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Author Topic: Proxy animation start by map  (Read 1253 times)

ralphr

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Proxy animation start by map
« on: May 04, 2016, 02:29:38 PM »
Is it possible for forest pack to start the animation of a proxy object based on a map.
Currently we have the option play the animation based on a gradient. But what I'd want is for forest pack to just start the animation once the map shows white underneath it so I don't have to mess with a bunch of gradients. I assume this is not possible out of the box because I didn't find any such option in the forest pack menu. Or can this be achieved with the effects tab?

Thanks in advance :)
« Last Edit: May 04, 2016, 02:35:06 PM by ralphr »

Michal Karmazín

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Re: Proxy animation start by map
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2016, 04:24:37 PM »
Hi,

I would suggest you to use Forest Pack's Animation - Random From Map mode and with help of attached "AnimationOffset.eff" effect you can drive easily the animation offset of used proxy object (it's possible to use both positive / negative values for the AnimationOffset parameter).

To apply it to your Forest object, under the Effects roll-out choose Edit Effects and in the Effects Editor window on Import and open the "AnimationOffset.eff" file.

Please feel free to check more about this tool in the Animation - "To control the starting frame of an animation using a map" section of our on-line reference guide. You might find interesting our "Animating in Forest Pack" tutorial covering that topic in detail.

Best regards,

ralphr

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Re: Proxy animation start by map
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2016, 04:38:45 PM »
Hello Michal,

thank you for the quick response. I tried importing your attachment, but when I do I get an error saying that this effect was made with a FP Version greater than mine. (I am running 5.0.5)

Michal Karmazín

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Re: Proxy animation start by map
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2016, 05:28:42 PM »
Hi,

Thanks for your swift reply. Please try this one.

Best regards,

ralphr

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Re: Proxy animation start by map
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2016, 05:49:20 PM »
Hi Michal,

maybe I am not really understanding how this works so sorry about that. But what I am trying to achieve is that I have proxies in a simple grid like pattern on a plane and I'd like to control when they start their animation based on the underlying map.
For example I have a black map and solid white comes in from the left until the whole map is white. Ideally this would give me a linear animation starting sequence based on the white parts of the map.
I am trying to avoid animating different gradients to control the animation speed. (e.g frame from map)

Cheers :)



Michal Karmazín

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Re: Proxy animation start by map
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2016, 11:31:28 AM »
Hi,

By using the Animation - Random From Map mode you can "delay" the animation of distributed object(s) depending on assigned Map. In many cases, you'll need to "shift" the animation back (to start the animation once desired frame reached).

Usually, I would suggest you to shift the animation of used Custom Object "manually" (by moving Keys), but in case of using proxy object(s) with already cached animation, the "AnimationOffset.eff" effect will help you to move the animation towards negative values.

Also, you might find interesting following "... want start the animation by map ..." related thread. Hope that helps.

Best regards,

ralphr

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Re: Proxy animation start by map
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2016, 01:36:59 PM »
I think I understand this now. :P

Sadly it doesn't offer me the kind of control I'd would have liked to have. Given that the animation offset is based on the grey values of the static map, the delay between objects isn't big enough, if the area is pretty large and the objects next to each other almost share the same grey value. I thought maybe with the now added effects tab there might be a few other options to trigger animations. Guess I'll have to find another way to do this.

I know this isn't something forest pack was made for, still it would have been very convenient. Nonetheless thank you Michal for the help and effort! :)