animation notes part 2

8/14/2019 Animation Notes Part 2

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ANIMATION CONCEPTS

Part II

BY :Rahul Singh

E-Mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Blog Address:

www.freewebs.com\3dcreative

Note:

No responsibilities of the writer if there is dramatic mistake.

Refer to autodesk max and maya help for more extra resources.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Animation Concepts

Animation is based on a principle of human vision. If you view a series of related still

images in quick succession, you perceive them as continuous motion. Each individual

image is referred to as aframe.

A frame is a single image in an animated film.

Traditional Animation Method

Historically, the main difficulty in creating animation has been the effort required of the

animator to produce a large number of frames. One minute of animation might require

between 720 and 1800 separate images, depending on the quality of the animation.Creating images by hand is a big job. Thats where the technique ofkeyframingcomes in.

Most of the frames in an animation are routine, incremental changes from the previous

frame directed toward some goal. Traditional animation studios realized they could

increase the productivity of their master artists by having them draw only the importantframes, called keyframes. Assistants could then figure out what belonged on the frames in

between the keyframes. The in-between frames were called tweens.

Once all of the keyframes and tweens were drawn, the images had to be inked or

rendered to produce the final images. Even today, production of a traditional animationusually requires hundreds of artists to generate the thousands of images needed.

The frames marked 1,2, and 3 are key frames. The other frames are tweens.

The 3ds Max Method


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This program is your animation assistant. As the master animator, you create the

keyframes that record the beginning and end of each animated sequence. The values at

these keyframes are called keys. The software calculates the interpolated values betweeneach key to produce the completed animation.

3ds Max can animate just about any parameter in your scene. You can animate modifierparameters, such as a Bend angle or a Taper amount, material parameters, such as the

color or transparency of an object, and much more.

Once you have specified your animation parameters, the renderer takes over the job of

shading and rendering each frame. The result is a high-quality animation.

The object's position at 1 and 2 are the keyframed models at different times. The

computer generates the in-between frames.

Comparing Frames and Time

Traditional animation methods, and early computer animation programs, are rigidly

locked to the concept of producing animation frame by frame. This is okay if you always

work in a single format or do not need to specify an animated effect at a precise time.

Unfortunately, animation comes in many formats. Two of the more common formats arefilm at 24 frames per second (FPS) andNTSC video at 30 FPS. Also, the need for

accurate time-based animation versus frame-based animation is critical as animation

becomes more common for scientific and legal presentation.

Different animation formats have differing frame rates.

3ds Max is a time-based animation program. It measures time, and stores your animationvalues, with an internal precision of 1/4800 of a second. You can configure the program

to display time in a format best suited for your work, including traditional frames format.

SeeTime Configuration.

Many of the examples in the following sections describe time using the frames methodfor the sake of tradition and familiarity. Keep in mind that you are really animating using

a very precise time-based method, and frames arent created until you instruct the

software to render your animation.

Identifying Animation Tools


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3ds Max has a specialized type of controller, called a constraint, that is commonly used

to help automate the animation process. A constraint can be used to control an objects

position, rotation, or scale through a binding relationship with another object.

You apply constraints and controllers using commands on the Animation menu. When

you assign a controller from this menu, a weighted list controller is automatically applied,with the controller you've selected appearing first in the list. The weighted list controller

gives you the ability to blend controllers, similar to a nonlinear animation system. If youassign a controller through the Motion panel or Track View, it replaces the existing

controller, rather than creating a list controller. You can do that manually if you are

working in the Motion panel or Track View

Understanding Controllers

Controllers are plug-ins that handle all of the animation tasks in 3ds Max, including:

Storing animation key values.

Storing procedural animation settings.

Interpolating between animation key values.

Most animatable parameters don't receive a controller until you animate them. As soon as

you change an animatable parameter at any frame other than 0 with the Auto Key button

on, or click in its track using Curve Editor > Add Keys, a default controller is assigned tothe parameter.

