#Creating Graph Line
We are trying to animate a graph line, actually several graph lines.
The difficulty we are having is that the data points continue to creep
after the line has passed over them. Specifically, the previous data point
(turning point) moves around, until the line reaches the next data point,
then it creeps around.
Our Method:
1. Create a line with several equally spaced x,y coordinates which
represents a graph line.
2. Bring the line into the 3D Lofter with the Path/Get/Shape command.
3. Create the shape of the 3D line in the 2D Shaper (a quad), and bring it
into the 3D Lofter, center it, and Object/Make it.
4. Name the first (complete object) seg5. Create/Object/Copy it, naming
result seg4.
5. Hide seg5, and Select/Vertex/Window the end points of the graph line.
Modify/Vertex/Move/Selected those endpoint vertices to very near the face
of the previous data points set of 4 vertices.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 for seg4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Where seg0 is a set of very
closely grouped set of 24 vertices for the starting point.
7. Object/Morph/Assign seg0 to seg1 at frame 19, Object/Morph/Assign seg0
to seg2 at frame 39, Object/Morph/Assign seg0 to seg3 at 59…etc.
8. Preview the Front view.
Result: At a peak or valley the peak/valley creeps around until the line
morphs past the next peak/valley. Then it locks and the most recent
peak/valley creeps around.
Surely, graphs are so common that I could learn from your experiences, we
have tried several variations. But this method seems to get us the closest
to an good result. Close…but no cigar…as they say….
Steve Pidgeon
Pulse Productions
Tampa, FL