[Tutorial] Animator Quick Start

[Archiblog]

Hi mgfranz!

You might like to take a look at a tutorial by Justin Geis which shows you how to create an exploded view animation using Animator. Around about the 5:30 mark, Justin shows you how to reverse the explosion so that might give you some idea of how to achieve the effect you want.

The tutorial can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMjPkJiIVZo

Let us know how you get on.

NF

[mgfranz]

Hi mgfranz!

You might like to take a look at a tutorial by Justin Geis which shows you how to create an exploded view animation using Animator. Around about the 5:30 mark, Justin shows you how to reverse the explosion so that might give you some idea of how to achieve the effect you want.

The tutorial can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMjPkJiIVZo

Let us know how you get on.

NF

Thanks NF, but I don't think using the explosion will work in this instance since I have the need to place a total of 12 screws in 3 different locations. I suppose I could do some Easing on the fly-in group, let me do some research. I have attached my SU and animation file for a visual reference, just remove the .txt extension.

[mgfranz]

Ok, it took a while, but I got it figured out. I had to create a variety of transitions, once I placed the objects in the correct location I backed out the object to a location off-scene, then just reversed the movements.

1) Fixed the screws in place
2) Backed them off
3) Moved them off scene
4) Created transition to move them back
5) Created transition to move them again
6) And again.

Not real pretty, but it works. Still may play with some linear motions, but I got it solved. Not sure why the graphics are pixilated, .avi sucks, .mp4 is fine. I'll play with FPS.

Film 1.avi

[jgb]

Looked OK to me. You did what I was going to suggest, but didn't as I got sidetracked out (wife!) as I was going to reply.

[fredo6]

It's in my plan to address these types of movement, with a Move-to tool (also to be used to align objects in bulk).

Fredo

[snapkin]

Hey, thanks for this excellent plugin.

I got a problem with that ffmpeg I download it and it works.
but when I get in to do Extension i push the find the ffmpeg nothing happens.
maybe you know how to fix it?

[fredo6]

I got a problem with that ffmpeg I download it and it works.
but when I get in to do Extension i push the find the ffmpeg nothing happens.
maybe you know how to fix it?

This is a bug which I fixed in LibFredo6 8.4g, just released.

Fredo

[solo]

I need some help, I cannot seem to be able to get multiple objects to follow a path properly, anyone know how to achieve this?

rotation.JPG

[ntxdave]

I need some help, I cannot seem to be able to get multiple objects to follow a path properly, anyone know how to achieve this?

rotation.JPG

If they do not need to move indepently, how would it be to group them?

[fredo6]

I need some help, I cannot seem to be able to get multiple objects to follow a path properly, anyone know how to achieve this?

The Follow Path tool (like other tools) allows to select several objects (keep CTRL depressed).

Fredo

[cgalaon]

I've got the same problem in Sketchup 2018
I copied the ffmpeg.exe and executed it in the directory C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2018\SketchUp\Plugins and in the directory: C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2018\SketchUp\Plugins\Fredo6_!LibFredo6
WITH NO AVAIL!!!
Any help, please?!

This is the error from Ruby console:

Error: #<Errno::ENOENT: No such file or directory @ dir_s_mkdir - C:/Users/Chip/Desktop/TPOS/Animator Videos/Pressure gauge - 21-Sep-2018 09-57-10 - Gauge 3/4>
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6videomanager.rbe:921:in `mkdir'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6videomanager.rbe:921:in `movie_create_folder'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6videomanager.rbe:831:in `movie_top_generate'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_animator/animatortool.rbe:2204:in `movie_dialog_call_back'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_animator/animatordialogvideogeneration.rbe:381:in `call'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_animator/animatordialogvideogeneration.rbe:381:in `notify_result'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_animator/animatordialogvideogeneration.rbe:449:in `on_close'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_animator/animatordialogvideogeneration.rbe:412:in `block in dialog_create'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:583:in `call'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:583:in `j_onclose'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:293:in `block in create_dialog'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:322:in `call'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:322:in `close'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:322:in `close'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_animator/animatordialogvideogeneration.rbe:460:in `close_validate'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_animator/animatordialogvideogeneration.rbe:1251:in `param_dialog_callback'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:752:in `call'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:752:in `j_action'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:634:in `j_callback'
c:/users/chip/appdata/roaming/sketchup/sketchup 2018/sketchup/plugins/fredo6_!libfredo6/body_lib6webwdlg.rbe:622:in `block in j_dispatch'

[fredo6]

Is "Pressure gauge - 21-Sep-2018 09-57-10 - Gauge 3/4" the name of your file? If so, then 3/4 is probably creating an issue, as '/' is used as a folder separator.

Fredo

[cgalaon]

PROBLEM GENERATING VIDEO with ffmpg.exe INSKETCHUP 2013 (Works Animator for this versión?)

1- Animator Beta Works OK
2- Install ffmpeg.exe in LibFredo6 (disapear the red text to Find the ffmpeg.exe)
3- Make a simple animation that Works fine in preview
4- Try to generate a video with defaut parameters. Push the button "Test Image" and also work
5- Push the button "Generate Video" and NOTHING HAPPENDS. Sketchup continues inside the animator plugin. I can exit and star again the plugin,but nothing happends.

I instal the two versión of ffmpeg.exe, the last and the 3.2 (more stable).

Thanks in advance

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!

