2009

Using Set Key Mode
The Set Key animation system is designed for the professional character
animator who wants be able to try out poses and then commit those poses to
keyframes intentionally. It can also be used by any animator to set keys on
specific tracks of objects. This way of working allows more control than the
Auto Key method, because it gives you the chance to try out ideas and discard
them quickly without having to undo work. It lets you transform objects and
selectively key certain tracks on certain objects through the use of Key Filters
and Keyable tracks in Track View.
NOTE Although the following information uses the example of animating a
character, it also applies to animating a complex mechanical assembly.
Straight-Ahead and Pose-to-Pose
Traditional animation is created one of two ways, either straight-ahead
animation or pose-to-pose animation. Straight-ahead animation is drawn
starting from the beginning and then additional frames are drawn sequentially
thereafter, moving straight ahead in time. Pose-to-pose animation is created
by drawing the important frames first, (extremes and breakdowns), and then
the intervening frames are filled in later.
Once a character has been correctly drawn for a specific frame, pose-to-pose
animation requires that all the keyable tracks needs to be keyframed. This
creates a pose of the character that will not be affected if animation for the
character is edited at other points in time. If all the animatable tracks are keyed
in the extremes, the in-betweening work will not destroy any of those poses.
Set Key and Pose-to-Pose Animation
The number of objects and tracks that require keying for a character, even a
simple character, is not something that can be easily handled manually. Set
Key makes this process easier by listing all the tracks that are parts of the
character that have to be keyed when you want to fix a pose and create a
snapshot in time. Keyable tracks let you determine which tracks can be keyed,
then Key filters let you work on them selectively, placing keys on only the
tracks you want.
Differences Between Set Key and Auto Key Modes
Set Key mode differs from Auto Key in a number of ways.
3086 | Chapter 15 Animation