Page 1107 - Kitab3DsMax

Chapter 43: Simulating Physics-Based Motion with reactor
FIGURE 43.8
Depending on the mass property, objects sink or float.

Calculating and Previewing a Simulation

Although you’ve already had some experience with the Preview window in the examples, more controls are
available than just playing the animation. To preview the simulation, select Animation ➪ reactor ➪ Preview
Animation or click the Preview Animation button on the reactor toolbar. This opens a Havok window like
the one shown in Figure 43.9. This window lets you play with your simulation. The Simulation ➪ Play/
Pause menu (keyboard shortcut, P) executes the simulation. Dragging with the left mouse button rotates the
scene, and you can zoom in and out with the scroll wheel.

Caution
The Preview window runs only if the OpenGL or the Direct3D display drivers are used. The window uses OpenGL
by default, or you can set it to use DirectX with the DirectX option in the Display rollout. The display driver being
used is displayed in the title bar of the Preview window. n
Using the Preview window
The fun part of the preview window is that you can interact with the objects. Right-clicking (when the
simulation is playing) and dragging on the object moves it. If you find a position that you want to capture
for Max, you can use the MAX ➪ Update Max menu command to set the starting positions of the objects
in Max.

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