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Motion Flow Mode 1043
Motion Flow User Inter face
Selec t a biped. > Motion panel > Biped rollout > Motion
Flow Mode
The Transition Editor uses gho sts to represent the source
(yellow) and destination (red) clips. Use these stick-figure
ghosts to judge body position and set a likely start frame in
both clips for the transition.
In Motion Flow mode, you combine BIP files,
using either velocity-interpolated transitions or
optimized transitions that compute minimum foot
sliding, to create longer character animations.
First, clips are added and referenced to BIP files in
theMotionFlowGraph.Thesearethenselected
to create a script in the Motion Flow Script list.
The Transition Editor is used to adjust transitions
between BIP files. Scripts, transitions, and clip
references are saved in a Motion Flow Editor file
(MFE) for later editing.
Random Motion and Crowds
Random motions can be created for one or
more bipeds using the Create Random Motion
command. You can animate a crowd of bipeds for
example. For a c rowd, you must sh are one motion
flow scr ipt among many bipeds.
If you are driving a crowd using delegates and
behaviors, then rather than a completely random
motion, the software picks appropriate clips based
on the delegate’s speed and direction. If the
delegate slows to a stop, the software will find and
use a clip that slows to a stop, if one exists.
In all c rowd simulations you must load clips
and create transitions before synthesizing the
crowd motion. Often, many clips are used to
sy nthesize crowds. Automatic tr ansitions relieve
you of having to create transitions between clips
manually.
One additional rollout displays in Motion Flow
mode:
• Motion Flow (page 2–1045): Display the Motion
Flow Graph; load and save motion flo w files
(MFE). The Motion Flow rollout also contains
a Scripts section where you can create scripts,
edit transitions, create a unified motion, and
create random motions for the bipeds.
Note: In Motion Flow mode, some character
studio controls are disabled.
Work f low: Getting Started with Clips
and Tra nsitions in Motion Flow M ode
Create your own librar y of BIP files from imported,
andconverted,motioncapturedata,andfrom
your own character animation. With a biped
selected,turnonMotionFlowmode.SelectShow
Graph on the Motion Flow rollout to open the
Motion Flow Graph. On the Motion Flow Graph,
click Create Clip, and add clips in the Motion
Flow dialog. Associate the clips to BIP files by first
turning on Select Clips-Transitions on the Motion
Flow Graph toolbar and then r ight-clicking a clip
icon; a clip dialog appears, allowing you to browse
for a clip.
Click Define Script on the Motion Flow rollout,
then select a series of clips on the Motion Flow
Graph. By left-clicking on a clip it will appear in