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3D Animation Procedure

General Notes for students
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Multimedia communcation (17EC73)

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Academic year: 2022/2023
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Acharya Nagarjuna University

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AUTODESK MAYA ANIMATION IN 3D

INTRODUCTION

Computer animation is the process used for generating an animated sequence using many still images or snapshot of images. In general we can say it a computer generated imagery which shows static images in the form of dynamic scenes and it only refers to moving images.

For 3D animations, objects (models) are built on the computer monitor and 3D figures are rigged with a virtual skeleton. For 2D figure animations, separate objects (illustrations) and separate transparent layers are used with or without a virtual skeleton. Then the limbs, eyes, mouth, clothes, etc. of the figure are moved by the animator on key frames. The differences in appearance between key frames are automatically calculated by the computer in a process known as tweening or morphing. Finally, the animation is rendered. [1]

1 MAYA

Autodesk Maya commonly shortened to Maya, is a 3D computer graphics software that runs on Windows, OS X and Linux, originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation (formerly Alias Wave front) and currently owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc. It is used to create interactive 3D applications, including video games, animated film, TV series, or visual effects. [2]

Maya is an application used to generate 3D assets for use in film, television, game development and architecture. The software was initially released for the IRIX operating system. However, this support was discontinued in August 2006 after the release of version 6. Maya was available in both "Complete" and "Unlimited" editions until August 2008, when it was turned into a single suite. [3]

TOOLS USED IN MAYA FOR ANIMATION

Here we will discuss about 3D Animation where you work on Autodesk MAYA software. We will also discuss those tools which are used in animation.

In Maya software selects Animation from status line (see in pic 1) and then go to animate (see in pic. 2) menu in menu bar. You will get there more option, which is used for animating an object or character.

Fig. 1 Autodesk Maya animation panel

Fig Animation menu drop down

Here you will get details for all those option of animate menu, which are shown in pic 2. But after these menus some other tools are there who are helping you to animate a character or object, which is Deformers. We will discuss here these topics-

 Set key  Set Breakdown  Hold current keys  Set driven Key  Set Transform Keys  Create Clip  Create pose  Ghost selected  Unghost selected  Unghost All  Create Motion trail  Create Animation Snapshot  Update motion trail/Snapshot  Create animated sweep  Motion Paths  Turn table

SET KEY

Select Animate -> Set key

This option is available only when “All Keyable Attributes” is on in your set key option box window.

SET BREAKDOWN

Breakdown is also same like set key but there are a little bit difference that Breakdowns do not have any adjacent keys is unbounded. Set breakdown always work like regular keys when it applied on any object. It also behaves like regular key when you edit like cut, copy, paste and move it.

HOLD CURRENT KEYS

When you applying hold Current Keys, it sets the keys for all animated attributes of a selected object or character at the current time. This option is most useful when you work with auto key mode because Auto Key sets keys only for those attributes where attributes value changed.

GENERAL ANIMATION TOOLS

Non-destructive animation layering system works with attributes. The Set Driven Key tool enables you to key-frame complex relationships between animated parameters. Graph and Dope sheet Editors control how animated attributes change over time. Fine-tune animation in the viewport with editable motion trails. Block out and mark up animation directly in the 3D scene with the Grease Pencil. [4]

SET DRIVEN KEY

Set driven key are a special key that connect an attributes of an object to another attributes of another object. In other words, set driven key make a relationship between two different objects through their internal attributes. When you create a driven key then you introduce an object as driver and another object as a driven object. After then you connect attributes of driver to attributes of driven object. In this connection the value of the driven attribute is locked to a corresponding value of the driver attribute.

When we animate an object by using set driven keys, Time Slider is not involved in relationship and no any red key display on time line.

For example,

You connect a sphere with a cube by using set driven key

Select Animate -> Set Driven Key ->Set -> ,

Create a sphere and load it as a driver in set driven key option window.

Then you create a cube and load it as a driven in set driven key option window.

