures Images
  • Constraints: Path, Spring, LookAt, Link, Physics, etc.
  • Physics (Soft & Rigid)
  • IK end-effectors (control attached props instead to drive IK reach)
  • Mesh level components: vertices, edges, faces, etc.
  • Preview camera

Unsupported Operations

The following operations are not available via Python scripting:

  • Saving iClone formats: iProjects, iAvatars, iProps, etc.
  • Pixel operations: multiply, add, overlay, etc.
  • Image processing: Brightness, Hue, Saturation, Sharpen, Soften, Blend, etc.
  • Render parameter settings (Project settings can not be changed)
  • Facial lip-sync keying
  • Preference settings
  • Attach/Detach: changing object parent-child relation
  • Align motion/character root alignment
  • Modeling operations: manipulation of mesh components