The vastSolver is an Autodesk® Maya® plugin that lets you convert any vertex animation into a skin weights and joints animation. The main use is to compress mesh animations, such as a blendshape-driven animation or a cloth/muscle simulation, for use in the game engines.

NEW - JOINTS ANIMATION ONLY (VERSION 2.0.1) 

Now you can use the existing joints skeleton and skinning weights and solve for joints animation only. A skeleton and weights do not have to be produced by vastSolver - it works for any joints hierarchy. 

The vastSolver comes with a compact GUI that lets you set basic parameters (such as a maximum number of joints) and two additional controls to fine-tune solving. Also, a Maya command is provided: there is a User Guide that contains command documentation.

On a technical note, the solver implements an iterative algorithm that searches for the best approximation of a vertex animation. The solver is robust to a non-uniform deformation (e.g. when a portion of the mesh does not have any deformation). The solver implements a custom solving strategy with the goal of the best results for fewer joints. For this purpose, it features Laplacian smooth skin weights regularization. The user can fine-tune parameters of Skin Regularization to get better results or to produce skin weights that resemble hand-painted weights.

By default, the solver solves for translations and rotations of joints. The user can choose to solve for joints scaling. This usually improves results.

The plugin comes with a User Guide and a test scene.

Demo video: https://vimeo.com/405024331

License Activation Process

To activate the vastSolver plugin follow these steps:

1. After the purchase is completed you will immediately receive a product key by email;
2. Enter your email address (associated with your Autodesk App Store account) and the product key in the vastSolver activation window;
3. Generate and copy a response key;
4. Go to vidiaapps.com and paste the response key to get an activation code;
5. Enter the activation code in vastSolver activation window and press Activate.

The product key can be used to install the plugin on up to 2 personal devices.

COMMERCIAL LICENSE 

We offer a commerce license for 5 or more seats. For more information please contact support@vidiaapps.com.