Accessing Controllers

There are two places where you work directly with controllers:

Track View: Controllers are indicated in the Hierarchy list by the various

controller icons. Each controller has its own individual icon. Using Track View, in

either Curve Editor or Dope Sheet mode, you can view and work with thecontrollers for all objects and all parameters. SeeTrack View.

Motion panel: Contains special tools for working with transform controllers.The Motion panel contains many of the same controller functions as the Curve

Editor, plus controls necessary for working with special controllers such as IK

Solvers. Using the Motion panel you can view and work with the transformcontrollers of a single selected object. SeeMotion Panel.

Categories of Controllers


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There are two main categories of controllers. These categories are easy to identify when

looking at the Track View - Curve Editor Hierarchy list.

Single-Parameter Controllers: Control animation values of a single parameter.Regardless of whether the parameter has a single component, such as the number of sides

of a cylinder, or multiple components, such as the RGB values of a color, the controller ishandling a single parameter.

Compound Controllers: Combine or manage multiple controllers. Compoundcontrollers include high-level Transform controllers, such asPRS, theEuler XYZ

Rotation controller, the Transform Script controller, and the List controller.

A compound controller appears in the Hierarchy list as a controller icon with subordinate-

level branches of other controllers.

Controllers and Constraints

In addition to controllers, the software can animate using constraints. These items are

located in the Animation > Constraints menu. The constraints include the following:

Attachment, Surface, Path, Link, Position, Orientation, and LookAt.

When you assign a controller in the Motion panel or in Track View, you will see theseconstraints appearing in the list of available controllers. You can assign them the same as

the other controllers, but they are also assignable from the Animation > Constraints

submenu. For more information, see Animation Constraints.

Note: If you assign a controller using the Animation > Controller submenu, a list

controller is automatically applied to the object, with the selected controller appliedbeneath the list controller. This is different than controllers that are applied via the

Motion panel.

Viewing Controller Types

You can view the controller type assigned to a parameter in both the Curve Editor and in

the Motion panel. Before you can view the controller types in Track View, you must do

the following:

1. On the Curve Editor toolbar, click the Filters icon. Then in the Filters dialog> Show group, turn on Controller Types.

You can then see the name of the Controller type in the Hierarchy view.


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2. Assign controllers to parameters. You can do this on the Assign Controllerrollout of the Motion panel, or through the right-click menu in the Hierarchy list

in Track View.

The Parameters mode of the Motion panel always displays the transform controller typesfor the selected object.

Reading Controller Types

You can tell a lot about how a parameter is animated by looking at the controller type.

Parameter Name: Is always visible and is always to the right of the controller icon. It

tells you what is animated.

Interpolation Type: Usually follows the parameter name. It tells how animation values

are calculated. The label Diffuse: Bezier Color indicates a Diffuse color parameter usingBezier interpolation with Color data.

Data Type: Usually follows the interpolation type. It tells what type of data is used. Thelabel Height: Linear Float indicates a Height parameter using Linear interpolation with a

floating point value.

Animation Controllers

Track View > Select a track in the Track View hierarchy. > Track View menu bar >

Controller menu > Assign > Choose a controller in the dialog.

Animation menu > Constraints/Transform Controllers/Position Controllers/Rotation

Controllers/Scale Controllers> Choose a controller.

Select an object. > Motion panel > Assign Controller rollout > Select a track. > Assign

Controller > Choose a controller in the dialog.

Controllers, like constraints, handle the animation tasks in a scene, including:

Storing animation key values

Storing procedural animation settings

Interpolating between animation key values


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An object or parameter doesn't receive a controller until you animate it. As soon as you

change an animatable parameter with Auto Key on, oradd a key in Track View - Dope

Sheet, the software assigns a controller to the parameter. The software chooses a defaulttype for the controller, depending on the animation. You can change the default controller

to another type.

