Applying iMD to Actors (New for v. 8.4)

In addition to apply motions to the deployed actors, you can also apply iMDs. Under the Motion Director mode, they can perform the motions embedded in the iMD assets. By utilizing the tag matching technique, the matched motions can be applied to the appropriate characters in the actor pools. When you playback or start the Motion Director mode, the deployed actors will automatically perform the applied motions.

  1. Create a new project with a prop in the scene.
  2. Open the Crowd Generator panel.
  3. Set the range, Generation Type and Options setting as shown in the illustration.

    Placement markers will appear on the surface.
  4. Add one actor into the pool.
  5. Click the Deploy Actors button. Identical actors will be deployed with the same standing pose.
  6. Choose the iMD radio button and add iMD files into the pool.
    Closed"Using iMD from Walkway Settings, MD Action Setting, Add, Delete and Clear All" iMDs in the Pool


    From the left to the right buttons are Using iMD from Walkway Settings, MD Action Settings, Add iMD / Motion, Delete selected item and Clear List:

    • Using iMD from Walkway Settings:
    • MD Action Settings: Opens a panel for global iMD pool settings.

      Refer to the Action Settings on Path section for more information about these settings.
    • Add iMD / Motion: Load iMD or Motion file(s).
    • Delete selected item: Select one or more items in the list and click this button to delete them.
    • Clear List: Remove all items from the list.
  7. According to the tag rules, apply tags to the motions.
  8. Click the Deploy Actors button again. It doesn't seem to have any differences for the actors initial pose.

    Optionally activate the Deploy Actors with Variant Materials checkbox and re-deploy the actors to vary their appearances.
  9. By adding more actors into the pool, the members in the crowd look even more random.
  10. Close the Crowd Generator panel.
  11. Click the Start Motion Director button on the MD toolbar. The Auto in Zone button is already activated.

    These actors will start to animate in accordance with the iMD settings.