Common Key Frame Editor Properties

• Name: Defines the name of the Key Frame. This name is used for external commands or scripts.

• Time: Defines where along the time-line (in fields) the Key Frame is placed.

  • To switch the format between timecode and absolute values, press the button. The absolute values depends on which format you are working with (Seconds, Frames, Fields).

  • Previous/Next buttons: Selects the previous or next Key Frame along the time-line if the property has more than one Key Frame.

• Value: The rest of the Key Frame editor options vary according to which property is being animated.

  Example: For scaling, it is possible to define the size of an object in direction X, Y, and Z.

Locked and Unlocked Key Frames

By default the Key Frames in the position animation are locked. They store information about the position of the container along the X-, Y- and Z-axis, as well as the time the Key Frame passed by in the animation.

An unlocked Key Frame stores only information of the position along X-, Y- and Z-axis, without the information at which time the Key Frame should be passed. To reflect this, in the object editor for a locked Key Frame the Time is grayed out. Furthermore, as the spline editor shows time and path-percentage, the unlocked Key Frames are not shown there. In the animation editor, unlocked Key Frames are shown at half height of locked Key Frames. Viz Artist calculates the time the Key Frame is passed to fit with the handles set in the next locked Key Frame before and after the unlocked Key Frame.

To better understand the difference between locked and unlocked Key Frames, create a simple position animation. You see the container moving with different speeds between the Key Frames. Next unlock all Key Frames and play the animation once more. The container moves evenly during the whole animation.

Use an unlocked Key Frames to define the path without editing the time for every Key Frame. This can save time.

Action Key Frame Editor Properties

In addition to the common key frame editor properties, the Action Key Frame Editor defines the Action Channel. The action works when the Director time-line equals the Action Channel Key Frame.

• Command: Executes the command or OS task entered here.

• Type: Initializes action Key Frames for two main types of actions:

  • Command: Use Viz Artist internal commands to execute a number of automated tasks in the program (for Viz Artist internal commands documentation go to: <viz install folder>/Documentation/CommandInterface/index.html)

  • Task: Enter a task command. Any relevant command which can be started from a command line window (cmd.exe) can be executed as a task. If the path to the executable file contains spaces, set the complete path in quotation marks, for example, " C:\program files\microsoft office\office\winword.exe"

    Tip: Multiple commands can be executed in the Action Key Frame Editor. The commands must be terminated by a ; (semi-colon) and on a new line. For example: RENDERER*TREE*$sometext*GEOM*TEXT SET Hello World; MAIN_SCENE*STAGE*DIRECTOR*$Default GOTO_TRIO $B $A;

• Dir: Sets which way, forwards or backwards, the animation should go to trigger the Action Key Frame:

  • Both: The Key Frame is triggered when the animation goes forward and in reverse.

  • Normal: The Key Frame is triggered when the animation goes forwards.

  • Reverse: The Key Frame is triggered when the animation goes backwards.

• Execute: Starts the action.

Position Key Frame Editor Properties

In addition to the Common Key Frame Editor Properties, a Position Key Frame contains information about the position of a Container at a specific time. The parameters of Position Key Frames are:

• Distance: Defines the distance of a selected Key Frame (value in percent) between the first and last Key Frame of the animation (information only).

• X: Defines the position along the X axis.

• Y: Defines the position along the Y axis.

• Z: Defines the position along the Z axis.

Rotation Key Frame Editor Properties

A rotation Key Frame contains information about the container rotation. In addition to the default options for a rotation Key Frame it is possible to define specific rotation options.

• X: Defines the rotation along the X axis.

• Y: Defines the rotation along the Y axis.

• Z: Defines the rotation along the Z axis.

• Angle: Defines the angle of the handles for the path or speed.

• Weight: Defines the weight of the handles for the path or speed.

• Smooth Left/Right: Allows the handles for the path to be smooth.

• Single (S), Locked (L) and Mirror (M): Defines the way handles for the path or speed should be modified. In the spline editor, three different splines are shown, one for every axis. The red one is for the X-axis, the green one for the Y-axis and the blue one for the Z-axis. As you can only edit the currently selected spline, you must use three spline buttons at the top of the Dopesheet Editor (or shortcuts CTRL + Z, CTRL + X and CTRL + C) to select the spline you want to edit. For ease of use, in the lower left corner you find an indication of which axis is currently selected.

Scale Key Frame Editor Properties

Scale Key Frames have to do with the scaling of the object in the animation. For a scale Key Frame, in addition to the default options, it is possible to define the scaling along the X, Y, and Z axes in the three input boxes.

If you have animated the scale, you can scale along up to all three axes. To change all three scale values, in the object editor you find an input box for X, one for Y and one for Z. There you can change if the values should be Locked or if you change them proportional (Prop) or each Single value. In the spline editor, three different splines are shown (when Prop or Single is selected), one for every axis. The red one is for the X-axis, the green one for the Y-axis and the blue one for the Z-axis. As you can only edit the currently selected spline, you must use three spline buttons at the top of the Dopesheet Editor (or shortcuts CTRL + Z, CTRL + X and CTRL + C) to select the spline you want to edit. For ease of use in the lower left corner you find an indication of which axis is currently selected.

Material Key Frame Editor Properties

With a Material Key Frame, in addition to the default options, it is possible to define color.

If a material has been animated, the object editor for the Key Frames shows a Material Editor. This allows you to conveniently the change the material. In the spline editor, two different splines are shown. The red one is for the alpha value (1), the green one for the shininess (2). As you can only edit the Key Frames/handles of one spline, you must use the number keys in the Stage Editor Bar to select the required spline. For ease of use in the lower left corner you find an indication of which parameter is currently selected.

Clip Key Frame Editor Properties

• Name: Sets a name for the Clip Key Frame.

• Time/Time End: Sets the start and end time, in fields, of the Key Frame.

• Duration: Sets the time duration of selected clip Key Frame as defined by Time/TimeEnd.

• Clip: Selects a clip to use when "Browse" is clicked.

• Viz One: Selects a clip from Viz One (see Transfer Clips From Viz One).

• Lock Clip Length: Locks automatic length adjustment. Keyframe maintains length for set clips. Useful when exporting the scene after making adjustments to the clip length in the stage, as this keeps the clip length as designed, and not revert to the length of the clip file.

• Before Start: Sets what should happen before the clip starts to play within the animation. If the button is disabled, it shows the in-frame. If the button is enabled, it shows black until the animation gets to the clip.

• After End: Sets what should happen after the animation leaves the clip Key Frame. If the button is disabled, it shows the out-frame. If the button is enabled, it shows black.

• Clip In/Out: Sets the time the clip comes in and goes out.
  
  

The clip playback starts one second after the Director starts. The clip starts at frame 25 and ends at frame 75. Because the Key Frame duration is twice as long, the clip part is played twice.

• Loop Count: To repeat the clip n times.

• Loop In and Loop out: The in and out times on 3- and 4-point loops.

Adding Camera Events Using Key Frames

The Stage Editor also allows the designer to change the active camera in a scene by using key-frames.