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278 Chapter 12: Animation
Different animation formats have differing frame rates.
3ds Max is a time-based animation program. It
measures time, and stores your animation values,
with an internal precision of 1/4800 of a second.
You can configure the program to display time
inaformatbestsuitedforyourwork,including
traditional f rames format. See Time Configuration
(page 3–725).
Many of the examples in the following sections
describe time using the frames method for the
sake of tradition and familiarity. Keep in mind
that you are really animating using a very precise
time-based method, and fr ames aren’t created
until you instruct the software to render your
animation.
Ident if yi ng A nima tion Tools
You can locate the basic animation tools in the
following areas of the interface:
Tra ck View—Provides detailed animation editing
capabilities in several floating or dockable
windows. See Track View (page 2–501) .
Tra ck Bar—Provides quick access to k eyframes
and interpolation controls. Can be expanded
for f unction curve editing. See Track Bar (page
3–703).
Motion Panel—Use this p anel to adjust t ransform
controllersthataffectallposition,rotation,and
scale animation. See Working with Controllers
(page 2–289).
Hierarchy Panel—Use this panel to adjust all
parameters governing the linkage of two or
more objects. These include inverse kinematics
parameters and pivot point adjustments. See
Hierarchy Panel (page 3–773).
Time Controls—Use these controls to move through
time in the viewport displays. You can move
to any point in t ime, and play animations in
the viewports. The t ime controls, do cumented
in Animation and Time Controls (page 3–716),
include:
• Time slider (page 3–701)
• Auto Key button (page 3–717)
• Set Key buttons (page 3–718)
• Animation playback buttons (page 3–723)
• Current frame field (page 3–724)
• Key Mode toggle (page 3–724)
• Time Configuration button (page 3–725)
To ge t s t ar t e d w i t h a n i m a t i o n , s e e Using Auto Key
Mode (page 2–278).
Usi ng A uto K ey M ode
Start creating an animation by turning on the
Auto Key button, setting a current time, and
then changing something in your scene. You can
change the position, rotation, or scale of an object,
or change almost any setting or par ameter.
When you make a change, a key storing the new
value for the changed parameter is created at the
current time. If that key was the first animation
key created for the parameter, a second animation