Lesson 4: Using 3D and 2D Motions

The motions in CrazyTalk Animator are divided into two categories, 3D and 2D motions.

In this lesson, you will learn how to create a flying man by setting multiple angles and fixing poses into single 3D motions (unlike in the previous lesson). In addition to the 2D motion templates, you can create custom 2D motions and animate transformations via body puppeteering.

Goal:

To combine 3D motions with 2D ones. To simulate camera rotation and panning animations via character-rotation and prop-movement.

Used Features:

Template-applying (via Content Manager).
Accessory-applying.
Background-color-setting.
Motion-applying and looping.
Motion-flattening.
Angle-changing and Motion-layer-key-setting (via 3D Motion Key Editor).
2D-motion-creating (via Puppet Editor).
Transform-puppeteering (via Puppet Editor).
Prop-transforming.

Step 1: Prepare the Scene

Apply a embedded or custom character (in this case, Saul from the actor library).

Switch to Composer mode and drag and drop an embedded or custom prop onto its head (in this case, a custom head-propeller prop made by Flash).

Note:

The prop will become an attached accessory once you drag and drop it onto a body part.
After exporting a movie-clip symbol from Flash in SWF format, you are able to drag and drop the SWF file into CrazyTalk Animator to generate a new prop.

Leave the Composer Mode and go back to the Stage Mode by clicking the Back to Stage button.
Click the Project Settings button to open the panel.
Set the background to a solid color by clicking the Background Color color picker, pick a desired color and then click the OK button.

The background of the scene will change to the desired color.
Apply a couple of cloud props from the library to decorate the scene.

Step 2: Duplicating Applied Motion Clips

In the previous lesson, you set multiple angles to one motion clip. However, once you loop the motion clip, the angles are looped as well. If you want to use a looped motion with certain angle keys at different times, then you may follow the steps below:

Apply a motion from the Animation Template >> Motion >> 3D libraries, in this case, the Idle_Depressed from the 02_Idle library.

Note:

Please refer to the Lesson 1: Creating Project by Applying Templates for more information.

Open the Timeline and the 3D Motion track of the character.
Make sure the Loop button on the tool bar is pressed down.
Drag and drop the right edge of the clip to loop it. In this case, the motion is set to loop four times.

Play back to view the looping result.

Step 3: Setting Angle Keys

For 3D Motions, you can set the angle keys in order to turn the character to a desired direction with the same motion as described in the Lesson 3: Using 3D Motions.

Within the duration of the looped motion, you are free to turn the character to different angles, however the turning will set identical keys to every loop of the entire motion as shown in the table below:


Setting an angle key to the desired frame.	The key will be auto-duplicated to the relative frames in each looping section.

The result looks like the illustration below:

In order to generate certain angle keys within the entire duration of the looped motion instead of looping these keys in each section, you need to follow the steps below:

Make sure the character's 3D Motion related tracks (Motion, 3D Angle and 3D Motion Layer) are shown in the Timeline.
Delete any useless angle keys. Keep the 3D Angle track clean in the duration except the first one.
Right click on the motion clip on the Motion track and execute the Flatten Motion Clip command in the right-click menu.
You may find the looping sections, the angle keys and the motion layer keys are now flattened and merged, which converts the looped motion into a brand new non-looping clip.

You are free to add angle keys in different time frames without duplicating the keys.

Step 4: Adding Motion Layer Keys

In addition to the Angle Keys, you are also able to add 3D Motion Layer Keys to adjust the flattened 3D motion clip in different time frame.

Go to the start frame of the 3D motion.
Make sure the character is selected, click the 3D Motion Key Editor button on the Functional Tool Bar.
Select the body part of the character by click on the dummy image (bottom-right pane) or double-click on the dummy in the 3D viewer (upper pane).

Adjust the pose to make it look like flying and fix the visual flaws.


Adjust the dummy.	The influence will be applied to the character.

Use the Move tool to do the IK adjustments to the entire bone chain as shown below.
Use the Rotate tool to do the FK adjustments to fine-tune the selected bones as show below.

You are free to add motion layer keys at different time frames. The interpolations between two adjacent keys will be auto-generated.

Step 5: Applying 2D Motions

After 3D motions are applied and modified, you are able to append 2D motions to the character by using the 2D motion templates from the Content Manager or using the Body Puppeteering panel. Then you may adjust the 2D motions by using the 2D Motion Key Editor.

In this case, the applying method is skipped; the Body Puppeteering method is describe in the steps below:

Using Puppet Editor to Generate 2D Motion

Go to the frame when you want to apply 2D motions.
Select the character and click the Puppet Editor button on the Functional Tool Bar to open its panel.
Select Base Motion from the Body Animation Profile drop-down list.
Pick a category from the left pane and the preset from the right pane. In this example, Move >> S Fly (flying motion pattern to the 315 degree).
Press down the Preview button and the space bar to start previewing the motion.

Adjust the Exaggeration and Speed or any other sliders to determine the desired motion pattern. Press space bar again to stop previewing with the slider settings kept.

Note:

If you want to adjust the strength of the motions for different body parts, then click on the desired body part of the dummy to switch to the sliders belonging to it. Adjust the sliders accordingly in order to change the strengths such as swaying, looseness or height.

Press down the Record button and the space bar to start recording the motion into a new clip. Press space bar again to stop recording and a new 2D motion (in grey) will be added into the motion track.

Aligning Body Parts

If you encounter a hopping situation between two motion clips, you can align the body parts of the latter one to the previous one to prevent the issue.

Make sure the character is selected.
Open Timeline, open the 2D Motion track of the character (in fact, the 3D and 2D Motions sharing a same track).
Right click on the 2D Motion (in grey) and choose the Align >> Head command.
The entire 2D motion will offset based on the alignments to the body part in the last frame of the previous motion clip. This method can eliminate the hopping issue.
Play back to view the result.

Puppeteering the Transformation of Character

In order to create a floating feeling, the character's transformation data must be set. Instead of setting the transform keys one after another, you may use the Puppeteering Panel to quickly set transform keys.

Go to start frame of the project.
Open the Puppet Editor >> Body Puppet mode while the character is selected.
Press down the Move button at the top of the panel.
Using the methods described above to preview and record the transformation data of the character.
The transform data will be added into the Transform track of the character automatically.
Play back to view the collaborating result of the motions and transformation data.

Step 6: Transforming the Props

In order to generate the sensation of forward-moving for the character, you may transform props at different frames to create prop animations.

In the first frame, select one or multiple props.
Transform the props to shrink them.
Go to the frame when then character is about to change its direction from facing toward back to 225 degree.
Transform the props to enlarge them again to create a flying forward sensation. The interpolation will auto-generate.
Repeat the same steps to transform the props toward the back of the character throughout the entire project.
Play back to view the result.