Page 647 - Kitab3DsMax

Chapter 22: Animating with Constraints and Simple Controllers

FIGURE 22.3
The spaceship object has been attached to a spline path that it follows.

Link constraint
The Link constraint can transfer hierarchical links between objects. This constraint can cause a child’s link
to be switched during an animation. Any time you animate a complex model with a dummy object, the
Link constraint makes it possible to switch control from one dummy object to another during the anima-
tion sequence. This keeps the motions of the dummy objects simple.
The Link Params rollout includes Add Link and Delete Link buttons, a list of linked objects, and the Start
Time field. To switch the link of an object, enter for the Start Time the frame where you want the link to
switch, or drag the Time Slider and click the Add Link button. Then select the new parent object. The
Delete key becomes active when you select a link in the list.

Note
If you create a link using the Link constraint, the object is not recognized as a child in any hierarchies. n
All links are kept in a list in the Link Params rollout. You can add links to this list with the Add Link but-
ton, create a link to the world with the Link to World button, or delete links with the Delete Link button.
The Start Time field specifies when the selected object takes control of the link. The object listed in the list
is the parent object, so the Start Time setting determines when each parent object takes control.
The Key Mode section lets you choose a No Key option. This option does not write any keyframes for the
object. If you want to set keys, you can choose the Key Nodes options and set keys for the object itself

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