Then select any attribute (translate Z) of driver (sphere) and then select attributes (Scale X, Y, Z) of driven (cube).

Then press key button in Set driven key window.

Again repeat above process with changing the all attributes (translate z of sphere and scale X, Y, Z of cube).

Then again press key button in Set driven key window.

Now you can check your animation has been done.

You move you sphere in Z direction, cube will automatically change his shape either increase or decrease in global scale mode. (See in fig. 4)

Fig. 4 – Set driven key connections

SET TRANSFORM KEY

Animate -> Set Transform Key -> Translate/rotate/Scale mean you are (can) keying only for a single attribute like at a time you can set key either for translate or for rotate or for scale.

You can use Shift + W for set transform key for Translate in X, Y and Z attributes.

You can use Shift + E for set transform key for Rotate in X, Y and Z attributes.

You can use Shift + R for set transform key for Scale in X, Y and Z attributes.

ANIMATING CAMERA MOVES

In Maya, the camera can be animated. You can set key frames for the camera moves the same as for other objects in your scene. In the next steps, you set keys to do a simple animation of the camera’s movement.

TO ANIMATE THE CAMERA

Go to the start of the playback range.

Dolly, tumble, and track my Camera to create a view similar to this:

With my Camera selected, set a key for the camera’s current view at the first frame. To set a key, select Animation menu set, and then select Animate > Set Key. (For details on setting keys and animation technique, Go to frame 150.

Set another key.

Play the animation to see the camera dolly toward the table for the first 150 frames. At this point, feel free to experiment with keying changes in the view resulting from tumbling and tracking the camera. Excessive animation of tumbling and tracking creates a dizzying effect that is a common mistake of inexperienced artists. In general, it’s best to keep camera animation simple except when you are striving for an unusual effect. [5]

Unghost all will Unghost all object or hierarchies, which are placed in your scene.

CREATE MOTION TRAIL

Its show the motion path of an object or character. Display mode depends upon the option which is defined by you. It would be in point, line or locator.

Animate > Create Motion Trail >

Time Range

Time Slider- when this option in ON, it’s create motion trail for Key frames of time slider.

Start/End- when this option in ON, it’s create motion trail between defined start to end frame.

Start Time- from where motion trail starts and it will appear only when you select Start/End option in Time Range.

End Time- up to those particular Key frames where you want to show motion trail. Update

On Demand when you select this option your motion trail automatically update when you will change your animation.

Fast when you add or change a key frame for the object then motion trail will update by fast action.

Fig 6 – Different type of motion trail

Slow – when you will change shape or animation of object, the motion trail will change.

Draw Style there is 3 type of display of motion trail of object that is Line, Locator, or Point. (See in pic. 6)

CREATE ANIMATED SWEEP

It creates an animated sweep (lofted surface) for the selected objects. You can create springs (see in fig7)

Animate > Create Animated Sweep >

Fig 7 animated sweep

Now we discuss about option window of Create Animated sweep.

Time Range

You previously learn the meaning of Time Slider, Start/End.

By Time- how many span should be appear in full created sweep. If time slider having 24 frame and you set by time is 6, then only 4 segment will appear in that sweep.

Parameterization

Uniform- when you ON this, the profile curves of lofted surface will parallel to the V direction and in the U direction, the parameter values of resulting surfaces are equally spaced.

Surface Degree It set the lofted surface in U direction either in linear or in cubic mode.

Output Geometry- shows whatever result will come as a lofted surface, either it will be NURBS surface or POLYGON surface.

ATTACH TO MOTION PATH

Create a NURBS curve where you want to animate an object or character and link it with that object which one you want to be animate.

Create a curve, Create > CV Curve tool Select object to be animate and then shift select the curve. Then,

Select Animate > Motion Paths > Attach to Motion Path

Object is now animate on given timeline. (See in fig. 8)

FLOW PATH OBJECT

It’s creating a flow path for current object or motion path. Object or motion path is surrounded by lattice.

