9

Biped Color-coded Keys and T rajectories 1005
example. In cases like this, a freeform period
is specified between footsteps in Track View
using the Footstep Mode dialog (page 2–1000).A
combination of footsteps and freeform is often
required when motion capture data is imported.
Afreeformperiodiscreatedusingcontrolsin
the Footstep Mode d ialog and display as a yellow
boxes between footsteps in Track View.
Right-clickthefootsteptracktodisplaythe
Footstep Mode dia log; here you specify a freeform
period, select multiple footstep edges, and set
footstep numbering display options.
B iped Color -coded K ey s a nd
Traje c tori es
Biped uses color coding for IK keys in three places:
Track View, Track Bar, and when trajectories are
displayed in the view ports. Also, depending on the
types of keys, trajectories themselves can b e color
coded. The color coding helps you visualize when
IK and F K are in use, and tr a nsitions b etween
them.
This topic describes color coding of non-COM
(page 3–920) tracks. For information about COM
key color coding, check here.
Note: Most of the information presented in this
topic describes new functionality in 3ds Max
9Extension1. Theonlylegacyfunctionality
discussed here concerns color coding of IK keys
in Track View.
Color-codedKeysinTrackViewandon
the Tra ck B ar
BipedIKkeysasdisplayedinTrackViewandon
the track bar use the following color scheme:
•orangeforplantedkeys
•yellowforslidingkeys
• blue for body-space IK keys with a non-zero
value for IK Blend
All other keys use the default color: gray.
Color-coded biped keys in Track View and on the track bar
V isualizing Pivot Trajectories and K eys
To v iew trajectories for Biped parts in the
viewports, go to the Motion panel and on the
Bipedrollout>ModesAndDisplaysub-rollout,or
on the Key Info rollout, turn on Trajectories.
To make Biped pivots easier to interpret and
manipulate, Pivot trajectories and their keys are
represented in the viewport during IK pe riods and
display in the color of the associated key type:
•orangeforplantedkeys
•yellowforslidingkeys
•blueforbody-spaceIKkeys
Tip: One way to create a body-space IK key is to
set a regular IK planted or sliding key, and then, at
that f r ame, on the Key Info follout > IK section,
choose Body. Or you can convert an FK key that’s
already set to Body by increasing its IK Blend value
above 0.0.
During FK periods the node trajectory and its keys
displayinpurple(thesamekeysaregrayonthe
track bar).
During FK/IK blend perio ds the trajectory of
the resulting blend is displayed and its color
is determined by the amount of the blend; for
example, a blend of 0.5 to a sliding key results in
a trajectory that is a 50:50 blend of yellow and
purple.