NLA Visual Bake of Actions (with Rigify character) Gives broken results. #96459

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AOG · 2022-03-14T18:02:11+01:00

AOG commented

2022-03-14 18:02:11 +01:00

System Information
Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit
Graphics card: GeForce RTX 2080

Blender Version
Broken: 3.1.0, branch: master, commit date: 2022-03-08 18:16, hash: c77597cd0e, type: release, build date: 2022-03-09, 00:44:13
Worked: 3.0 and later - All that can open this file correctly.

Description
(Files provided for testing)
you'll find a stack of NLA Action strips resulting in desired animation.
Baking those actions into a single Action using visual keying results in Broken looking animation (baked action is set to Replace).
Additionally even though the resulting strip is set to replace and placed as the top layer. Turning Layers on/off below it affects the resulting pose on the character.
One would expect once the top layer is set to Replace, anything happening in the lower layers should have no apparent effect and could safely be removed from the NLA.

Attached Viewport Renders of Pre and Post Bakes for reference.
Attached Character rig used as a Library override (save and relocate the library override from the outliner in the Animation file)
Attached The Animation File in which I am attempting to Bake.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error
MomoDebug_A_rig.blend

BadBakeNLAActions.blend

Open file BadBakeNLAActions.blend. MomoDebug_A_rig.blend is linked, so may need relocating
Delete The top NLA track - it is my failed bake.

Turn on all other tracks below

Run Object > Animation > Bake Action. Use Visual keying option.
Turn off all the layers below (EXCEPT for the WORLD PLACER, that one doesn't get baked because it affects the rig Object itself rather than the bones)

Result:
I couldn't remove the layers below without breaking the animation.

**System Information** Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit Graphics card: GeForce RTX 2080 **Blender Version** Broken: 3.1.0, branch: master, commit date: 2022-03-08 18:16, hash: c77597cd0e15, type: release, build date: 2022-03-09, 00:44:13 Worked: 3.0 and later - All that can open this file correctly. **Description** (Files provided for testing) you'll find a stack of NLA Action strips resulting in desired animation. Baking those actions into a single Action using visual keying results in Broken looking animation (baked action is set to Replace). Additionally even though the resulting strip is set to replace and placed as the top layer. Turning Layers on/off below it affects the resulting pose on the character. One would expect once the top layer is set to Replace, anything happening in the lower layers should have no apparent effect and could safely be removed from the NLA. Attached Viewport Renders of Pre and Post Bakes for reference. Attached Character rig used as a Library override (save and relocate the library override from the outliner in the Animation file) Attached The Animation File in which I am attempting to Bake. **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** [MomoDebug_A_rig.blend](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12927482/MomoDebug_A_rig.blend) [BadBakeNLAActions.blend](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12927496/BadBakeNLAActions.blend) - Open file BadBakeNLAActions.blend. MomoDebug_A_rig.blend is linked, so may need relocating - Delete The top NLA track - it is my failed bake. # Turn on all other tracks below ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12927473/image.png) - Run Object > Animation > Bake Action. Use Visual keying option. - Turn off all the layers below (EXCEPT for the WORLD PLACER, that one doesn't get baked because it affects the rig Object itself rather than the bones) Result: I couldn't remove the layers below without breaking the animation.

AOG commented

2022-03-14 18:02:11 +01:00

Added subscriber: @AgeofGar

Omar Emara commented

2022-03-21 11:41:03 +01:00

Added subscriber: @OmarEmaraDev

Omar Emara commented

2022-03-21 11:41:03 +01:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Needs User Info'

Omar Emara commented

2022-03-21 11:41:03 +01:00

I can't seem to replicate the issue, but I feel there is a step missing. Can you give more detailed instruction on how to replicate the issue? Here is what I did:

Open BadBakeNLAActions.blend.
Relocate the MomoDebug_A_rig.blend library.
Delete failed bake.
Bake the animation with the default option but with Visual Keying enabled.
Add a strip with the bake action, make sure it is at the top and replace the other strips.

I can't seem to replicate the issue, but I feel there is a step missing. Can you give more detailed instruction on how to replicate the issue? Here is what I did: - Open BadBakeNLAActions.blend. - Relocate the MomoDebug_A_rig.blend library. - Delete failed bake. - Bake the animation with the default option but with Visual Keying enabled. - Add a strip with the bake action, make sure it is at the top and replace the other strips.

AOG commented

2022-03-28 00:03:05 +02:00

This comment was removed by @AgeofGar

*This comment was removed by @AgeofGar*

AOG commented

2022-03-28 00:24:19 +02:00

Ok @OmarEmaraDev I found the problem !
The Rig Main Properties do not get baked for me. I'll send you a screen shot.
Here's how rig properties are keyed in the strip at the bottom.

Here's how they look in the Baked strip: not keyed

Because of that they inherit the values of whichever Strip was enabled then disabled last:
Here's what the same controls look like after enabling/disabling the second to last track.

Because of this you could accidentally make the result of your bake look right, or broken when you don't realize this his happening.

Ok @OmarEmaraDev I found the problem ! The Rig Main Properties do not get baked for me. I'll send you a screen shot. Here's how rig properties are keyed in the strip at the bottom. ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12951048/image.png) Here's how they look in the Baked strip: not keyed ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12951054/image.png) Because of that they inherit the values of whichever Strip was enabled then disabled last: Here's what the same controls look like after enabling/disabling the second to last track. ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12951057/image.png) Because of this you could accidentally make the result of your bake look right, or broken when you don't realize this his happening.

