This script contains step-by-step instructions for the projects covered in the Ray Dream Video Tutorial on 3D Animation. These instructions are minimal, as they are intended to be used in conjunction with the video. You will probably not be able to complete the projects satisfactorily by using these instructions alone.
To order the Ray Dream Video Tutorial, contact Ray Dream directly at 1-800-846-0111.
Before you begin, make sure you have the following files loaded on your hard drive, in a place you can easily find:
1. Cactus (Mac)/Cactus.rd4 (Win)
2. Start/Start.rd4
3. Walk/Walk.rd4
4. Wipe/Wipe.avi
5. New Mex/New Mex.avi (optional--rendering of completed project)
All of these files can be found inside the folder called Video on your Ray Dream CD.
This tutorial is designed to complement the tutorial in the Ray Dream Animator User Guide. If you haven't done that tutorial, we suggest you complete it before going any further so that you'll get the maximum benefit from your video.
ANIMATE CACTUS
1. Open Cactus file.
2. Set Current Time to 2 seconds (00:02:00) by dragging the Current Time Bar or editing one of the Time Edit Controllers.
3. Drag Cactus forward 3 grid spaces. (Toward the front of the Working Box, which corresponds to the lower right corner of the Perspective window in Reference view.)
4. Set Current Time to 00:00:02.
5. Use the 2D Rotation tool on the bottom plane to rotate Cactus about 30 degrees away from the camera on its Z-axis. (Hold down the Shift key to constrain to 30-degree increments.)
6. Set Current Time to 00:01:00.
7. Rotate Cactus about 60 degrees the opposite way (back toward the camera, so that its orientation is mirrored).
8. Set Current Time to 00:01:04.
9. Rotate Cactus back to its position in Step 4.
10. Set Current Time to 00:02:00.
11. Rotate Cactus back to original orientation (facing forward).
12. Rewind and play animation, using the buttons on the Time Controller toolbar.
1. Working with the Selection tool in the Time Line window, select all but the first key event marker on the Cactus track. (You can either drag a marquee or shift-click to make a multiple selection.)
2. Drag the key event markers so that the last marker falls at the 10-second mark.
3. Hold down the Option key (Mac)/Alt key (Windows) and drag the first key event marker on the Cactus track to copy it to the 8-second mark.
4. Drag the end of the render range to 10 seconds (00:10:00).
5. Drag the beginning of the render range to 8 seconds (00:08:00).
6. Rewind and play animation.
1. Select all four transitions on the Cactus track between 00:08:00 and 00:10:00 and double-click one of them.
2. In the Transition Options dialog, choose the Bezier tweener and click OK to accept the default settings.
3. Rewind and play animation.
1. Drag the end of the render range to 13 seconds.
2. Make sure Current Time is set to 10 seconds, and Cactus is selected.
3. Choose Object Properties from the Edit menu.
4. Choose the Deformer tab.
5. Select Bend and Twist from the Deformer pulldown menu.
6. Set Twist Start to 25%.
7. Click OK.
8. Set Current Time to 00:10:02.
9. Make sure Cactus is selected and choose Object Properties from Edit menu.
10. Choose Deformer Tab.
11. Set Twist to 44 degrees, Bend to 39, and click OK.
12. Set Current Time to 00:13:00.
13. Repeat Steps 9-11, but set Twist to -44 degrees and change Bend Axis to 180 degrees (leave Bend at 39).
14. Double-click the transition between 00:10:02 and 00:13:00 on the Cactus Track.
15. In the Transition Options dialog, choose Oscillate and click OK to accept the default settings.
16. Rewind and play the animation.
17. Save file as Animated Cactus.
ALTERNATIVE CACTUS ANIMATION--FREE FORM MODELER
1. Select Cactus.
2. Choose Object Properties... from the Edit menu.
3. Select the Deformers Tab and choose None from the pulldown menu. Click OK.
4. Select the last two key event markers on the Cactus track and press the Delete key to delete them.
1. Click the blue arrow (Mac)/yellow plus sign (Windows) next to "Cactus" to expand the group.
2. Double-click the Cactus Body object to edit it in the Free Form modeler.
3. Use the Add Key Event tool to add a key event to the Cactus Body time line track at 00:10:00 (if you don't see the Cactus Body time line, make sure the Masters tab is selected in the Time Line window).
4. Use the pulldown menu in the Time Controller toolbar to change the frame rate to 12 fps.
5. Set Current Time to 00:10:03.
6. Use the Selection tool on the bottom sweep path plane to drag the center sweep path point about 1 grid space to the side (toward the camera).
7. Use the Selection tool to drag the last sweep path point in the opposite direction so that the cactus top bends smoothly.
8. Set Current Time to 00:10:09.
9. Use the Selection tool to drag the center sweep path point to the other side (away from the camera).
10. Use the Selection tool to drag the last sweep path point to the other side (toward the camera) so that the cactus top bends smoothly.
11. Select the last two key event markers on the Cactus Body track and Option (Mac)/Alt (Windows)-Drag them to the right to duplicate them. Space them so that there is a 1/2-second interval between key events.
12. Repeat Step 10 twice more, until the Cactus Body is animated past the 13-second mark.
13. Select all transitions on the Cactus Body track from the 10-second mark on.
14. Double-click one of the selected transitions to open the Tweener Options dialog.
15. Choose the Bezier tweener from the pulldown menu, and click OK to accept the default settings.
16. Click Done to exit the modeler.
1. Select Working Camera in the Time Line window.
2. Choose Object Properties from the Edit menu.
3. Select the Transformation tab, and uncheck "Animate." Click OK.
4. Activate the Perspective window.
5. Choose Preset Position:Front from the View menu.
6. Switch to Wireframe display quality (click the Wireframe button).
7. Set Current Time to 00:10:00. Note the relative position/orientation of each cactus "arm" to the body.
8. Use the Add Key Event tool to add a key event to each of the two Cactus Arm tracks at 00:10:00.
9. Set Current Time to 00:10:03.
10. Use the Selection and 2D Rotation tools to position and orient the arms correctly with respect to the bent cactus body.
