Key Frame Animation: Tutorial - 3DEN – Arma 3

From Bohemia Interactive Community
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Remove px settings for gif images, breaks animated images for some people.)
m (deletion request)
Line 1: Line 1:
For the 3DEN Keyframe Animation tutorial we will animate a UAV on a spline.
{{Delete|Page was merged with [[Arma 3 Key Frame Animation]]}}
 
==3DEN object setup==
 
* Open 3DEN and place a player unit
* On the asset list, select Modules (F5) and select category Modules
* Search for '''Keyframe Animation''' category, here you'll find all related modules used to make up animations in 3DEN
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_setupObjects.jpg|240px]]
 
==Placing the Timeline==
 
* When in '''Modules > Keyframe Animation''' place a '''Timeline''' module
* Enable '''Play From Start''' - Will make the timeline start to be simulated when the scenario starts
* Set the '''Length''' to 15 seconds - This is the length of the timeline
* Enable '''Loop''' - Timeline will restart once it's simulation reaches the end
* In '''Event Looped''' put the following: <br/> <syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">hint "Timeline finished and is now looping";</syntaxhighlight>
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_timeline1.jpg|240px]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_timeline2.jpg|240px]]
 
==Placing the Curve==
 
* Place a '''Rich Curve''' module
* Right click on the newly created '''Rich Curve''' and synchronize it with the '''Timeline'''
* Set the '''Orientation Mode''' to Animation - This will make the orientation of the animated objects orientation follow the animation
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_curveSync.jpg|240px]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_curve1.jpg|240px]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_curve2.jpg|240px]]
 
==Placing the start and end keys==
 
* Place two '''Rich Curve Key'''s
* Select and then right click on the newly created '''Rich Curve Key'''s and synchronize them with the '''Rich Curve'''
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_KeysSync.jpg|240px]]
 
==First key setup==
 
* Open the attributes of one of the placed keys, we will consider this one the first and so it is the start of our animation
* You can leave all the settings as default for now
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_FirstKey.jpg|240px]]
 
==Last key setup==
 
* Open the attributes of the other key, this will be the final point in our animation
* Set the '''Time''' property to '''10''', this means our animation will be in total 10 seconds long, since our first key starts at 0 and our last key is at 10
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_LastKey.jpg|240px]]
 
==Your first animation==
 
* Congratulations, while not much so far, you have now created your first Animation in 3DEN
* Move the '''Key''' objects around and notice how the path of the animation is being drawn in red and how you are affecting the animation in real-time
* The red line defines the animation path or spline
* The red dot's define the animation density
''Note: In order for things to be drawn at least one object part of the animation needs to be selected in 3DEN''
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim1.gif]]
 
 
==Adding an animated object==
 
* The next step is to add our '''Animated Object''', basically, an object that will follow your animation with real-time 3DEN preview
* In the '''Asset Browser''' select ''Units (F1) > NATO > Drones > MQ-4A Greyhawk'' and place it into the level
* Right click on the newly created UAV and synchronize it with the '''Curve''' object
* If you select an object which is part of the animation, you should start seeing the UAV being animated along your first animation
* Feel free to move the keys around and get a sense of the real-time editing features
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim2.gif]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim3.gif]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim4.gif]]
 
==Turning your animation into a spline (Bezier Cubic)==
 
* Select both keys in 3DEN and right click one of them, select '''Attributes'''
* Set the '''Interpolation Mode''' to ''Cubic''
* So now, your animation will have non linear (Bezier Cubic in this case) interpolation and we can now start adding control points to control the Bezier Cubic tangents
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim5.gif]]
 
==Adding Control Points to manipulate Tangents==
 
* There are two kinds of Control Points, Arrive and Leave (see [[HelloWorld]] for more info)
* Go back to ''Modules > Keyframe Animation'' and place two '''Rich Curve Key Control Points''', these will be used to control the spline tangents
* One of the '''Control Points''' synchronize with the first '''Key''', open its '''Attributes''' and set the '''Tangent Type''' to '''Leave'''
* The other '''Control Point''' you synchronize with the second '''Key''', open its '''Attributes''' and set the '''Tangent Type''' to '''Arrive''' (which should be set by default)
* At this point you should notice your spline tangents being afected, try to move the control points around and modify the spline
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim6.gif]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim7.gif]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim8.gif]]
 
==Understanding 3DEN controls==
 
When working on your Animation in 3DEN there are a few specific controls:
* '''LCtrl''' - Displays the index of all the keys of the highlighted animation starting at 0 for the first key, note that non selected keys (and it's control points) will be rendered in white while selected ones will render in green
* '''LShift''' - If the mouse position is near the animation spline, a line will be drawn between mouse and spline that defines a point where a new key can easily be placed if LShift + Space key combination is used
* '''LShift + Space''' - If the above is valid, a new Key will be created at the exact place where the mouse is pointing to, the key will be registered with the given curve, will have control points and be set as Cubic
 
''Note: For Keyframe Animation controls to work you must have one or more animation highlighted in 3DEN, you can do that by selecting an object part of the animation (Timeline, Curve, Key or Control Point)''
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim9.gif]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim10.gif]]
 
==Adding a Key onto the Animation==
 
'''Keys''' can be directly placed onto the animation by using the keyboard combination '''LShift (Highlight) + Space (Spawn Key)''', this is a fast and straight forward way to add keys to your animation, since even properties like '''Time''' will be computed automatically for you, same with the registration done with the '''Curve'''. The created '''Keys''' using this method are set to '''Cubic''' and '''Control Points''' are created with them and registered. In future this could be a 3DEN setting.
* ''Press and hold'' '''LShift''' and move your mouse pointer near the highlighted spline / curve
* Once there is a connection between mouse and your curve, while still holding '''LShift''' also press '''Space''' once, this will create the key
 
''Note: For Keyframe Animation controls to work you must have one or more animation highlighted in 3DEN, you can do that by selecting an object part of the animation (Timeline, Curve, Key or Control Point)''
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim11.gif]]
 
==Lockable Control Points (Bezier Cubic)==
 
When control points are locked you are able to have matematically accurate and smooth transition between key frames. You can set the lock mode in each key.
 
* To set the '''Control Points Lock State''' just open your '''Key''' attributes (to which control points are synchronized) and toggle the option '''Lock Control Points'''
 
[[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim12.gif]][[File:A3_KeyFrameAnimation_tutorial3den_anim13.gif]]
 
''Note: Always make sure your Control Points are configured correctly, a key can have one Arrive and one Leave control point''
 
==Play==
Now that everything is ready, you can preview the mission and observe the UAV moving.
 
 
[[Category:Arma 3: Editing]]
[[Category:Arma 3 Key Frame Animation|Tutorial 3den]]
{{Stub}}

Revision as of 10:38, 22 June 2018

Template:Delete

Retrieved from "https://community.bistudio.com/wiki?title=Arma_3:_Key_Frame_Animation:_Tutorial_-_3DEN&oldid=108608"