Difference between revisions of "Animating Textures"
(→How is it done: Documented more restrictions.) |
(Added opacity section.) |
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== What are Animated Textures == | == What are Animated Textures == | ||
− | Animated textures are textures which have one or more of their attributes changing over time. An example of this is flowing water, where the UV coordinates of a texture are changed every frame, and the texture appears to "slide" across the surface. Currently only changing the UV mapping coordinates is supported | + | Animated textures are textures which have one or more of their attributes changing over time. An example of this is flowing water, where the UV coordinates of a texture are changed every frame, and the texture appears to "slide" across the surface. Currently only changing the UV mapping coordinates, opacity, and color is supported. |
== How is it done == | == How is it done == | ||
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All three curves (OfsX, OfsY, OfsZ) must be present, and they must have the same keyframes (automatically the case when you only use the [I] key to set keyframes and don't modify them afterwards). | All three curves (OfsX, OfsY, OfsZ) must be present, and they must have the same keyframes (automatically the case when you only use the [I] key to set keyframes and don't modify them afterwards). | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Opacity == | ||
+ | Using the ''Col'' ipo curve, corresponding to the ''Col'' slider on the ''Map To'' panel, the opacity of a texture can be animated. You can insert a ''Col'' keyframe by either pressing [I], selecting ''All Mapping'', and then deleting all the other ipo curves generated by that, or by selecting ''Col'' in the margin of the ipo window and then ctrl-clicking in the window. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If your object turns out black instead of transparent, push the ''Transp'' button in the ''Draw'' panel of the ''Object'' buttons to put it into a blend span. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote>'''Compatibility Note:''' There is a bug in PyPRP 1.5 and earlier that caused any texture with an opacity animation to appear completely transparent.</blockquote> | ||
== Changing Animation Settings == | == Changing Animation Settings == |
Revision as of 15:57, 31 May 2009
This will be a quick overview of the new animation feature, and a simple explanation of what can currently be done with it.
What are Animated Textures
Animated textures are textures which have one or more of their attributes changing over time. An example of this is flowing water, where the UV coordinates of a texture are changed every frame, and the texture appears to "slide" across the surface. Currently only changing the UV mapping coordinates, opacity, and color is supported.
How is it done
To create a texture animation, start with a material that has at least one layer.
Although not required, it is recommended that you have an IPO curve editor window open while creating the keyframes, so you can see when they are set. Make sure you set the IPO Type to Material. If you are not animating the bottom layer, you will need to set the channel number next to the dropdown to show the curves for the appropriate layer. (the bottom layer is layer 0)
Select the layer you want to animate, and move to the "map input" panel. With the frame counter set to 1, press [I] and select "Ofs" to create a keyframe for the offsets. NOTE: you must have your mouse in the material panels area in order for this to work; if your mouse cursor is in the IPO panel, pressing I will not create the key.
Then, change the frame counter to 30. This puts the next keyframe of your animation 30 at frame 30, or 1 second into the animation. The offset values "OfsX, OfsY, and OfsZ". These values will be added to the UV coordinates of the texture when it is rendered in plasma, so change these values, and then press [I] again to create another keyframe at the current frame. (30)
All texture animations loop repeatedly, assuming that the last keyframe is the end of the animation. It is suggested that you make sure that the last frame of the animation is roughly the same as the first frame. Also, currently the interpolation mode in plasma is always linear, even though the curve editor may show another interpolation style.
All three curves (OfsX, OfsY, OfsZ) must be present, and they must have the same keyframes (automatically the case when you only use the [I] key to set keyframes and don't modify them afterwards).
Opacity
Using the Col ipo curve, corresponding to the Col slider on the Map To panel, the opacity of a texture can be animated. You can insert a Col keyframe by either pressing [I], selecting All Mapping, and then deleting all the other ipo curves generated by that, or by selecting Col in the margin of the ipo window and then ctrl-clicking in the window.
If your object turns out black instead of transparent, push the Transp button in the Draw panel of the Object buttons to put it into a blend span.
Compatibility Note: There is a bug in PyPRP 1.5 and earlier that caused any texture with an opacity animation to appear completely transparent.
Changing Animation Settings
If you don't like how your texture animation came out, simply delete the IPO curve points (put your cursor on the IPO editor screen and press a until the dots are white, then press delete) and redo the above steps with a large frame number. Before testing your age again, however, remember to delete your age's .sav file.
.sav files are found in the Uru installation directory (usually Program Files\Ubisoft\Cyan Worlds\Myst Uru Complete Chronicles) under this path:
<Uru Directory\sav\<random numbers>\current\<age name><more random numbers>.sav