Page 945 - Kitab3DsMax

Chapter 36: Working with Function Curves in the Track View
Function curves mode lets you edit and work with these curves for complete control over the animation
parameters. Figure 36.9 shows the Position curves for a sphere that moves about the scene.
FIGURE 36.9
Function curves display keys as square markers along the curve.

Inserting new keys and moving keys
Function curves with only two keys have slow in and out tangents, making the animation start slow, speed
up, and then slow down. You can add more curvature to the line with the addition of another key. To add
another key, click the Add Keys button, and then click the curve where you want to place the key.

Tip
Keep the total number of keys to a minimum. More keys make editing more difficult. n
If the curve contains multiple curves, such as a curve for the Position or RGB color values, then a point is
added to each curve. The Move Keys button enables you to move individual keys by dragging them. It also
includes flyouts for constraining the key movement to a horizontal or vertical direction.
Click the Scale Keys button to move the selected keys toward or away from the current time. The keys
move only horizontally. Click the Scale Values button to move the selected keys toward or away from the
zero value. The keys move only vertically.
Tutorial: Animating a monorail
As an example of working with function curves, you’ll animate a monorail that moves around its track,
changing speeds, and stopping for passengers.
To animate the monorail using function curves, follow these steps:
1. Open the Monorail.max file from the Chap 36 directory on the DVD.
This file contains a simple monorail setup made from primitives.
2. Click the Play button, and watch the train move around the track.
As a default, the Path Constraint’s Percent track has a Linear controller that causes the train to
move at a constant speed. To refine the animation, you need to change it.

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