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1176 Chapter 14: character studio
directory to add simultaneously to the motion
flow graph. Use Click+
Shif t +click (click,
and then
Shif t +click) to choose several
contiguous files, and
Ct rl +click to choose
non-contiguous files.
5. Choose the BIP files you want the s of tware to
use for motion synthesis, and then click the OK
button.
The files are added to the graph as clips. Each
clip is automatically named after the file from
which it’s derived.
Note: For best results, especially with
simulationsinwhichbipedsaretoturnat
different ang les, use as many different turning
clips as possible. A minimal setup would
include separate left-turn and right-turn walks
at angles of 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees.
The next step is to add transitions among the
clips so character studio knows which actions
can proceed to and from other actions. You
can do this manually for greater control, but
for initial testing, you can save time by letting
thesoftwareaddandoptimizetransitions
automatically.
6. Click the Synthesize Motion Flow Graph
button. Thisusesthefirst30percentand
the last 30 percent of each motion to create
transitions.
The graph now shows arrows to and from each
clip, as well as from each clip to itself. If you
like, delete transitions that obviously don’t
belong, such as the ones from the stop and start
clips to themselves.
Alternatively, you can use Create
Transition to set up a custom graph.
7. Optimize the transitions. See Transition
Optimization Dialog (page 2–1058).
When you solve the simulation, Crowd
automatically generates a motion flow script
for the biped, based on this graph. When you
have a graph with multiple clips, as in this case,
it chooses the starting clip for the script from
one or more clips you designate as random
star t clips.
If you want to check the integr ity of transitions
beforecontinuing,dosonow.SeeCustomizing
Transitions (page 2–1034).
8. Click the Select Random Start Clips
button, and then click a clip.
This tells the software to start the script with
this clip, and uses the default probability of 100
percentthattheclipwillbechosen.
Ifyouwantthevariousbipedstostartwith
different clips, select multiple random start
clips by pressing and holding the
Ct rl key as
you click. The default Random Start Probability
settingof100forallclipsmeansthatthe
software will choose randomly among them for
astartingclipforeachbiped’sscript.
To change the li kelihood of starting with
specific clips, right-click a clip and m odify its
Random Start Probability setting. For example,
say you want to start e ach biped’s script with
any of three clips: clips A, B, and C. You want
clip A to be chosen twice as often as clip B or C.
In that case, using the Random Start Clips tool,
you’d first click clip A, and then
Ct rl +click
clips B and C. Then you’d right-click each in
turn, assigning a Random Start Probability of
60 to clip A, and 30 to both clips B and C.
Note: The Probability values are arbitrary; what
counts is the ir ratios. For example, values of
80/40/40 or 20/10/10 would work the same.
Note: You can a lso set and change random
starting clips and start probabilities in the
Motion Flow graph after loading the MFE file