Menu Cells

Effects -> AnimatedSlice

The Effects -> AnimatedSlice command in the Motion module is the animated version of Effect -> Slice in the Model module. These effects allow you to use a grid to perform a Boolean-like slicing operation on a hierarchy.

To slice through non-polygon mesh objects such as patches or NURBS surfaces, they must first be converted to polygon meshes (choose Effect -> Convert). Non-polygon mesh objects are replaced by null objects in the resulting hierarchy.

If the model is animated, such as along a path, then the geometry of the resulting object is correct, but it does not inherit the path animation. If this is desired, simply copy the animation from the model to the result using the usual SOFTIMAGE 3D tools or the Duplicate -> AnimateTransform (Motion Module) effect.

There is a scene called FishNBirds in the SI_EFFECTS1 database that you can play with, but there is no tutorial for it.

Procedure

1. Create a hierarchy and a grid.

2. Position the grid as desired to define the cutting plane.

3. Animate the cutting plane as desired.

4. Choose the Effects -> AnimatedSlice command in the Motion module. The Slice dialogue box is displayed.

5. Set the parameters as desired to define the resulting object.

6. Pick the hierarchy, then pick the grid. The effect icon appears, indicating that the effect is active.

7. Play back the animation to view the final result.

Parameters

The parameters are the same as in the Effect -> Slice dialogue box.

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 Effects -> Edit Parameters command in the Motion module.

SOFTIMAGE 3D Reference - 18 APR 1996