2009

Example: Modifying the Footsteps of an Xref Biped
An integrator externally references a biped into his master scene. He sees the
footstep animation but cannot edit it because Footstep Mode is unavailable.
The artist currently in the source scene goes into Footstep Mode and alters
the animation. This update now reflects in the master scene.
Externally referencing a biped automatically creates a new “XREF LAYER” in
the
Layers rollout on page 4403, whether or not the source biped contains any
animation. As a result, the original layer becomes a level one “Local Layer”
which you can use to add animation on top of it.
NOTE If the XRef biped contains multiple animation layers in the source scene,
3ds Max collapses them into one layer before creating the XRef.
NOTE Saving animation on page 4300 from your XRef biped breaks the XRef link.
Loading, Saving, and Displaying Biped Motion
Working with Biped Motion Files
character studio uses a variety of file formats to save, load, and edit motion.
■ BIP file (.bip)
The native character studio file format for saving biped motion. A BIP file
saves all information about biped motion: footsteps, keyframe settings
including limb rotation, the scale of the biped, the active gravity
(GravAccel) value, and prop animation. IK Blend values for the keys and
Object Space settings are also saved.
See
Loading and Saving BIP Animation on page 4300.
■ BVH file (.bvh)
The BioVision motion capture format. Typically, BVH files are obtained
from motion capture hardware that records the movements of a human
performer. Data saved in a BVH file includes both skeletal data, and
information about limb and joint rotations.
NOTE For the BVH file specification, see the BVH.rtf document on the program
disc.
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