cloth question - how to do this?

[voltron7]

Hello,

I have a question regarding table cloths. I can make a decent one, but I am wondering how to do it incorporating the chairs, too.
Here is an example...

The cloth will go close to floor, and the chairs should appear to be slightly pushing inward, as if the chairs were pushed under to table a bit.
What is a good method to do this, please?

Thanks in advance

[Pixelcon]

Can You sim the cloth down onto the table, then animate the chairs moving in?

[Neilg]

you can do that in MD easily enough, i've done it before. you export one copy of the scene with the chairs out, then another with the chairs in and have that as the end target in MD - so long as the vertex count doesn't change. far easier than exporting proper animation.

[voltron7]

Can You sim the cloth down onto the table, then animate the chairs moving in?

I was thinking this is the way to go, just not sure the steps for that....any tips or tutorials you know of?
Thanks again

[voltron7]

you can do that in MD easily enough, i've done it before. you export one copy of the scene with the chairs out, then another with the chairs in and have that as the end target in MD - so long as the vertex count doesn't change. far easier than exporting proper animation.

Sorry, should have specified must use standard max and/or v-ray tools...Thanks though, I do keep reading good things about MD.

[Pixelcon]

Sim local the cloth onto the table (so no animating is involved). Then set initial state when its at rest. then hit simulate so the animation plays of the chair moving in towards the table. I just tried it and it works perfectly.

edit: using standard max cloth plugin.

I was thinking this is the way to go, just not sure the steps for that....any tips or tutorials you know of?
Thanks again