8

Work ing with Freeform Animation 743
either format without concern for compatibility
with other artists.
Using the Convert tool on the Motion panel
>
Biped rollout (p age 2–791) , you can convert
between footstep and f reeform an imation.
There are no special considerations when
converting from footsteps to freeform; this
procedure works for all footstep sequences.
However , to convert successfully from freeform
to footstep anim ation, you must observe certain
rules in order for footsteps to be generated.
Conver t ing f r om Freef or m to Foots teps
When converting from freeform to footsteps,
footsteps are generated for a foot only during
periods between two planted keys. In other words,
the conversion process looks for times when a
foot has two consecutive, identical keys with an IK
Blend setting of 1 and Object space selected. In this
case, a footstep icon is placed at the foot’s location,
w ith the duration of the footstep set by the time
between the two identical keys. This is the only
condition under which foosteps are generated.
If converting freeform animation to footsteps
does not create the expected result, your freeform
animation might need adjustment prior to
conv ersion. See
Using IK Key frame Parameters
(page 2–758)
for information on setting freeform
planted keys.
If your freeform motion hasn’t been prepared
with planted keys for conv erting to footsteps,
youcanconvertittofootstepsbyloadingitasa
motioncapturefileandspecifyingfootstepsas
the extraction method. This technique uses a
different method to determine footstep location
and duration, and s o can sometimes successfully
convert to footsteps where the Convert command
cannot. S ee
Importing Motion-Capture Data
(page 2–912)
.
Procedure
To convert between footsteps and freefor m
animation:
1.
On the Motion panel > Biped rollout,
click Convert.
Depending on which is the current animation
method, either the
Convert to Freeform dialog
(page 2–852)
or the Convert to Footsteps dialog
(page 2–852)
appears.
2. Change settings in t he dialog as necessar y, and
click OK.
If you’re converting to freeform animation,
the footstep patterns are removed from the
viewport, gravity and dynamics are removed,
and footstep mode is disabled. You are now
working with a purely freeform animation.
If you’ re converting to footsteps, and the
operation is successful, footsteps appear in the
view por t,
biped dynamics (p age 3–1010) is
turned on, and Footstep mode is enabled.
Crea t in g Fr eef or m
Animation
Wor k ing with Freeform Animation
Freeform animation of a b iped swimming