#Keyscript
16 messages in this thread
I'm going to write an article on Keyscript for the next issue of Planet Studio.
I would like to hear what would be useful to any of you. I am asking here,
instead of in the "Scripts" section, to also hear from those that haven't
started using scripts yet, and what would help them.
Ed Kellerman
Hi, Ed. Yes, there is something I would love to see: a way to MIRROR selected
elements in the Track Info dialog! Would this even be possible with a script?
Regards, Connie
<
Hi, Ed. Yes, there is something I would love to see: a way to MIRROR selected
elements in the Track Info dialog! Would this even be possible with a script?
Regards, Connie
>
A script can get data for existing keys. Using that information, you can create
new keys. Would this approach work for what you want?
Ed Kellerman
<<
Hi, Ed. Yes, there is something I would love to see: a way to MIRROR selected
elements in the Track Info dialog! Would this even be possible with a script?
>>
<A script can get data for existing keys. Using that information, you can
create new keys. Would this approach work for what you want?>
————-
Hi Connie:
I don't know if that helped much, but I was wondering if it did.
Maybe I need to know a little more. What do you mean by "mirror"? Is it like
copying a track, or a mirror-reflection of it, etc? Are you "mirroring" an
object, a track, a key, etc?
Is it like selecting a group of keys and being able to work with all of them as
a group (copy, move, etc)?
Is it important to be able to do it from the Track Info box? Or is it just the
result that's important?
Ed K
Hi, Ed. I'll try to clarify by example. There are 2 animals in the scene
whose starting positions are facing each other. You want them to approach each
other and perform MIRRORED movements. I would like to be able to animate 1,
then go to track info dialog, select whatever keys you want the other animal to
perform, select an axis to mirror on (in this case Y), and apply the resulting
movements to the second animal so that it's movements (the group selected) are
mirrored on the selected axis i.e. the 1st animal moves forward and lifts his
left foot up, the 2nd animal would move in the opposite (or mirror) direction
and lift his RIGHT leg up with same rotation…in this case, the relative
position of each animal will be mirrored on the Y-axis, one in a + direction,
the other in a – direction; the rotation of the leg of each will be rotated the
same amount, but with DIFFERENT (or opposite — MIRRORED) objects…
Is this clear at all? Kinda hard to explain.
Regards, Connie
<Is this clear at all? Kinda hard to explain.>
Very clear! (I assume you don't want to do it yourself. It doesn't sound very
difficult in principle, but would probably take some time). If I hear or do
something like that I'll let you know.
Ed K
Thanks, Ed. Yes, I really don't have time right now as I am pretty much
swamped with several other projects begging for my attention.
Regards, Connie
Ed:
I'd love to see some code examples and hear a whole bunch of ideas for
applications of Keyscripts. I haven't started writing any of my own but I
would be more interested in anything I could apply to architectural animations.
Bob
< apply to architectural animations. >
I don;'t know much about what architecs need. How about some specific
needs/wants?
Ed K
Ed:
/_______________________From your message________________________\\
I don;'t know much about what architecs need. How about some specific
needs/wants? __________________________________________________________________
Useful things might include:
Sun Path Calculator – Ability to enter Day-Month-Time and also the lattitude
and have a Sun lightsource created at the correct location.
Tree Locator – Some method for putting trees and shrubs around on a terrain
model with minimal effort. It would be great to not have to know exact Z
values, in other words, be able to plop some trees down on a site mesh and have
them automatically adjusted to plant themselves at the top of the mesh. It
would also be useful to have a "randomizer" to alter the tree sizes and
rotations and even shape if thats possible.
Object Query – Ability to hit on an object and find out its name, material,
shadow casting ability and which lights have it included.
Object Color/Material Assigner – Automatic method to have all objects assigned
the color which most closely corresponds to their material's ambient color.
I really have no idea about what can't and what can be scripted so these are
some ideas which just came to mind.
Bob
Ed,
How about sharing the secrets of some of your particle animations or
anything that involves applying/copying keys or motions to multiple objects?
David West
<
How about sharing the secrets of some of your particle animations or anything
that involves applying/copying keys or motions to multiple objects?
>
Some of those particle-systyem "secrets" will be in a script for a simple
particle system that I will be uploading soon, as freeware. That script was
used, in part, to create an animation I uploaded last night, 7GAL37.ZIP
(described below).
The "sample" script CAM36.P3D (described below) shows how to copy keys. It
also shows how to create cameras (using "The Script Extension" commands )
Ed K
_______________________________________________
7GAL37.ZIP Size:775987
Title: Starfield to Hades. By Ed Kellerman.
KELLERMAN KEYSCRIPT 3DS PARTICLE SYSTEM EXAMPLE SAMPLE ANIPRO 1024×768 FLC
The 9 frames in this flic resemble oil paintings created in "hot"
red, orange and yellow layers w/a large painting knife. They were
created by (artistically!) merging, w/AniPro, 151 script-generated frames
(w/1000+ objects).
Even at 9-frames, this isn't one of the smaller files you've asked for.
Relief is coming. I plan to upload the script, a simple particle-system,
as freeware! (W/instructions for generating several animations.)
AND, the script, in intermediate and advanced versions, is designed as a
Keyscript learning-aid.
—————————————————————-
File Info for CAM36.P3D
Section: Scripts Contributor: 71532,3255 Size:
15072
Submitted: 1/10/95 Type: Text Accesses: 51
Title: Sample script for The Script Extension. By Ed Ke
Keys: PXP SCRIPT EXTENSION TSE EXAMPLE SAMPLE KELLERMAN
A script for The Script Extension (PXP module) for 3D Studio Release 4. TSE is
available from Schreiber Instruments.
This script creates a camera at the location of an object specified by the
user. The target for the camera is also an object selected by the user. The
position keys for the camera and its target are copied from the corresponding
objects.
Ed Kellerman
[dl time at 2400 baud: 1 min]
Ed;
I've never heard of "Planet Studio". Do you have subscription info.
Thanks,
Dennis
<"Planet Studio". Do you have subscription info.>
From the last issue:
"The Professional's Guide to Autodesk Multimedia"
Charter offer, for US destinations, $59.95
IDG Communications/Peterborough
Planet Studio
P.O. Box 802
Peterborough, NH 03458-9971
Hi Dennis,
I just posted a description of Planet Studio–which includes a contents listing
for the current issue–in the Take5 section. File name is PLNTSTD.txt.
Briefly, though, it's a bimonthly, full-color newsletter dedicated to Autodesk
multimedia–with great writers like Ed!
Let me know if I can answer any questions…
–Barbara Gefvert
Editor, Planet Studio
Barbara;
Thanks. I'll look at it.
Dennis