Digit's Widgets Animation Advanced Version 3.1

I have decided to release two versions of the Animation Widget, a Standard one and a Advanced version. These are a few tips and explaination of the Advanced Version.

This version adds

 

Number of Frames, Point Stroke and Depth, and Sun Control

Max Number of Frames - Enter the total number of frames to create, this determines the resolution of the interpolation routines. A higher number of frames equals smaller increments between movements.

LoadPointStroke - Load the global Point Stroke for objects. This is the stroke that all objects that have the StrkPt enabled will point thier Z axis at. To create this stroke, use any brush and trace the path that you wish on the canvas. Press the "LoadPointStroke" button to record it. Use "Ctrl Z" to erase the stroke on the canvas. You can change the PointStroke anytime by recording a new stroke, any animation frames rendered will immedialtely start using the new stroke data.

SDepth & EDepth - Starting and Ending Depth of PointStroke . Since a brush stroke is 2D create a 3D representation of stroke by setting it's ZDepth. This will have effect on the objects that are using it as a Point Target as movement closer or farther away will change its rate of change. Just think of watching your finger as you bring it closer to touching your nose.

Sun - You can use the Light Preview to move the sun in an X direction and set the Start and End points. Also recorded is Shadow Length. Therefore by using this in your animation you can simulate a change of direction of light from left to right or right to left as well as animate shadows growing or shrinking.

Best Render - Setting this switch renders the frame with Best Render

 

Basic Straight Line Movement from Start to End - Use the Swap button to exchange Start with End

 

Basic Curve Movement using Spline Point

  1. Set Start and End Point
  2. Press Curve to enable LoadPoint and Move Buttons for Object
  3. Move a object to a position in XYZ space to use as a Spline Point
  4. Press LoadPoint to record this postion for the Object. Properties such as size, Rotation and XYZ position will have effect on the resulting interpolation. You can use other objects LoadPoint buttons to record this postion into thier data as well.
  5. Press Move to restore an Object to this Spline Point. You can use another object's Move button to place your current object in the same spot.

 

Stroke Movement to Recorded Stroke

In addition to either Straight TwoPt or Curve movement in which Movement is determined by the Starting and Ending Position values for the object, the Movement can be controlled by using a recorded brush stroke. Selecting the Stroke Switch enables the LoadStroke button for that object. Record a stroke by using any brush and recording on the canvas the path you wish to have the object to take (see gif below) then press the LoadStroke button to record the data. Use "Cntrl Z" to erase. You can also assign the same path to other objects by pressing thier LoadStroke buttons as well.

Example of cube following a brush stroke path. Note the object's Size, Rotation and ZDEPTH is controlled by the Object's Start and End values.

Point to Object Rotation

Use the Point switch to make the Object point it's Z axis to another object or itself.

Point to Recorded Stroke Rotation

Use the StrkPt Switch to point the object's Z axis at a recorded brush stroke which was recorded by the LoadPointStroke as described above.

 

Frame and Export Controls

Preview without Saving - Playback starting at Frame 0 all Frames without Exporting Renders

Execute and Export Images - Playback starting at Frame 0 all Frames and Export Renders. Will ask for a Starting Filename. Navigate to desired directory and enter a filename.

Select Frame, F+ and F- Manual control of current frame

PlayFrame - Render current Frame on the canvas

ExportFrame - Export current Screen to disk. Important: Will only ask for BaseFilename when Frame 0 is selected.

Put1 through Put5 - Seperately recall specific objects into the current frame.

 

Common Position Markers

As you should know Digit_Widgets_Common.txt is a include file that provides common functions across all other widgets. New in Version 3.2 is

1. Postion Markers now have 10 buttons associated with them, you can use a marker by pressing SHIFT+"the number of the marker"
you can save the current object that you are holding by CNTRL + "m"

2. Also Position Markers will now recall the Object, Material and Color of the saved object IF you are not currently holding active another object ie. in DrawMode not T W S or R. If you are holding an object active it just moves that object to the Marker Position without changing its color or material

 

I mention Position Markers in conjunction with this Animation Widget due to the fact that it is easy now to utilize them in creation of your animations. Since the Position Markers now recall the Object and it's properties you can utilize them easily if you are doing a frame by frame animation

Example:

Set up your 5 objects

set up a few more and save them as Position Markers

Step thru your animation frame by frame placing your main animation objects

Then use the shortcut keys SHIFT + "number" to bring your other objects into the scene. they can even be on a different layer.

Press Export Frame

Do the next frame and repeat the above steps:

That is how I did the hands for this animation

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