Omar Emara commented

2022-03-28 08:46:55 +02:00

Changed status from 'Needs User Info' to: 'Needs Triage'

Richard Antalik commented

2022-04-01 09:31:10 +02:00

Added subscriber: @iss

Richard Antalik commented

2022-04-01 09:31:10 +02:00

@AgeofGar Following comments should be reported separately. Also this file is very complex I think developers would be very unhappy about this. From your last comment it sounds like this should be relatively easy to reproduce with much simpler file, but I don't have much experience with NLA, so I am not sure about that. In any case if you can simplify this case it would be much appreciated.

Additional bugginess:
If you turn turn the two bottom layers on/off and scrub the timeline it will affect the result even though the top layer is on and set to Replace. (see the broken videos)
Correct_PreBake.mp4

Broken_LegsPostBake.mp4

Broken_HeadTwist.mp4

@AgeofGar Following comments should be reported separately. Also this file is very complex I think developers would be very unhappy about this. From your last comment it sounds like this should be relatively easy to reproduce with much simpler file, but I don't have much experience with NLA, so I am not sure about that. In any case if you can simplify this case it would be much appreciated. --------- Additional bugginess: If you turn turn the two bottom layers on/off and scrub the timeline it will affect the result even though the top layer is on and set to Replace. (see the broken videos) [Correct_PreBake.mp4](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12927479/Correct_PreBake.mp4) [Broken_LegsPostBake.mp4](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12927480/Broken_LegsPostBake.mp4) [Broken_HeadTwist.mp4](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12927481/Broken_HeadTwist.mp4)

Richard Antalik commented

2022-04-01 09:35:59 +02:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Confirmed'

Brad Clark commented

2022-04-01 15:51:12 +02:00

Added subscriber: @BClark

Brad Clark commented

2022-04-01 15:51:12 +02:00

"The Rig Main Properties do not get baked for me. I'll send you a screen shot.
Here's how rig properties are keyed in the strip at the bottom."

Yes this is a known issue and long standing problem

https://vimeo.com/503261365

We have a patch that is in the works, one of many to start fixing these issues but the main issue isn't with the NLA or actions, it is with the BAKE

BAKE ACTION- only looks at object or pose and doesn't look at any properties, it is a very limited bake.

"The Rig Main Properties do not get baked for me. I'll send you a screen shot. Here's how rig properties are keyed in the strip at the bottom." Yes this is a known issue and long standing problem https://vimeo.com/503261365 We have a patch that is in the works, one of many to start fixing these issues but the main issue isn't with the NLA or actions, it is with the BAKE BAKE ACTION- only looks at object or pose and doesn't look at any properties, it is a very limited bake.

AOG commented

2022-04-03 06:05:56 +02:00

@BClark @iss
Since this is known I'm guessing you no longer need a simplified sample file ?
Let me know if that is the case.

Also found the link to the bake issue, but it says it's closed and archived. Is there an active task elsewhere ? I would love to follow this issue until it gets resolved.

Thanks

@BClark @iss Since this is known I'm guessing you no longer need a simplified sample file ? Let me know if that is the case. Also found the link to the bake issue, but it says it's closed and archived. Is there an active task elsewhere ? I would love to follow this issue until it gets resolved. Thanks

Brad Clark commented

2022-04-04 01:41:20 +02:00

yeah no sample file needed... and I answered over there on the thread, it is closed because it is a feature request for a tool not a "bug" .

Richard Antalik commented

2022-04-04 11:12:26 +02:00

In #96459#1334390, @BClark wrote:
yeah no sample file needed... and I answered over there on the thread, it is closed because it is a feature request for a tool not a "bug" .

Can you provide link to report here? I guess that would be #65773?

In #96459#1334216, @AgeofGar wrote:
@BClark @iss
Since this is known I'm guessing you no longer need a simplified sample file ?
Let me know if that is the case.

If you agree with that issue is because of animated custom properties influencing position, then I should merge this report. If you think the issue is different, then we will need simplified file. Looking at provided file I am not quite sure what to look for, thare is quite a bit of animation and I don't see custom props there.

> In #96459#1334390, @BClark wrote: > yeah no sample file needed... and I answered over there on the thread, it is closed because it is a feature request for a tool not a "bug" . Can you provide link to report here? I guess that would be #65773? > In #96459#1334216, @AgeofGar wrote: > @BClark @iss > Since this is known I'm guessing you no longer need a simplified sample file ? > Let me know if that is the case. If you agree with that issue is because of animated custom properties influencing position, then I should merge this report. If you think the issue is different, then we will need simplified file. Looking at provided file I am not quite sure what to look for, thare is quite a bit of animation and I don't see custom props there.

Brad Clark commented

2022-04-04 16:42:34 +02:00

As far as I know and understand both from this post and my own experience with the same problem, it is due to the properties being animated but not being included in the new action during the bake.

If you look in the file at the Thigh_parent.r you can see this gear object holds the IK/FK switch properties and since those are animated, when it bakes the animation to the pose bones, the result does not include the switches so the result isn't correct unless you also have the original animation of those properties.

As far as I know and understand both from this post and my own experience with the same problem, it is due to the properties being animated but not being included in the new action during the bake. If you look in the file at the ![image.png](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F12969977/image.png) Thigh_parent.r you can see this gear object holds the IK/FK switch properties and since those are animated, when it bakes the animation to the pose bones, the result does not include the switches so the result isn't correct unless you also have the original animation of those properties.

Brad Clark commented

2022-04-04 16:43:13 +02:00

I go through this also in the video I posted https://vimeo.com/503261365

Philipp Oeser removed the

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NLA Visual Bake of Actions (with Rigify character) Gives broken results. #96459

Turn on all other tracks below