The animation controllers are organized in the following categories:

Float controllers: for animating floating-point values

Point3 controllers: for animating three-component values such as colors or 3D

points

Position controllers: for animating positions of objects and selection sets

Rotation controllers: for animating rotation of objects and selection sets

Scale controllers: for animating the scale of objects and selection sets

Transform controllers: for animating general transforms (position, rotation, and

scale) of objects and selection sets

To change an assigned controller, use Controller > Assign in Track View or in the Motion

panel.

The controllers and constraints are:

Attachment Constraint

Audio Controller

Bezier Controllers

Barycentric Morph Controller

Block Controller

Boolean Controller

Color RGB Controller (Point3 XYZ Controller)

Euler XYZ Rotation Controller

Expression Controller

Inverse Kinematics (IK)

Layer Controller

Limit Controller


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Linear Controller

List Controller

Link Constraint

LookAt Constraint

Motion Capture Controller

Master Point Controller

Noise Controller

On/Off Controller

Orientation Constraint

Path Constraint

Position Constraint

Position XYZ Controller

PRS Controller

Reaction Controllers

Scale XYZ Controller

Script Controller

Slave Parameters Dialog (Block Controller)

Smooth Rotation Controller

Spring Controller

Surface Constraint

TCB Controllers

Transform Script Controller

Waveform Controller


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Track ViewMain toolbar > Curve Editor (Open)

Graph Editors menu > New Track View

Graph Editors menu > Track View - Curve Editor

Graph Editors menu > Track View - Dope Sheet

Graph Editors menu > Saved Track View > Choose a saved Track View.

Viewport right-click menu > Views > Track > Choose New or a saved Track View.

With Track View, you can view and edit all the keys that you create. You can also assign

animation controllers to interpolate or control all the keys and parameters for the objectsin your scene.

Track View uses two different modes, Curve Editor and Dope Sheet. Curve Editor mode

lets you display the animation as function curves. Dope Sheet mode displays theanimation as a spreadsheet of keys and ranges. Keys are color-coded for easy

identification. Some of the functions in Track View, such as moving and deleting keys,are also available on the track bar near the time slider, which can be expanded to show

curves as well. You can dock the Curve Editor and Dope Sheet windows beneath theviewports at the bottom of the interface, or use them as floating windows. Track View

layouts can be named and stored in the Track View buffer and reused. Track View layouts

are stored with the MAX file.

Track View Curve Editor

Track View Dope Sheet (Edit Keys)

Typical Uses for Track View


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Track View can perform a variety of scene management and animation control tasks. Use

Track View to:

Display a list of objects in your scene and their parameters.

Change key values.

Change key timing. Change controller ranges (see procedure).

Change interpolation between keys.

Edit ranges of multiple keys.

Edit blocks of time.

Add sound to your scene.

Create and manage notes about the scene.

Change the behavior of the animation outside the range of keys.

Change controllers for animated parameters

Select objects, vertices, and hierarchies.

Navigate the modifier stack in the Modify panel by clicking the modifier items in

the Track View Hierarchy.

Note: Tracks are created for animated vertices in Track View. A Bezier Point3controller is the default vertex interpolation controller.

Procedures

To change the frames in which a controller takes effect:

When you apply a controller or constraint to an object's motion, the frame range overwhich controller takes effect is determined by the currentactive time segment. If you then

change the active time segment or the animation length, the duration of the controller's

influence doesn't change. Sometimes applying a controller (such as Path Constraint)

automatically sets keys that you can use to change this range. But others, such as Noisecontrollers, don't set keys. In such cases, follow this procedure:

1. Select the object, and then right-click it and choose Curve Editor from the menu.

2. Expand the object hierarchy to find the track or tracks to adjust.3. From the Modes menu, choose Dope Sheet.

4. On the Dope Sheet, click the Edit Ranges button.5. Adjust the range duration by dragging its endpoints, or its position in the

animation by dragging between endpoints.

