I am animating a 3D object, say a bicycle, travelling along a closed path laying on a XY plan, say a circle. The only way I can get the bicycle following along the circle path is by adding a ramp to the Properties.Transform.Rotation.Z of the object.
Of course the ramp trick does not work when the path is not a circle, and I failed trying to make the behaviour "Snap Alignment to Motion" work, circle or not.
Any idea what I am doing wrong ?
Working in 3D is a little complicated, regardless of the app you use.
For Motion, you have to realize that "vertical" in 3D space is actually pointed straight *at* you - the viewer.
To animate a bicycle along a path, you draw the path in XY (2D space) and orient the 3D object so that its top is what is visible. Adding a Camera and rotating the entire scene gives you an upright 3D object traveling a path in XYZ space, like:
for the Bicycle, in the 3D Object tab, set the Orientation > X to 90º.
Create your animation path and use a Motion Path behavior set to Geometry and add your Path to the Shape Source. Add a Snap Alignment to Motion Behavior. (If you don't have a custom path, you can simply use one of the presets.)
Add a Camera. Set Properties > Transform > Rotation > X to about 80º or so ( to provide a little perspective ).
You shouldn't need to animate the Properties.Transform.Rotation.Z of anything.
[PS - if you don't want to add a camera, just make sure you use a Group containing the Path and the 3D Object and set its Type to 3D. You can then rotate the Group on the X-axis to provide a view perspective. It is, however, easier to just use the camera as you have on screen controls at the upper right of the screen that make orienting the view rather simple and convenient.]
HTH - if I left anything out, just let me know.
Working in 3D is a little complicated, regardless of the app you use.
For Motion, you have to realize that "vertical" in 3D space is actually pointed straight *at* you - the viewer.
To animate a bicycle along a path, you draw the path in XY (2D space) and orient the 3D object so that its top is what is visible. Adding a Camera and rotating the entire scene gives you an upright 3D object traveling a path in XYZ space, like:
for the Bicycle, in the 3D Object tab, set the Orientation > X to 90º.
Create your animation path and use a Motion Path behavior set to Geometry and add your Path to the Shape Source. Add a Snap Alignment to Motion Behavior. (If you don't have a custom path, you can simply use one of the presets.)
Add a Camera. Set Properties > Transform > Rotation > X to about 80º or so ( to provide a little perspective ).
You shouldn't need to animate the Properties.Transform.Rotation.Z of anything.
[PS - if you don't want to add a camera, just make sure you use a Group containing the Path and the 3D Object and set its Type to 3D. You can then rotate the Group on the X-axis to provide a view perspective. It is, however, easier to just use the camera as you have on screen controls at the upper right of the screen that make orienting the view rather simple and convenient.]
HTH - if I left anything out, just let me know.
fox_m wrote:
Working in 3D is a little complicated, regardless of the app you use.
Fine. I was prepared.
I didn't get it right away. The crucial tweak not to miss was this line:
for the Bicycle, in the 3D Object tab, set the Orientation > X to 90º.
Tx for your time and help, Fox!
--
Claude
Animating a 3D object in alignment snapped to the path
