this is frustrating. I am trying to create a character that stands there reading a book and every now and then between the lipsynced mouth he turns a page. I have got him to do the movement once but want to know if i can copy the movement where ever i need. I have tried copying the keyframes to another position but it doesnt do it. Will i have to create an action to complete the task? or is there another way?
oh by the way there are several different layers involved, in a group folder if this makes any difference
use the same animation movement
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woody173@live.co.uk
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Re: use the same animation movement
You have to copy the keyframes of all layers involved, which gets a bit tedious with many layers.
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woody173@live.co.uk
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Re: use the same animation movement
do i have to put any extra keyframes in before i start so it doesnt do any freaky stuff
Re: use the same animation movement
You would want to add keyframes right before you paste in the animation again. This way the character will hold his position until the next movement keyframe hits. Otherwise he'll veeeeery slooooowly begin turning the page.
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woody173@live.co.uk
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Re: use the same animation movement
thanks bud
Re: use the same animation movement
This is a perfect example of when to use an action. By putting this in an action (or even a smart bone) you can more easily place the action in the time line. Actions can include multiple layers so you don't have to copy the key frames from a bunch of layers just to repeat the action somewhere else in the time line.
If you set this action up with a smart bone it could be even easier to use in the main time line. Once the smart bone to control the "page turning" is set up, you only have to rotate that bone to activate the action. This could also allow you to have variation in the speed of the action so that it doesn't look exactly the same every time.
If I had to do something like this that effected multiple layers, I would use a smart bone to keep the keys simple in the main time line. If you use an action and insert copies of it, you are adding keys to all the sub layers which makes changing the timing REALLY REALLY difficult. If this were a smart bone, you only have to move the smart bone key at the top layer to change timing of the page turning action.
If you set this action up with a smart bone it could be even easier to use in the main time line. Once the smart bone to control the "page turning" is set up, you only have to rotate that bone to activate the action. This could also allow you to have variation in the speed of the action so that it doesn't look exactly the same every time.
If I had to do something like this that effected multiple layers, I would use a smart bone to keep the keys simple in the main time line. If you use an action and insert copies of it, you are adding keys to all the sub layers which makes changing the timing REALLY REALLY difficult. If this were a smart bone, you only have to move the smart bone key at the top layer to change timing of the page turning action.
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woody173@live.co.uk
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Re: use the same animation movement
heyvern wrote:This is a perfect example of when to use an action. By putting this in an action (or even a smart bone) you can more easily place the action in the time line. Actions can include multiple layers so you don't have to copy the key frames from a bunch of layers just to repeat the action somewhere else in the time line.
If you set this action up with a smart bone it could be even easier to use in the main time line. Once the smart bone to control the "page turning" is set up, you only have to rotate that bone to activate the action. This could also allow you to have variation in the speed of the action so that it doesn't look exactly the same every time.
If I had to do something like this that effected multiple layers, I would use a smart bone to keep the keys simple in the main time line. If you use an action and insert copies of it, you are adding keys to all the sub layers which makes changing the timing REALLY REALLY difficult. If this were a smart bone, you only have to move the smart bone key at the top layer to change timing of the page turning action.
I took your advice with the action layer, it worked perfectly. I will on the other hand use smart bones at a later date in another instance so thanks very much for the advice. Oh by the way seen as your so knowledgeable can I reverse an animation or would you advise smart bones for this action. I have animated a closing curtain but want to open them again, but the animation took me ages cos there was loads of shapes and graduated colour to amend along the way
Re: use the same animation movement
Yes you can "reverse" a set of keys using "alt-drag" which is the scaling function of keys in the time line. Select a bunch of keys, hold the "alt" key and drag the last or first key in the sequence. If you "keep going" in one direction the sequence of keys can be "reversed".
If there are a bunch of keys on different layers, it would be much easier to add them to a smart bone action, then opening and closing a curtain would be a piece of cake using a single bone.
Both situations in this topic are exactly why I LOVE smart bones. It's this type of thing that I use smart bones for all the time. Something like an opening and closing curtain is the same as blinking eyes or a mouth opening and closing using smart bones.
If there are a bunch of keys on different layers, it would be much easier to add them to a smart bone action, then opening and closing a curtain would be a piece of cake using a single bone.
Both situations in this topic are exactly why I LOVE smart bones. It's this type of thing that I use smart bones for all the time. Something like an opening and closing curtain is the same as blinking eyes or a mouth opening and closing using smart bones.
Re: use the same animation movement
You might find this useful to watch.
It's a little tutorial I remember by Funksmaname where he deals with precisely the very thing you're speaking about, from about 6 minutes in.
He uses the Morphdials plugin, but nowadays you can use the suggestions others have mentioned here, such as blendmorphs, actions, and smart bones.
Here's the video .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6USLzHiJhY
It's a little tutorial I remember by Funksmaname where he deals with precisely the very thing you're speaking about, from about 6 minutes in.
He uses the Morphdials plugin, but nowadays you can use the suggestions others have mentioned here, such as blendmorphs, actions, and smart bones.
Here's the video .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6USLzHiJhY