Create a 3D Animation Curve

STEP-BY-STEP

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ACTIONS

  • • Open the 3D Scene. Select {System > 3D Scene} or press [Alt+C].
  • • Add a Curve object. Select {Primitive > Automation > Curve}.
  • • Select the Curve object and open the Properties Option Panel. Select {Option  Panels > Properties} or press [P].
  • • Click on the [Add Point] button to create the first Control Point of the Curve.
  • • Select the first point (control point0) and press [V] to activate the Translate Manipulator.
  • • Position the first point with a click-drag.
  • • Select the Curve object again and Click on the [Add Point] button to add a second Control Point. The Curve will now be displayed.
  • • To ease in or out the Curve: select the ease in or out parameters located under the Control Points, press [V], and adjust them with a click-drag.
  • • To add more Control Points:
    • Select the Curve object and open its Properties panel.
    • Adjust the t slider to navigate the Curve in time.
    • Click on the [Add Point] button.
  • • Add a Camera in the 3D Scene. Select {Primitive > Input > Camera}.
  • • Open the FX Graph module. Select {Show > FX Graph} or press [Alt+X].
  • • Create a new Graph. Click on the [+] button.
  • • Activate the [Enable Preview] toggle.
  • • Click on the [Add Node] button and click-drag the /Curve 3D (anim)/ node (located under 3D) in the Graph window.
  • • Assign the Curve object to the node in the Primitives dropdown menu.
  • • Add a /Primitive (Ref)/ node (located under 3D) in the Graph window.
  • • Assign the Camera object to the node in the Primitives dropdown menu.
  • • Expose the node’s Translation parameters. Right-click on the node and select {Exposed Parameters>Translation>Translation X(Y, Z)}.
  • • Expose the node’s Rotation parameters. Right-click on the node and select {Exposed Parameters>Rotation>Rotation X(Y, Z)}.
  • • Link the outputs of the /Curve 3D (anim_)_/ node to their corresponding inputs (Numeric Translation and Rotation) on the  /Primitive (Ref)/ node.
  • • Click-drag a /Curve~/ node (located under Signal Generator) in the Graph window.
  • • Connect the output to the node to the input of the /Curve 3D (anim)/ node.
  • • Click on the /Curve~/ node and select {Curve} from the Preview Mode dropdown menu.
  • • Adjust the Curve manually in the Preview.
  • • Adjust the Period (s) slider.
  • • Navigate back to the 3D Scene. Adjust the orientation of the Camera by selecting any option from the Direction Axe dropdown menu located in the Curve object Properties.

Related Documentation

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