Domarius's animation tips - Revision history

Domarius: /* Sliding feet */

2007-09-30T09:50:38Z

Sliding feet

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:50, 30 September 2007
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	== Sliding feet ==		== Sliding feet ==
	Whenever a foot or any body part makes contact with the ground or anything solid, you'll have a key frame where it makes contact, and then you'll have a keyframe where it leaves the surface. You'll notice by default, that even though both keyframes ~~are~~ in the same place the foot still ~~slides about~~... as if sort of bouncing from the previous movement. To avoid this, you will want to kill any animation curves (in the Fcurves window in MotionBuilder) on the foot, after the point the foot hits the ground, and before it leaves the ground. This ensures it stops solid and stays perfectly still between the two frames.		Whenever a foot or any body part makes contact with the ground or anything solid, you'll have a key frame where it makes contact, and then you'll have a keyframe where it leaves the surface. You'll notice by default, that even though both keyframes were made with the foot in the same place, the foot still moves weirdly between the two frames... as if sort of bouncing from the previous movement. To avoid this, you will want to kill any animation curves (in the Fcurves window in MotionBuilder) on the foot, after the point the foot hits the ground, and before it leaves the ground. This ensures it stops solid and stays perfectly still between the two frames.

	= Less consistant transitions =		= Less consistant transitions =

Domarius: /* Rough out key poses */

2007-09-30T09:49:10Z

Rough out key poses

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:49, 30 September 2007
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	= Rough out key poses =		= Rough out key poses =
	If this is a movement cycle, then you should always start with two poses - the contact point (where the heel hits the ground) and the passing point (the mid point between each step where one leg is passing the other). Those two will form the base of the walk. Also you can repeat movements (such as arms swinging) over to the other limbs by copying and pasting key frames to other limbs and shifting them forward in time.		If this is a movement cycle, then you should always start with two poses - the contact point (where the heel hits the ground) and the passing point (the mid point between each step where one leg is passing the other). Those two will form the base of the walk. Also you can repeat movements (such as arms swinging) over to the other limbs by copying and pasting key frames to other limbs and shifting them forward in time.

	For other animations;		For other animations;
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	And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].		And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].

			== Sliding feet ==
			Whenever a foot or any body part makes contact with the ground or anything solid, you'll have a key frame where it makes contact, and then you'll have a keyframe where it leaves the surface. You'll notice by default, that even though both keyframes are in the same place the foot still slides about... as if sort of bouncing from the previous movement. To avoid this, you will want to kill any animation curves (in the Fcurves window in MotionBuilder) on the foot, after the point the foot hits the ground, and before it leaves the ground. This ensures it stops solid and stays perfectly still between the two frames.

	= Less consistant transitions =		= Less consistant transitions =

Domarius: /* Rough out key poses */

2007-09-30T08:37:50Z

Rough out key poses

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:37, 30 September 2007
Line 23:		Line 23:

	= Rough out key poses =		= Rough out key poses =
	If this is a movement cycle, then you should always start with two poses - the contact point (where the heel hits the ground) and the passing point (the mid point between each step where one leg is passing the other). Those two will form the base of the walk. Also you can repeat movements (such as arms swinging) over to the other limbs by copying and pasting key frames and shifting them forward in time.		If this is a movement cycle, then you should always start with two poses - the contact point (where the heel hits the ground) and the passing point (the mid point between each step where one leg is passing the other). Those two will form the base of the walk. Also you can repeat movements (such as arms swinging) over to the other limbs by copying and pasting key frames to other limbs and shifting them forward in time.

	For other animations;		For other animations;

Domarius: /* Rough out key poses */

2007-09-30T08:37:21Z

Rough out key poses

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:37, 30 September 2007
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	= Rough out key poses =		= Rough out key poses =
	~~Rough out~~ the key ~~poses~~ in ~~your animation program~~.		If this is a movement cycle, then you should always start with two poses - the contact point (where the heel hits the ground) and the passing point (the mid point between each step where one leg is passing the other). Those two will form the base of the walk. Also you can repeat movements (such as arms swinging) over to the other limbs by copying and pasting key frames and shifting them forward in time.

			For other animations;
	*To get the timing right, play the empty anim, and stop it where you think the peak of the first pose should happen		*To get the timing right, play the empty anim, and stop it where you think the peak of the first pose should happen
	*Select all body parts and pose the character roughly the way they should be at that moment, and hit KEY to set a key frame for all body parts.		*Select all body parts and pose the character roughly the way they should be at that moment, and hit KEY to set a key frame for all body parts.
	*Continue on for each major pose.		*Continue on for each major pose.
	This way you can "sketch out" the general movement without dealing with a lot of key frames, since all the body part key frames will line up with each other and appear as one key frame, as long as all body parts are selected.		This way you can "sketch out" the general movement without dealing with a lot of key frames, since all the body part key frames will line up with each other and appear as one key frame, as long as all body parts are selected.

	~~If this is a movement cycle, you can repeat movements (such as arms swinging) over to the other limbs by copying and pasting key frames and shifting them forward in time.~~

	And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].		And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].