Animate > Motion Paths > Flow Path Object >

By using flow path object, you can change or modify the shape/form of object at any position or any Key frames. (See in fig. 10)

Fig. 10 Flow path with deformers

In option Flow path object box window you will find few more option like Division (front, up and side) where you have fulfill value as per your needs, that how much division you want in X, Y and Z direction.

Lattice around line or object- its represent that where you want to apply flow path, either on motion path or object. In other words, it creates the lattice around the object or curve.

Local Effect – when you create lattice around the motion path curve, then local effect is work properly. It means you can use it for long curves.

Turntable- A circular horizontal platforms that rotate 360 degree angle through the particular scene or object.

In the option box window, you have to put required frames to complete your turntable. Clockwise and Counterclockwise shows the direction of rotation.

Graph Editor

Graph editor contains multiple tools and other many function who manipulating the animation curve. You can edit, modify your animation from graph editor.

In general, you can say that graph editor is very powerful tool (group of tools), which help us to animate a character or object very smoothly.

After learning the basics of using the timeline and keyframing in Maya, the next step is to learn how to "spline". Splining is basically modifying the way in which key frames transition between each other. Maya's primary splining tool is the Graph Editor. Before moving on, download and open ball_animation. It contains the same ball from the Simple Animation Exercise, however with a set of basic mid-air and ground key frames. The goal of this exercise is to use the Graph Editor on these existing keys to produce a smooth bouncing ball animation. [6]

In modification of animation curve, you can modify the tangent of key like spline, linear, clamped, lock the key, unify it, break tangent, free tangent. You can also add new key from graph editor, you can delete any exiting key or you can insert a new key between two adjacent keys. (See in fig. 11)

Fig. 11 Graph editor

2. CONCLUSION

Finally we find here many tools which help us to animate any object in Autodesk Maya software. We have many processes adopt to do these things but we can’t make it in practice. Here you have seen that how many tools are used for animation a single object and the process used for the same is too complex but it is a sample for that. There are no limitations for using tools for making films, videos, game or making a walkthrough we have to go through the whole process. At the time of giving final touch to our animation, we uses graph editor and dope sheet which is also a big challenge for any artist or animator.

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3D Animation Procedure

Course: Multimedia communcation (17EC73)

10 Documents
Students shared 10 documents in this course

University: Acharya Nagarjuna University

Was this document helpful?
AUTODESK MAYA ANIMATION IN 3D
INTRODUCTION
Computer animation is the process used for generating an animated sequence using many still
images or snapshot of images. In general we can say it a computer generated imagery which
shows static images in the form of dynamic scenes and it only refers to moving images.
For 3D animations, objects (models) are built on the computer monitor and 3D figures are rigged
with a virtual skeleton. For 2D figure animations, separate objects (illustrations) and separate
transparent layers are used with or without a virtual skeleton. Then the limbs, eyes, mouth,
clothes, etc. of the figure are moved by the animator on key frames. The differences in
appearance between key frames are automatically calculated by the computer in a process known
as tweening or morphing. Finally, the animation is rendered. [1]
1.AUTODESK MAYA
Autodesk Maya commonly shortened to Maya, is a 3D computer graphics software that runs on
Windows, OS X and Linux, originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation (formerly Alias
Wave front) and currently owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc. It is used to create interactive
3D applications, including video games, animated film, TV series, or visual effects. [2]
Maya is an application used to generate 3D assets for use in film, television, game development
and architecture. The software was initially released for the IRIX operating system. However, this
support was discontinued in August 2006 after the release of version 6.5. Maya was available in
both "Complete" and "Unlimited" editions until August 2008, when it was turned into a single
suite. [3]
TOOLS USED IN MAYA FOR ANIMATION
Here we will discuss about 3D Animation where you work on Autodesk MAYA software. We will
also discuss those tools which are used in animation.
In Maya software selects Animation from status line (see in pic 1) and then go to animate (see in
pic. 2) menu in menu bar. You will get there more option, which is used for animating an object
or character.
Fig. 1 Autodesk Maya animation panel

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