Menu Cells

Duplicate -> AnimatedBridge (Motion Module)

The Duplicate -> AnimatedBridge command in the Motion module is used in the same manner as the Duplicate -> Bridge effect in the Model module, but allows you to animate the elements used in the duplication and the effect parameters.

Note:: Faces cannot be used as the surfaces to bridge. You must convert the face to a polygon mesh using the Effect -> Convert command in the Model module.

Procedure

1. Create four models:

The object to be duplicated.
A "surface" object upon which to duplicate.
A y-direction object with the same number of points as the surface model. This object must be animated.
An x-direction object with the same number of points as the surface model.

Note:

The x and y-direction objects must have the same number of points as the surface object. An easy way to ensure this is to create the x and y-direction objects by duplicating the surface curve using the Duplicate -> Immediate command. You can then reposition the copies and/or transform the control vertices of the duplicates before using the Duplicate -> Bridge effect in the Model module.

2. Choose Duplicate -> AnimatedBridge. The Bridge dialogue box is displayed.

3. Set the parameters as desired.

4. The effect prompts you to pick the surface, the y-direction model, the x-direction model, and the object to be duplicated.

After a few moments, the icon appears with the resulting duplicates.

Parameters

The parameters are the same as for the Duplicate -> Bridge effect except for the few listed below.

Freeze Transforms

No animation can happen if this option is not selected.

Next, Previous, Delete, Key, and Frame

For the animated effects, Next advances to the next keyframe, Previous goes back to the previous keyframe, Delete removes a keyframe, and Key sets a keyframe at the frame you specify in the Frame text box. These controls are available only after you have set the initial parameters in the dialogue box and clicked Ok. To return to the dialogue box and edit keyframes for the effect, select the effect icon and choose the Effect -> Custom -> Edit Parameters command in the Motion module.

SOFTIMAGE 3D Reference - 18 APR 1996