Page 896 - Kitab3DsMax

Part VIII: Advanced Animation Techniques
SplineIK Control modifier
The SplineIK Control modifier can be applied only to spline objects. In the Spline IK Control Parameters
rollout, you can click the Create Helpers button, which adds a dummy object to every vertex on the spline.
These dummy objects make it much easier to control the spline without having to enter vertex subobject
mode. You can also specify how the dummy objects are linked and how they are displayed.
Attribute Holder modifier
The Attribute Holder modifier displays all custom defined attributes in their own rollout. Creating custom
attributes and wiring attributes is discussed in Chapter 35, “Animating with the Expression Controller and
Wiring Parameters.”
Examining Complex Controllers
Now that you are somewhat familiar with controllers and how they work, let’s look at some more complex
controllers. Max includes a vast assortment of controllers, and you can add more controllers as plug-ins.
Transform controllers
Multi-track transform controllers work with the Position, Rotation, and Scale tracks all at the same time.
You access them by selecting the Transform track in the Motion panel and then clicking the Assign
Controller button or by choosing the Animation ➪ Transform Controllers menu command.

Note
Each of the available constraints is listed again in the appropriate controller submenu. n

Position/Rotation/Scale Transform controller
The Position/Rotation/Scale Transform controller is the default controller for all transforms. This controller
includes a Bézier controller for the Position and Scale tracks and a Euler XYZ controller for the Rotation track.
The PRS Parameters rollout, shown in Figure 34.17, lets you create and delete keys for Position, Rotation,
and Scale transforms. The Position, Rotation, and Scale buttons control the fields that appear in the Key
Info rollouts positioned below the PRS Parameters rollout.

Script controller
The Script controller is similar to the Expression controller, except that it can work with the MAXScript
lines of code for controlling the scene. Right-clicking a track with the Script controller assigned and select-
ing Properties opens the Script Controller dialog box. Script controllers are available for all transform tracks
including Transform, Position, Rotation, and Scale. The flexibility of the Script controller is quite robust.
The Script controller is covered in more detail at the end of this chapter, as is the Expression controller.

Cross-Ref
For more information on MAXScript, see Chapter 49, “Automating with MAXScript.” n

XRef controller
If you have a defined motion used by an object in another file that you want to access, you can use the XRef
controller. This controller can be assigned only to the Transform track. When this controller is assigned, a
file dialog box opens where you can select the XRef file; then in the Merge Object dialog box, you can select
a specific object that has the controller and motion you want to use.
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