Using Time Nodes

The Time Node can be used to record the duration of an event’s completion in the Log Output, or display that duration in the 3D scene using a particle-effect text emitter.

Create a project with a character, an MD prop (optional) and a particle-effect text emitter.
In the Variable page, add a new Boolean variable.
1. Add: Adds a new timer variable. You can double click on the name of the timer to rename it.
2. Delete: Delete selected timers (multiple selection is allowed).
Open the MP Node Graph panel. Right-click on the viewport space and choose Print Node > Time.

A new Time node will be inserted on view.
Drag a flow line from the Start node’s output and connect it to the Time node’s input.
Select the node and adjust the settings in the Attributes page.
- Timer : Choose the custom Timer for recording.
- Record: Select the Start or Stop radio button to start or stop the timer.
- Text Particle (only enabled for the Stop mode): If you want to use a particle emitter to display the time duration of specific events, enable this checkbox, then select the emitter on stage using the drop-down list or the dropper tool.
Connect a new Go To node to the output of the Time node, which have the character to walk to the MD prop's position point.
Connect another Time node after the Go To node to stop the timer and record the duration to the Log Output list.

If you want to use a particle emitter to display the time duration of specific events, enable the Text Particle checkbox, then select the emitter on stage using the drop-down list or the dropper tool.
** Please note that 'Start' and 'Stop' nodes must appear in pairs to calculate the elapsed time of events between the two nodes.
Start the Go MD Mode to view the animation results.
You can switch to the Log page to view the Log Output obtained by the Node. The emitter also displays the string from this list.
1. Save Log: Save the log as a file (*.txt).
2. Clear Log: Clear the data in the Log Output list.

Back to Product Home