Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Simple walk animation (freestyle)


In this tutorial I will show you how to make a biped walk.

1.1 First we need to create a biped , which can be found under the "Create" tab , than go to "Systems" and choose "Biped".

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Now simply click and drag in your "Perspective viewport".

1.2 Turn the "auto key button" on,

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1.3 To make the biped walk we need to set 4 keyframes of the walk cycle.

Frame: 0

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-Select all parts of the biped and right click the keyframe slider.
-A little window will appear just confirm it with "ok".
-With this we will set the first keyframe at frame 0.
-This is just a starting point and not part of the walk cycle.

Frame: 5

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-Set the slider to frame 5.
-Try to copy the image above.
-DON'T move the biped backward or forward.
-Just move him up or down so he fits to the ground.

Frame: 10

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-Set the slider to frame 10.
-Try to copy the image above.

Frame: 15

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-Set the slider to frame 15.
-Try to copy the image above.

Frame: 20

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-Set the slider to frame 20.
-Try to copy the image above.

1.4 The basic walk cycle is done so we need to add some secondary motion.

Frame: 5

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-Set the slider to frame 5.
-Try to copy the image above.
-Rotate the spine and the arms.

Frame: 15

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-Set the slider to frame 15.
-Try to copy the image above.
-Do the same just in the opposite direction.

1.5 So far we made just 20 frames of the animation , now we just copy the frames.


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-Select all parts of the biped.
-In the keyframe bar (under the slider) click and drag to select a keyframe.
-Select the keyframes from 5 to 20.


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-Hold "shift" on your keyboard.
-You need to click (on a keyframe) and drag the keyframes to frame 25.

Do this until you wish to end your walk.

1.6 The last step is to make the biped walk forward.

-Select the right foot of your biped (green color)

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-Under the "Motion" tab go to "Parameters".


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-Go to "Key Info"
-We will use the "Set Planted Key" (Number 1) and the "Set Sliding key" (Number 2).
-The third one is "Set Free Key" which is a normal key that we used in the steps above.

-Go to frame 0.
-With the right foot selected (green color) we will set a "Planted Key" (Number 1).
-Go to frame 5 and set another "Planted key" (Number 1).


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-You will notice that the foot does not move back or forward anymore.


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-Select the pivot of the biped and move him forward to match the previous stance.

-Go back to frame 0.
-Select the left foot (blue color).
-Set a "Sliding Key" (Number 2).
-Go to frame 5 and set another "Sliding Key".
-At frame 10 set a "Planted Key" (Number 1)


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-The red dot is the place where the foot will land.


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-Select the pivot of the biped (Bip01) and move him forward.
-Remember we set the vertical movement of the biped (up or down) at step 1.3 .
-The biped keeps going back because of the keys set at step 1.3 .
-Select all the keys (just like in 1.5) beside the keys set so far and delete them.
-Now the biped won't go back anymore, but we have to set the vertical movement again.

-At frame 10 select the right foot and set a "Sliding Key".
-Go to frame 15.
-Select the left foot and set a "Planted key".
-Select the pivot of the biped (Bip01) and move him forward.
-Don't forget to set the vertical movement as well.
-Select the right foot and set a "Sliding Key".

-Go to frame 20.
-With the right foot still selected set a "Planted Key".
-Select the pivot of the biped (Bip01) and move him forward.
-Don't forget to set the vertical movement as well.
-Select the left foot and set a "Sliding key".

-Go to frame 25.
-Select the right foot and set a "Planted key".
-Select the pivot of the biped (Bip01) and move him forward.
-Don't forget to set the vertical movement as well.
-Select the left foot and set a "Sliding key".

I think you get picture of this , set 2 sliding keys than 2 planted keys.
But the order is important.
First comes the planted key.
Second is the movement of the biped.
Third is the sliding key.
And finished...