Domarius: /* Changing position */

2007-09-30T08:32:25Z

Changing position

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:32, 30 September 2007
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	= Changing position =		= Changing position =
			Contrary to what you might think, the part where the foot makes contact with the ground is the part of the animation with the least weight. It's the movement directly after this, (eg. downward movement of body) that sells the weight.

	Whenever the center of mass changes and the character moves its feet to another position to maintain balance, the feet must reach their destination before their center of mass reaches the end of its movement. Because the feet is what causes the center of mass to slow and then stop moving.		Whenever the center of mass changes and the character moves its feet to another position to maintain balance, the feet must reach their destination before their center of mass reaches the end of its movement. Because the feet is what causes the center of mass to slow and then stop moving.

Domarius: /* Less consistant transitions */

2007-09-30T08:27:31Z

Less consistant transitions

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:27, 30 September 2007
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	*Add a key frame just before the stop keyframe, and drag that backward to some point more than halfway between the start and stop.		*Add a key frame just before the stop keyframe, and drag that backward to some point more than halfway between the start and stop.

	This makes for a slow ~~suble~~ movement at the start, and then a sharper transition into the final position, and then a small wobble as they hold the position. First big step to making it look less robotic.		This makes for a slow movement at the start, and then a sharper transition into the final position, and then a small wobble as they hold the position. First big step to making it look less robotic.

	= Break up the perfect timings =		= Break up the perfect timings =

Domarius: /* Rough out key poses */

2007-09-30T08:27:07Z

Rough out key poses

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:27, 30 September 2007
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	And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].		And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].

	~~Next you'll start adding all the details, to humanize it and make it less robotic.~~

	= Less consistant transitions =		= Less consistant transitions =

Domarius: /* Rough out key poses */

2007-09-30T08:26:52Z

Rough out key poses

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:26, 30 September 2007
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	*Continue on for each major pose.		*Continue on for each major pose.
	This way you can "sketch out" the general movement without dealing with a lot of key frames, since all the body part key frames will line up with each other and appear as one key frame, as long as all body parts are selected.		This way you can "sketch out" the general movement without dealing with a lot of key frames, since all the body part key frames will line up with each other and appear as one key frame, as long as all body parts are selected.

			If this is a movement cycle, you can repeat movements (such as arms swinging) over to the other limbs by copying and pasting key frames and shifting them forward in time.

	And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].		And later if you need to tweak the overall position for the entire duration of the animation, even after you've added a lot of detail key frames, you can always make a new layer and do it there. See the [[Motion Builder tutorial]].

Domarius: /* Set the distance the character moves */

2007-09-30T08:25:27Z

Set the distance the character moves

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:25, 30 September 2007
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	= Set the distance the character moves =		= Set the distance the character moves =
	If this is a "movement cycle" animation ~~(running etc)~~ begin by having the character float straight from their start position to their end position.		If this is a "movement cycle" animation - All the animation tutorials I have read, have said to start animating with the stride pose - the point where the heel first makes contact with the ground. This is the base for the entire walk cycle. Depending on your needs, you might want to set the distance, or the stride length first. If the distance traveled is important, then begin by having the character float straight from their start position to their end position (by just setting a start and end keyframe for the origin), and then pose up a stride length on the first frame, to cover half that distance. If the distance is not important, then just start with the stride length with whatever looks right.

	~~To do this, select~~ the origin, ~~set~~ a ~~key~~ frame ~~for it, move it to the destination position~~, ~~move the timeline~~ to ~~the last frame, and set another key frame~~.

	~~This makes it easier to repeat movements (such as arms swinging) by copying and pasting key frames, since all limb motion will now be relative to~~ the ~~character and~~ not the ~~world~~.

	Don't forget to give the "origin" bone to the same key frames and positions as the character origin point. Motion builder's origin handle and Doom 3's origin bone are not the same thing. The origin bone is basically telling Doom 3 how far the character is actually moving.		Don't forget to give the "origin" bone to the same key frames and positions as the character origin point. Motion builder's origin handle and Doom 3's origin bone are not the same thing. The origin bone is basically telling Doom 3 how far the character is actually moving.

Domarius: /* Set the distance the character moves */

2007-08-26T12:02:41Z

Set the distance the character moves

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:02, 26 August 2007
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	This makes it easier to repeat movements (such as arms swinging) by copying and pasting key frames, since all limb motion will now be relative to the character and not the world.		This makes it easier to repeat movements (such as arms swinging) by copying and pasting key frames, since all limb motion will now be relative to the character and not the world.

	Don't forget to give the "origin" bone to the same key frames and positions as the character origin point. Motion builder's origin handle and Doom 3's origin bone are not the same thing.		Don't forget to give the "origin" bone to the same key frames and positions as the character origin point. Motion builder's origin handle and Doom 3's origin bone are not the same thing. The origin bone is basically telling Doom 3 how far the character is actually moving.

	= Rough out key poses =		= Rough out key poses =