M8, I had the same problem until I figured it out. When you name your "Film" in Animator, DON'T USE symbols like the followings (the ones that Windows files creator wouldn't allow it either): \ / : * ? " <> and |. Change the name using other symbols (all the rest, the allowed ones) and TACHA!!
Regards to all readers and SU/Animator users. Chip

[CiscoNA]

I can not find the button of the Animator plugin in Sketchup 2018. Is it visible in my extension manager but I can not open the plugin. What do i need to do?

[fredo6]

I can not find the button of the Animator plugin in Sketchup 2018. Is it visible in my extension manager but I can not open the plugin. What do i need to do?

Did you install the companion library LibFredo6?

[Auressalmi]

Hi!

I did a quick animation and tried to make it mp4-video, but it fails every time?
Animation runs fine on Sketchup and video render does open and work, but when its done
MP4- button is red and says "error in the video file generation".
I have tried different setting and FFmpeg.

I have Windows 7, Animator 2.3c and sketchup 2017

Greetings from Finland - Juho

[fredo6]

Juho,

I would need that you post or PM the model to me to investigate.

Fredo

[Auressalmi]

Thanks for quick answer!

Here is the file, do you need something else?

*Edit* Tested on different model, same error message.

-Juho

[fredo6]

Strange. I can generate the movie in Natural mode (i.e. without rendering).

Are you trying with a rendering software ?

Film 1.mov

[Auressalmi]

I have followed instruction from the page 1. and i'm using all the same software's ect.

I don't fully understand what you mean with rendering software, but i'm using Animator only, nothing else.

I have tried different things here and there with no success.

-Juho

[fredo6]

I fixed the issue with the generation of video via recent versions of FFmpeg in LibFredo6 - v8.7f - 10 Jan 19.

This is compatible with older versions of FFmpeg too.

So if you have problem with the video generation (red button MP4), then make sure you updated LibFredo6.

[VeskoArch]

Hi Fredo !
First wonderful work on all the plugins and especially on this one!
I was bugging myself with some issues regarding the plugin but overall I've managed to understand the principle of it. However there is still something that bugs me and I'm not sure how to fix it:
I have made a sequence - then I've generated a video and everything is good. I've closed sketchup and reopened it but all the objects (groups) that had an APPARITION function disappeared and wont show up when the sequence starts. I've checked the "Outliner" and those object were not listed there as well. If I purge all the sequences on the animator everything comes back as it is - but I have to redo the whole thing again.
I've tried all the things i can think of but no luck.
Has anyone else experience such a thing.
Sincerely,
Vesko Mutafchiev

PS: Is there any option on the Kinematic constraint that connects several objects and move them one by one and a different span of time - for example plates connecting one after the other. I've done this with regular movement tool, I just want to see if I can save some time.

[fredo6]

I have made a sequence - then I've generated a video and everything is good. I've closed sketchup and reopened it but all the objects (groups) that had an APPARITION function disappeared and wont show up when the sequence starts.

I think the best would be that you post or PM the model so that I can investigate. If you can do it again, please open the console to check if there are errors displayed.

Is there any option on the Kinematic constraint that connects several objects and move them one by one and a different span of time - for example plates connecting one after the other. I've done this with regular movement tool, I just want to see if I can save some time.

This is a function which is on my to-do list (Construction / Deconstruction), but not for now.

[Macho3001]

Hi Fredo..

Could you kindly share with us your personal email address/ drop in a mail to us at ans.3dads@gmail.com regarding some assignment that we think you may be interested in. I apologize to you, having written this message on the forum but regretfully I could not locate any other way to contact you or get my message across to you.

Do please revert, many thanks.

Ar. Nitin Sharma
3DA
Email: ans.3dads@gmail.com

[fredo6]

having written this message on the forum but regretfully I could not locate any other way to contact you or get my message across to you.

You can send me a Private message on the forum (use PM button) and tell me what it is about.

This would avoid you showing your email address, which is not advised on a public forum (I suggess you edit your previous post and remove it).

Fredo

[ACWN]

Still no option for moving a camera along a path? Just checking to make sure I didnt miss something.

[fredo6]

Still no option for moving a camera along a path? Just checking to make sure I didnt miss something.

Not yet but planned....

[ACWN]

Dangit. A'righty, thank you!

[TonyAU]

Hi Fredo,
Thank you for your efforts with this plug-in, it adds a whole new level of useability to the sketchup platform.. I have used it to create 3 animations now and the results are pretty impressive. I have a question, does the plug-in allow for transfer of the animation parts to other components, or the copying of the component with the animations attached. I have looked thru the forum for the answer and nothing has popped out at me. I am doing animations that require repetitive actions to components and I'm finding myself doing the same animated time after time,ie, move up 150mm, move right 150mm, move down 75mm, rotate 90. if I could just copy the component with the animation attached I could just stagger in the time line and that would save me huge amount of time. Once again thanks for your efforts with this extension..

[fredo6]

I have a question, does the plug-in allow for transfer of the animation parts to other components, or the copying of the component with the animations attached. I have looked thru the forum for the answer and nothing has popped out at me. I am doing animations that require repetitive actions to components and I'm finding myself doing the same animated time after time,ie, move up 150mm, move right 150mm, move down 75mm, rotate 90. if I could just copy the component with the animation attached I could just stagger in the time line and that would save me huge amount of time.

In principle, you have the Clone Sequence button in the Sequence Editor for Movements

Animator - Clone Sequence.png

But this works for sequences individually.

Cloning a list of sequences for another object is something Animator should provide, but I have still to find a way to do this with the UI.