Itoo Software Forum

Forest Pack => Forest Pro (*) => Topic started by: Richard Birket on May 31, 2016, 05:11:32 PM

Title: Animate ForestPro objects with a rectangular area
Post by: Richard Birket on May 31, 2016, 05:11:32 PM

I have a custom layout of office furniture in an FP object.

I need to animate the various items of furniture appearing, ideally using a spline as an FP 'Area' to control this. However, as this is a custom FP object, I am not allowed to add an Area.

Why not?

Can you suggest a simple work around?

Title: Re: Animate ForestPro objects with a rectangular area
Post by: Paul Roberts on May 31, 2016, 10:09:24 PM

Hi Richard,

Thanks for contacting us. I'm afraid that when working in Custom Edit mode the areas list is disabled as it has no effect, even using the new effects feature. However you could drive the animations using a grayscale map. To do this:

1 - Apply a surface to the FP object. Forest will adopt the UVW coords of this to position the map.
2 - In the Animation Rollout, change the mode to Frame From Map.
3 - Set the Start and End frame to encompass the animation on your source object.
4 - Add an animated greyscale map to the Map slot. For example you could use a Gradient ramp and animated the Offset.

(http://i.imgur.com/O1jRoeO.png)

Now when you animate the map it will control the animations.

(http://i.imgur.com/Grly040.gif)

I've attached a file to illustrate this approach, I hope it is of some help,  please let me know if you have any further questions.

Many Thanks,

Paul