Optional module - Maxon Computer
Optional module - Maxon Computer
Optional module - Maxon Computer
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52 CINEMA 4D R11 Quickstart –Animation<br />
9. Quick Tutorial – Animation<br />
With but a few exceptions CINEMA 4D lets you animate every attribute of an object. This means you can alter<br />
any attribute in the Attribute Manager over time, whether it’s an object’s Y-coordinates, the color of a light or<br />
the strength of an explosion object. By animating different attributes you can easily add complex animation<br />
effects and visually attractive scenes.<br />
Let’s look at a “quick & easy“ example just to demonstrate the basic principles of animation.<br />
Begin by opening a new (empty) scene. Create a cube (Objects / Primitive / Cube).<br />
You will see a turquoise slider at the bottom of the editor window next to which the frame (time) is shown.<br />
This is known as the time slider. By moving this slider you can jump to a different point (time) in the animation,<br />
similar to fast-forwarding or rewinding a film. You can also use the turquoise arrows to the right of the slider<br />
to play the film at a predetermined speed.<br />
Further to the right you will see the “record“ button (the red button furthest to the left with<br />
the key icon). You can use this button to record certain object attributes. Use the buttons to the<br />
right of the record button to set these attributes. With these buttons you can “key“ (record)<br />
the position, size, rotation, attribute and / or point-level-animation of an object at any given time in the<br />
animation.<br />
Make sure the time slider is to the left, on 0. Deactivate all symbols to the right of the red buttons, except the<br />
first (position), and click on the record button.<br />
We have now told the cube that it should stay at its position of 0 / 0 / 0 starting at time / frame 0. In other<br />
words, we have generated a key that contains the information on the position of the cube at time / frame 0. We<br />
will tell you later what exactly a keyframe is. Where can you find this ominous key? It’s located in CINEMA 4D’s<br />
“timeline“. The timeline is where you can change the position of the keys on the timeline, change the values<br />
they contain, delete them, set new keys and much more.<br />
Switch to CINEMA 4D’s animation layout (Window / Layout / Animation).<br />
Take a look at the timeline at the bottom of your screen. You will see the cube along with a “track“ for its<br />
position. This track contains three “sequences“ (one for every recorded coordinate) with a light blue box at<br />
time / frame 0 – a key.