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Animation > Shape animation > Example: animating a drop of water
Example: animating a drop of water
In this example, you animate the shape of a water drop falling from a tap.
Animate the drop falling from a tap:
- Choose Modeling > Preset Surfaces > Sphere.
- Turn off Play and go to time 0.
- In the Front viewport, translate the sphere 4 units in Y.
- Turn on the Record button (
).
Since the Translate tool was active when you turned on Record, an animation sequence is created for the position parameter. In the Sequencer, notice the key at time 0.
- Go to time 3 and choose Animation > Add Key or press Ctrl+K.
A second key, with the same position value, is added at time 3.
- Go to time 4.5, then, in the Front viewport, translate the sphere to -8 units in Y, so that it is off screen.
Since Record is turned on, moving the sphere automatically adds a key to the position animation sequence.
Create an animation sequence for the shape of the sphere:
- Select the sphere, switch to Point mode (press 4) and then select all the points on the sphere.
- Return to time 0, then press Ctrl+K.
A geometry animation sequence and one key appear in the Sequencer.
- Since the drop should return to a spherical shape after it is released from the tap, create a key for the spherical shape at time 3.2. Go to time to 3.2 and press Ctrl+K.
Stretch the shape of the sphere so that it looks heavy as it leaves the tap:
- Go to time 3.0 and select the points on the bottom half of the sphere.
- Translate them down about two units.
- Translate any other points of the sphere until you have a drop that is about to break away from the tap.
- Turn off Record to avoid saving keys by mistake.
- Go to time 0 and turn on Play to preview the animation.
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