Help with animation using 3 objects.

wildbillnash

I'm trying to animate a scene of two jets chasing a flying saucer from my book.  I made the saucer in another program and imported the obj file into Daz 4.10.  The saucer stands on end when imported.  I correct the angle and add two jets to the scene.  I've positioned the three objects and for over a week now have been trying to animate the chase.  I have a headache now.

I just discovered the option to point an object at another.  So, I pointed the two jets at the saucer.  Then I parented the jets to the saucer and now they will follow the saucer wherever I send it, upside down????  I can't change the angle while parented.  My headache is getting worse.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  Also, my head will appreciate it as well.

wildbillnash

Anyone?

I also need to know how to make an object turn 90 or more degrees "without" making a wide curve to make the turn.  For instance, I had the saucer fly a straight line to a point.  I created a keystroke for that point and another 2 to 5 frames at the same point.  Then I moved the saucer a different direction.  When I run the animation the saucer flies in a curve to the first/second keystroke and then fly to the new direction.  

I've tried to find help in the animation files in the forum but have yet found a live link.  Several, if not all, are dead.  Someone needs to update those so-called help files.

(I think I've come up with a problem no one can help with.  I'm in day 2 and no one has a suggestion.)

Petege

You can try this for the first part:

1. Create a null object A (position it in the saucer) and parent it to the saucer.

2. Create a new null object B (position it in the jet), parent it to the null object A and change the Point At to the saucer.

3. Parent the jet to the null object B.

To move the jet: move the null object B and you can rotate the jet now.

Info: Create a null: Menu -> Create -> New Null

3141592654

Okay, perhaps I can help some.

First, are you using Animate or do you have Animate2 and/or Keymate and/or Graphmate?  The basic Animate will produce headaches. The others have a learning curve, but can make wonderful results.

Second, at the turn, how did you make your keystroke (was it automatic from making a change or did you physically push the key icon left of the TRSV icon in the attached picture)? The key icon is much more powerful as it can save all the dicrection and orientation of an object rather than just the simple change that is automatically adde dto the timeline. And what is the interpolation set to ... TCB, linear, or constant (farthest button to right on attached image)? It automatically smooths and averages motion ... setting it to linear should help a lot.

Third, if you have messed with this timeline a lot, it might be better to start fresh. A new scene, load your objects, and start animating again. Remnants from past attempts can be horrific to find and fix.

wildbillnash

Thank you both for the info.  Night before last I had a dream that inspired me to try another, different way.  I made two different sets of jets and saucers.  I didn't get the scene I had wanted but close enough.

I did start from scratch several times.  One of my biggest problems was to get the saucer to turn on a dime.  It and the jets just would not do it.  They kept flying in wide arcs preparing for the turns.  Plus, getting the jets to face the correct direction while changing course was a tremendous challenge.  They ended up flipping and sometimes flying backwards.

I wasn't using either AniMate.  I was only working with the timeline.  I only have the basic animation that came with AniMate 2 and I think it would look funny seeing the saucer walk across the screen.  I need to learn to create my own animation to add to AniMate 2.

I don't know anything about keyMate.  I just either use the timelines automatic option or I would press the 'add keystroke' button.

I was going to add the video here so you can see the final product but it won't attach.  Oh well, thanks again.