9

ClipState Dialog 1253
ClipState Dialog
Selec t a C row d helper. > Modify panel > Global Clip
Controllers rollout > New > Choose GlobalClip object.
> Select object in list. > Edit > Synthesis dialog > State
panel > New State > Edit Properties > Clip State dialog
Track View > Globa l Tracks > Block Control > GlobalClip
Properties > Synthesis dialog > State panel > New State >
Edit Properties > ClipState dialog
In character studio,incrowdanimationwith
non-bipedal motion synthesis, a state is a
part icular property or set of properties of a
delegate’s animation; for exam ple, the period
during which it is pitched upwards and is
decelerating. After determining the delegate’s
state, the motion synthesis engine chooses a
motion clip for animating the object, or character,
linked to the delegate; for example, a bird. When
preparing a simulation that uses motion synthesis,
you use the ClipState dialog to define states and
associate states with motion clips.
You can define a state w ith any combination of
these properties: speed, acceleration, pitch, pitch
velocity, and heading velocity (plus a scr ipt). For
each act ive propert y, you can specify a range or a
unique va lue that triggers the clip for its respective
state.
Whenyouusearange,besuretosettheMin
setting lower than the Max setting. For example,
when using a negative range such as -180 to -10,
enter the number with the larger absolute value
(-180) as the Min setting.
You can see the delegates’ actual r a nges and aver age
values for all propert ies af ter sy nthesizing the clips.
The dialog panels are:
Speed Panel (page 2–1254)
Acceleration Panel (page 2–1256)
Pitch Panel (page 2–1257)
Pitch Velocity Panel (page 2–1259)
Heading Velocity Panel (page 2 –1261)
Script Panel (page 2–1262)
Note: Thedialogcontainsmoretabsthancanfit
across its top. To see additional tabs, click the left
or right arrow button near the upper-right corner
of the dialog.
You can enable and disable each state property
individually. For example, you can tell the motion
sy nthesis to consider only speed and pitch when
analyzing delegate motion. For each of a state’s
active properties, you can desig nate a range of
valuesbetweenwhichastatecanbeactivated.
Alternatively, you c an specif y a single, unique
motionvaluetobeusedwhenastateisactive,such
as a speed of 50 units per frame. In addition, you
specify the In and Out values of the p ar ameter as it
approaches and then passes through that unique
value. These values are analogous to the tangents
of a curve. For each, you can pick Anything,
Decreasing, Increasing, or Constant. For example,
an animation of an object that has just landed
after flying might have a Unique speed value of 0.0
(the object isn’t moving laterally), a decreas ing
In value (the object decelerated before landing)
and a constant Out value (the object remains
stationary). Taking off, on the other hand, would
have an increasing Out value.
If you don’t specify state parameters, the state is a
default state. For example, if you want the motion
sy nthesis engine to choose random motion clips
for an object, and you don’t care about what the
speed or pitch is, you create default states, and the
sy nthesis engine will randomly pick which clip is
active.
Tip: When setting up st ates, it’s useful to know the
extents of state property values for delegate motion
in the s cene, such as max imum and minimum
speed. To determine these, set up the clips and
states you want to use, set the ranges to any values,