Simple Animation

 

Making things move.  Isn't that what a 3d animation course is all about?  So lets dive right into it.

 

Primatives.  Place a simple cube 20x20x20 in the universe.

 

    .

 

A..Keyframe Animation.

 

Auto Key – everytime you move an object a key is automatically set

 

Set Key – You must hit the Key button to actually set a key

 

Key Activate – actually places the key on the timeline
 
You will need to become familiar with the

 buttons 

 

 

 

 

  Time Line

 Time Configuration Button

 

1.  Animation Setup

 

Click on the  Set Key  toggle

 

You should notice that a time line bar changes red

 

Move your box so it sits approx. here

 

 

2.  Setting a Key at Frame 0

 

 Click on this button to set a key on Frame Zero

 

Notice that we now see a coloured bar on the zero key….  This represents

the position, rotation and scale of the box.

 

By right clicking on the coloured bar we can see that 7 bits of information about the box are displayed.  Therefore everytime you set a key you will store these 7 bits of info

 

click back on the grid to remove the menu.  We will use this later.

 

3.  Setting a Key at Frame 20 ,40 and 60

 

Move the Frame counter on the time line so it is on frame 20

 

 

 

 Now using the top view move the box along the x axis from

Here

to

 

If you grab the time slider and pull it between 1 and 20 you should see the box move.

 

Lets continue on making the box move in a circle

 

Move the time slider  to 40 and move the box in the top view to the right side

Don’t forget to click the key button to set the key

 

 and

 

Repeat for frame 60 but don’t do frame 80

 

 and

 

4. Copying a Key from frame 0 to frame 80

 

Since we want the box to move back to the starting position we are going to copy the key frame frame 0 to frame 80

 

Click on the key on Frame 0 and hold the Shift Key down.  Drag the key to frame 80

 

Make sure you are copying and not moving the key

 

Select the Perspective View and hit the play button.  The box should move around the screen.

 

5.  Seeing the Trajectory

 

Right click on the Perspective Window and Choose Properties.

Check the Trajectory Box

 

You should now see a line that describes the path that the box takes

Each of the white dots represents a frame.  The space between the dots should give you an idea of how fast the object is moving. We will see more of this later.

 

Notice how the path my box is taking is not very square.  Look at the top view

 

 

It would be nice if we could click and drag on the trajectory but we can’t….or I don’t know how to…

 

Click on frame 0 and move the box to a better position.  It should make the shape of the trajectory more square.  Don’t forget to set the key.

 

 

click on frame 20,40,60 and 80 as needed to move the box and set the key so you end up with a square shaped trajectory.

 

 

6.  Speeding up the box at certain times. (Moving a frame)

 

I would like the box to speed up after frame 20 but then slow down again at the next corner…..

 

Without using the Shift key click on the key in frame 40 and drag it to frame 30

The key should move NOT copy.

 

 

Notice that the dots on the trajectory are farther apart.  This means the box is moving a farther distance each frame.

 

 

7.  Setting the Track View

Click on the  button to bring up the Track View

 

Yikes it looks scarey…..

 

First lets set it up the way I like…….

Click on the Position Setting

 and now choose Controller – Assign Controller from the pull down menu

 

 

Choose Bezier Position

 

Click on Position

 

8.  Understanding the Track View.

 

 

Move will let you move individual keys.

Slide will slide all keys before or after a point.

Tangents Control the transitions between keys….

 

Lets concentrate on these three changes……..

 

Notice that the speed of the box is not consistant

the ticks are closer at the corner meaning the box is slowing down as it enters the corner and speeds up as it exits.

 

Selecting a Key….

Click on one of the tiny black boxes to select it

Notice that the keys are selected

 

Click on the first key on the green line and choose

An abrupt(step) tangent.

  Do this for each of the black dots on the green line and the shape of your graph should change

 

Hit the play button……

Notice now that the box does not move until the 20th, 30th ,60th and 80th frames.  It snaps or steps to each frame

 

Hit the stop button.

 

Now lets try it again…..  Click on each of the keys on the green line in turn and then choose the smoothing tangent.

 

 

My box now moves in a circular path

 

Now lets try it again…..  Click on each of the keys on the green line in turn and then choose the linear tangent.

 

Hit the play button and the box should move in a linear path

 

 

Everything can be controlled by the track view