Page 880 - Kitab3DsMax

Part VIII: Advanced Animation Techniques
Note
If Animation Layers are enabled for an object whose animation is loaded into the Motion Mixer, then a dialog box
automatically appears, asking if you want to create a new map file for the animation. n
Setting animation layers properties
The button to the right of the Weight value opens the Layer Properties dialog box, shown in Figure 34.3.
This dialog box lets you specify the type of controller to which the layers are collapsed. The options include
Bézier (for Position and Scale tracks) or Euler (for Rotation tracks), Linear or TCB, and Default. You also
can specify a range to collapse.
FIGURE 34.3
The Layer Properties dialog box lets you set the controller type to collapse to.

Collapsing animation layers
By collapsing layers, you combine the animation keys on each layer into a single set of keys that includes all
the various motions. Be careful when collapsing; the results can be unexpected. Collapsing animation layers
is accomplished with the Collapse Animation Layers button.
Tutorial: Using animation layers for a plane takeoff
Have you ever been to a small airport and watched the commuter planes take off? Sometimes they leave the
ground and then return to the ground and then finally take off. It’s like they need to get a good bounce to
overcome gravity. This is a good example of when animation layers come in handy.
To animate a jet’s takeoff using animation layers, follow these steps:
1. Open the Mig take-off.max file from the Chap 36 directory on the DVD.
This file includes a detailed Mig-29 jet model created by Viewpoint Datalabs.
2. With the jet selected, open the Animation Layers toolbar by right-clicking the main toolbar away
from the buttons and choosing Animation Layers from the pop-up menu.
3. Click the Enable Animation Layers button, and enable the Position track. This adds a Base Layer
to the Selection list.
4. Click the Auto Key, drag the Time Slider to frame 100, and move the jet to the far end of the run-
way. Then disable the Auto Key button. Set the Weight value for this layer to 0.
5. In the Animation Layer toolbar, click the Add Animation Layer button to add a new layer. In the
Create New Animation Layer dialog box that appears, select the Duplicate the Active Controller
Type option and click OK. A new layer labeled AnimLayer01 is added to the Selection list.

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