Ugh, I've got the same problems as well.
I think it has something to do with Valve screwing up their plugins
the same way they do with their Maya ones.

I've developed a bit of a workaround by switching to the previous version of SFM and resetting the game configurations on the SDK launcher every time I launch SFM;
(this seems to temporarily fix the problem with the presetgroups not loading, in addition to fixing the particle configuration files.)


Then I launch SFM and spawn a HWM character, take a look at his animation set in the element viewer and export all of his presets (emotion, phoneme, viseme, lowbrow, etc) as dmx files in their own special folders.

Now, any time that problem occurs you can simply import the required presetgroups into the corresponding character's animation set.

Due to the way things work, the presets won't automatcally change to the ones of their corresponding character when you select him, so just delete the presetgroups of the other character your not animating.

Your going to have to contact the person who made this map and
ask him for the map's VMT file so you can compile it with HDR.

I exported my video as an image sequence (JPEG format) in SFM and used Virtualdub to stitch up the frames together into an avi file. The codec I used is x264vfw, its the recommended codec of the TF2 Official Wiki's weapon demonstration guidelines and is best used for uploading to Youtube.

Originally posted by WaffleKoe LiBu:

In what format did you upload this? You don't seem to have the gamma bug I have with SFM video uploads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msRFQNBlj2k
This is probably my first (second If you count in 'Meet the Believable Vagineer') Source Filmmaker video I have ever made.

It is a remake or reenactment of one of the infamous, heavily-parodied scenes from Der Untergang (downfall). The 'Hitler is Informed' part of the 'Hitler reviews scene' where Gunsche informs Hitler about Fegelein being unable to be found.

This video has been around for about a week, so It's already got a good deal of popularity.
I probably may not make another Downfall reenactment video because I have other ideas in mind, but the whole point is to get Untergangers (Hitler parody makers) acquainted with Source Filmmaker as it holds potential for making better Hitler parodies.

Video resources (DMX file, map, and custom skins) can be found in the video description.

Extra Credits:
-Wolvar for making those Medic SS and toothbrush moustache skins.
-MaxofS2D for his TF2 3dsmax rigs and props.

Hi my name's Mister Madnessityer and I've been wondering.
How do you folks of OSFM do your animations?

I've been looking at Zack's videos and what I know is that his animations are great; however what I don't know is how he creates the animations for his videos (especially for his characters) and I am very curious to how he does it.

The answers are either, he uses a program such as 3dsmax, Blender or Motionbuilder etc and imports the animations into Source Filmmaker, or he just simply goes into Source Filmmaker and animates everything using the graph editor. That's something I want to know.

And of course I am interested in how people other than Zack do their animations for their Source Filmmaker videos; so I will much appreciate it if you simply put down your techniques and methods for animation in your videos in the comments.

My main method of character animation is to use custom 3dsmax rigs and animate a draft animation without any facial or finger animation, then I do everything else with the graph and motion editors.

Thanks.