Animator: Parametric Animation plugin - Discussion

[fredo6]

This is a thread for discussion about a plugin I am working on, called Animator.

Animator is a Parametric and Interactive animation script. It manages unit movements for objects and cameras along a timeline:
- Parametric, as it is based on the decomposition of movements in unit transformation (like translation, rotation, spin, ...). The exact position of objects and cameras can therefore be calculated at any time in the animation, at any frame rate.
- Interactive, as you can create / modify unit movements and arrange them on a timeline. So you can see immediately the result of the change.

The short video below gives a first idea of the concept.

Animator Early work 2.gif

I am also looking for simple models designed for animation, like robots or mechanical devices, so that I can test the script as I am finishing it (which may take long actually).

Fredo

[pilou]

The new hit of 2016!

[Rich O Brien]

here to help....and drool!

[pilou]

Does this will be possible: Movements of the mechanical digger? (not the "Physics" falling objects)

Video

[otb designworks]

This thread has made me very happy! Go Fredo Go!!!!

[solo]

Awesome, just what I have been talking about, any way I can help, just ask.

[Pixero]

Yes, YES, YEEES!
Finally.
This is something I have been wishing for for a looong time.
I'd love to try it to give feedback.

[ntxdave]

I am happy to share a sample animation that Fredo created with the alpha version of his Animator plugin using one of my sample car washes. It shows both the ability to animate objects and do some "fly through" stuff.

Personally I am excited about the potential I am seeing here and glad that it is finally out there for the whole world to see.

Video

https://youtu.be/AkGScAruhfg

BTW: Someone enlighten me what I did wrong with my attempt to include the YouTube video.

[massimo]

Off-Topic:

BTW: Someone enlighten me what I did wrong with my attempt to include the YouTube video.

Just erase the "s" from "https".
I embedded it for you.

[ntxdave]

Off-Topic:

BTW: Someone enlighten me what I did wrong with my attempt to include the YouTube video.

Just erase the "s" from "https".
I embedded it for you.

Thanks - I appreciate that so that I can do it in the future.

For those viewing the animation, please notice how smooth it is. In the original animation posted by Fredo, also notice that while his SU model has multiple scenes, the animation appears to be taking place in a single scene. Think about that.....

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these types of animations could be included in things like Lumion, LumenRT and Twinmotion. We are heading toward the ability to show off products in an environment something like a video game.

[solo]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these types of animations could be included in things like Lumion, LumenRT and Twinmotion. We are heading toward the ability to show off products in an environment something like a video game.

It is possible in Lumion.

[ntxdave]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these types of animations could be included in things like Lumion, LumenRT and Twinmotion. We are heading toward the ability to show off products in an environment something like a video game.

It is possible in Lumion.

When I looked at the animation capabilities in Lumion, it said (at least what I remember) was that you could not do subcomponents. Therefore if I had parts that I wanted to animate at two levels (like the first brush that both spins and pivots on an arm) you could not do that (at least that was my understanding). It would be great if we could do the basic animations within SU and then import them into those products and take advantage of their rendering and other capabilities.

[solo]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these types of animations could be included in things like Lumion, LumenRT and Twinmotion. We are heading toward the ability to show off products in an environment something like a video game.

It is possible in Lumion.

When I looked at the animation capabilities in Lumion, it said (at least what I remember) was that you could not do subcomponents. Therefore if I had parts that I wanted to animate at two levels (like the first brush that both spins and pivots on an arm) you could not do that (at least that was my understanding). It would be great if we could do the basic animations within SU and then import them into those products and take advantage of their rendering and other capabilities.

It would be fantastic if this animation could be exported to a 3rd party animation app as .fbx, will not hold my breath however, In lumion to create this you would have to import all moving components separately however, can become very fiddly.

I hope that this animation gets supported by the SU integrated render engines like Twilight, Thea, Podium, Corona, Vray, etc.

[chri]

Hi Fredo

Many Thanks for this new plugin.

I think that the movement is done by the timeline .
Is it possible to combine 2 movements like following examples from SKETCHYPHYSICS ?

in french
Il me semble avoir compris que la "timeline" commande les mouvements
Est-il possible de combiner des mouvements pour qu'une pièce en pilote une deuxième , comme dans les exemples SKETCHYPHYSICS ?.

Bye
Chri

[Pixero]

I really hope it will be possible with ease in and out and not just linear interpolation between key frames.

[fredo6]

@Pilou and chri

Animator is purely based on kinematics, not physics. In addition, Animation is predictive, as you specify the movements, whereas Physics will dynamically calculate the movements based on physical laws (weight, collisions, ...).

Therefore the purpose is very different, one is for illustrating, the other for playing or simulating.

Animator should however include a Visit Controller mode, where you can animate the sequences individually.

Video

Fredo

[fredo6]

I really hope it will be possible with ease in and out and not just linear interpolation between key frames.

I plan to include Easing hopefully. You can see it in the video of the first post (look at Homer or some small cubes, which move with acceleration).

Fredo

[Pixero]

Another wish.
Perhaps for a later version, would be a curve editor for those who wish more precise control over animation.

[Pixero]

...and another one...
A way of retiming a animation "clip" by making it longer or shorter.

[fredo6]

...and another one...
A way of retiming a animation "clip" by making it longer or shorter.

Actually you can adjust the duration and start time of each element of a clip.
You can also play the animation with variable speed.

See at the end of the video, where I used a model provided by chri.

Video

Fredo

[solo]

That is very cool, I like the control one has.

Will we be able to include section cuts and hide/show layers?

[jiminy-billy-bob]

I plan to include Easing hopefully.

Can I kiss you?

[pilou]

So seems we will be to make that?

Video

And this plugin by Cplassais will be very useful for put easilly some pieces!

Video

[alsomar]

Looks really great, thank you!

[Pixero]

Could you explain how to set up hierarchies?
Does it come from how objects are grouped inside other groups, or can you set it up independently through some hierarchy building function?
Will it be possible with inverse kinematics as well as forward kinematics?

[Patrick]

Hello..

I have this model...

Musoir-départ.jpg

Formes béton.skp

See explain in french Forum : viewtopic.php?f=51&t=64057#p587158

Bye
Patrick

[thomthom]

Can you animate instances within other instances?

[ntxdave]

Can you animate instances within other instances?

Not sure if this is what you are asking but in my car wash model, there are goups & components within groups and components. As an example, if you look at the first spinning brush, it is a subcomponent of the brush/arm assembly which is also a component. There are multiple things like that in the car wash animation.

So, if I am correctly understanding your question, the answer is yes.

[faust07]

Great! I could post a 2,400-year-old tricycle with driver when BryanK (the designer) does not mind. You could convert it from SketchyPhysics into your parametric animation process.

[thomthom]

I hope that this animation gets supported by the SU integrated render engines like Twilight, Thea, Podium, Corona, Vray, etc.

Ditto! I know they'd be very interested.