For more information, see Dope Sheet.

To select keys in Track View (either mode), do any of the following:

Click the key to select an individual key.

Drag a selection rectangle around keys to select multiple keys.


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Hold down the Ctrl key and click to create discontinuous multiple key selections.

Note: If you are in Dope Sheet Edit Ranges mode, you can use Select Time to select

multiple keys.

To delete keys in Track View (either mode):

1. Select keys on the curve, or on the dope sheet.

2. Press the Delete key on the keyboard to delete the selected keys.

To force Track View to always display on a second monitor:

If you are running a dual-monitor setup, you can force Track View to display on the right-

hand monitor by editing a script.

1. Right-click the Curve Editor (Open) icon in the main toolbar, and then choose

Edit Macro Script.

The MAXScript script that opens the Track View Function Curve Editor

appears.

2. Locate the line that reads:

if (trackviews.open "Track View - Curve Editor" layoutName:"Function Curve

Layout") == true then

3. Replace that line with this one:

max_window = getMaxWindowSize() --get Desktop size if (trackviews.open

"Track View - Curve Editor" layoutName:"Function Curve Layout"pos:[max_window.x/2,0] height:max_window.y width:(max_window.x/2) ) ==

true then

4. Save the script and restart 3ds Max.

This should open the Track View in a new session over the right half of the desktop.Assuming that a dual-monitor setup reports twice the width, this will force the Track

View on the second monitor. On a single monitor, it opens it over the right half of the

monitor. Of course, you could enter your own numbers like pos:[1024,0] height:768width:1024 in case you are running two monitors at 1024x768.

To open Track View in a viewport:

Right-click a viewport label, and then from the menu that opens choose Views >

Track > New, or click the name of a saved Track View.


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Hierarchies and KinematicsWhen animating characters, mechanical assemblies, or complex motion, you can simplifythe process by linking objects together to form a hierarchyor chain. In a linked chain, the

animation of one member can affect some or all of the others, making it possible to

animate a number of objects or bones at once.

The term kinematics describes the movement or animation of the chain. There are two

types of kinematics:

Withforward kinematics (FK) , you manipulate the top of the hierarchy to animate the

entire chain.

Withinverse kinematics (IK), you manipulate an object at the bottom of the hierarchy toanimate the entire chain. Frequently, IK is also used to make an object stick to the

ground or another surface, while allowing the chain to rotate off the pivot of that object.

Forward kinematics is the most straightforward method for animating hierarchies. Inverse

kinematics requires more setup than forward kinematics, but is more intuitive forcomplex tasks such as character animation .

Animation Constraints

Animation constraints are used to help automate the animation process. They can be usedto control an objects position, rotation, or scale through a binding relationship with

another object.

A constraint requires one object and at least one target object. The target imposes specificlimits on the constrained object.

For example, if you want to quickly animate an airplane flying a predefined path, youcould use a path constraint to restrict the airplanes motion to a spline path.

The constraints binding relationship with its targets can be animated on or off over a

period of time.

Common uses for constraints:


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Linking one object to another over a period of time, such as a characters hand

picking up a baseball bat

Linking an objects position or rotation to one or several objects

Keeping an objects position between two or more objects

Constraining an object along a path or between multiple paths

Constraining an object along a surface Making an object point toward another objects pivot point

Controlling the look at direction of a characters eyes

Keeping an objects orientation in relation to another

There are seven types of constraints:

Attachment constraint attaches an objects position to a face on another object

Surface constraint restricts an objects position along the surface of another object

Path constraint restricts an objects movement along a path

Position constraint causes the constrained object to follow the position of another

object Link constraint links the constrained object from one object to another

LookAt constraint constrains an objects orientation so that its always looking at

another object Orientation constraint causes the rotation of the constrained object to follow the

rotation of another object

Tip: You can use Schematic View to see all the Constraint relationships in a scene.

animation notes part 2

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