9

Controlling Time 285
Creating Position Lock K ey s and R otation
Lock Key s
Creating a lock key creates a key with L inear
interpolation. If you create the lock key while
an existing key is selected, it changes that key’s
interpolation from Smooth to Linear. (Different
types of interpolation are described in Bezier
Controllers (page 2–310).)
You can create a lock key for position or for
rotation.
Lock keys are useful when you want an object to
be stationary, but smooth interpolation is causing
it to "wobble" on its stationary spot.
To create a lock key:
1.
From the Customize menu, choose Customize
User Interface.
2. On the Customize User In terface dialog, click
the Quads tab, and then, from the drop-down
list at the upper right of the dialog, choose
Animation.
3. Clicktheupperleftquadrantofthefourgray
squares that define the quad menus.
The quad tur ns yellow.
4. In the Action list to the left, find Create Position
Lock Key. Drag it to the window on the right
belowanymenuitem.ChooseSaveandclick
OK to apply this and close the dialog.
5. (Optional.) Select a key.
6. Alt +right-clicktheobjectyou’reanimating.
Note: The Auto Key button need not b e on.
7. From the quad menu that appears, cho ose
Create Position Lock Key .
You can also create k eyboard shortcuts for
these two commands. Create Position L o ck
Key and Create Rotation Lock Key are main
user interface shortcuts. See Keyboard Shortcuts
(page 3–871).
Controlling Time
Youcreateanimationbychangingyoursceneover
time. You can exercise great control over time, as
follows:
• How time is measured and displayed.
• Thelengthoftheactivetimesegment(thepart
of the animation in which you’re currently
working).
• How much time is cov ered by each rendered
frame of your animation.
Other issues in the topics w h ich follow describe
how to move through time and how to view
animation in the viewports.
Choosing the Time Display For mat
When you sta rt 3ds Max, the default tim e display is
in f rames, but you can use alternative time-display
formats.Forexample,youmightwanttoseetime
in seconds and minutes.
You can specify different time-display formats
using the Time Configuration dialog (page 3–725)
> Time Display group settings. When you change
the time display format, you not only change the
way that time is shown in a ll parts of the sof tware,
but you also change the method with which you
access time.