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298 Chapter 12: Animation
Spline Conversion group
Convert To/Convert Fro m—Converts keyframe
position tr acks to and f rom spline objects. T his
enables you to create a spline trajectory for an
object and then convert that spline to keyfr ames
for that object’s position track in order to do
various keyframe-specific f unc t ions (such as
applying constant velocity to the keys and
normalizing the time). Or, you can convert an
object’s position keyframes into a spline object.
Tip: Convert To and Convert From can be used to
move an object along a path without using a path
constraint.
Collapse Transform group
Generates keys based on the current
transformation of the selected object. You
can apply this for any type of transform controller
assigned to an object, but the main pur pose of this
function is to "collapse" a parametric transform
effect, such as one generated by a Path constraint,
into standard, editable keys.
Collapse—Collapses the tr ansform of the selected
object.
Position, Rotat ion, S cale—Specifies which
transforms you want to collapse.
Youmustchooseatleastonecheckboxtoactivate
the Collapse button.
P R S Pa ra meter s R ol lou t
Select an object > M o tion panel > Parameters > PRS
Parameters rollout
The PRS Parameters rollout provides tools for
creat ing and deleting keys. PRS stands for the three
basic transform controllers: Position, Rotation,
and Sca le.
Procedure
To create a PRS transform key:
1.
Select an object in the viewports.
2. Dragthetimeslidertotheframewhereyou
want to place a key.
3. On the Motion panel, choose Parameters > PRS
Parameters rollout.
4. Click one of the following buttons u nder Create
K ey PRS Parameters rollout:
• Click Position to create a Position key.
• Click R otation to create a R otation key.
• ClickScaletocreateaScalekey.
If a particular Position, Rotation, or Scale
controller doesn’t use keys, then that button
is not available under Create Key. For
example, you can’t create Position keys if
you’re using a Noise Position controller.
Interfa ce
Create Key/Delete Key—Creates or deletes a move,
rotate, or scale key at the cur rent frame. These
buttonsbecomeactiveorinactivedependingon
the existence of a key type at the current frame.
For example, if you’re on a frame containing
a Scale key, the Sc a le button is inactive in the
Create column b ecause a key already exists. At the
same time, the Position and Rotation buttons are
inactive in the Delete column because there are no
keys of that type to delete.