11. Set Current Time to 00:10:09.
12. Use the Selection and 2D Rotation tools to position and orient the arms correctly with respect to the bent cactus body.
13. Select the last two key event markers on both Cactus Arm tracks, and Option/Alt-Drag them to the right to duplicate them. Space them so that there is a 1/2-second interval between key events.
14. Duplicate twice more, until the cactus is animated past the 13-second mark.
15. Click the blue arrow (Mac)/yellow minus sign (Windows) to collapse the Cactus group.
16. Set Current Time to 00:10:00.
17. Choose Preset Position from the View menu and select Reference from the submenu.
18. Switch to Preview display quality (click the appropriate button, or choose Preview from the View menu).
17. Play.
18. Save as Animated Cactus 2.
19. Choose which cactus animation you want to use in your project: either leave Animated Cactus 2 open, or close it and re-open Animated Cactus.
PASTE CACTUS INTO SCENE
1. Open Start scene (leave Animated Cactus or Animated Cactus 2 open as well).
2. Select Working Camera in the Time Line window.
3. Choose Object Properties... from the Edit menu.
4. Choose the Transformation tab in the Object Properties dialog.
5. Uncheck the "Animate" checkbox to turn animation of the camera off.
6. Select Ground in the Perspective or Time Line window.
7. Choose Object Invisible from the View menu.
8. Deselect Ground by clicking on any empty space in the Perspective or Hierarchy window.
1. Choose Perspective of Animated Cactus from the Windows menu.
2. Select Cactus.
3. Choose Copy from the Edit menu.
4. Click on the close box in the title bar of the Perspective window to close Animated Cactus scene.
5. Make sure the Start scene is in the foreground, and choose Paste from the Edit menu.
6. Make sure that the Current Time is set to 00:00:00, and drag Cactus into position between the words "NEW" and "MEXIC" in the logo. You may need to turn on the back and side walls of the Perspective Box, or switch camera views, to align it properly.
7. Step through Cactus animation by moving Current Time Bar between 00:08:00 and 00:10:00 (note incorrect cactus movement).
8. Rewind.
9. Select Cactus and delete.
10. Paste Cactus into scene again.
11. Make sure Cactus is selected, and choose Group from the Arrange menu.
12. Select the new group in the Time Line window and press Enter to name it--call it Animated Cactus.
13. Drag Animated Cactus into position between the two words.
14. Click the blue arrow/yellow plus sign next to the name to expand the group.
15. Step through Cactus animation by moving Current Time Bar.
ANIMATE WHEEL
1. Set Current Time to 6 seconds.
2. Drag Wheel to the end of the text object (use Shift key to constrain).
3. Use Time Edit Controller on Time Controller Toolbar to advance to 7 seconds.
4. Drag Wheel back so that it is flush with the letters in the text object.
5. Click First Frame button to "rewind."
6. Click Play button. (Show lower display qualities while playing.)
1. Make sure wheel is selected and choose Object Properties from the Edit menu.
2. Choose the Behaviors tab.
3. Click Add button to add a behavior--choose Spin.
4. Enter the following values in the Spin controls: Y axis, 0.625 cycles per second, from 0.00 seconds to 6.00 seconds.
5. Play animation--leave at 7 seconds when finished.
1. Switch to Front view.
2. Set Current Time to 2 ticks before 6 seconds (00:05:04).
3. Drag Wheel up a bit to position it at the top of its last bounce.
4. Click the green arrow/green plus sign next to "Wheel" in the Time Line window to expand xpand the Wheel property hierarchy.
5. Under Wheel, expand the Transformation property hierarchy.
6. Under Wheel and Transformation, expand the Position property hierarchy.
7. Double-click the transition between time zero and 00:05:04 on the Z track.
8. In the Transition Options dialog, choose: Oscillate, 6 oscillations, Bounce wave, Up Phase 25% (leave Damping at 100%).
9. Rewind and play animation.
ANIMATE CAMERA
1. Rewind.
2. Drag end of render range to 00:13:00.
2. Choose Camera:Rendering Camera from the View menu (Zoom out to 1:2).
3. Choose Production Frame from the View menu.
4. Set Current Time to 00:00:04.
5. Option-Drag the first key event marker on the Camera track of the time line from 00:00:00 to 00:00:04.
1. Set Current Time to 00:06:00.
2. Use the Track tool to move the camera to the end of the text object.
3. Set Current Time to 00:09:03.
4. Use the Pan tool to rotate the camera back toward the cactus. Center the cactus in the Production Frame.
5. Rewind and Play.
1. Click the green arrow/green plus sign to expand Rendering Camera's property hierarchy.
2. Click the green arrow/green plus sign to expand the Transformation property category.
1. Click the green arrow/green minus sign to collapse the Transformation property category.
2. Select the key event markers at 00:06:00 and 00:09:03 and press the Delete key to remove them.
3. Set Current Time to 00:06:00.
4. Use Add Key Event tool to add a key event to the Transformation track at 00:06:00.
5. Choose Numerical Properties... from the Windows menu.
6. Select Rendering Camera, and note its Z coordinate in the Numerical Palette.
7. Use the Track tool to move the camera to the end of the text object.
8. Adjust its Z coordinate (if necessary).
9. Set Current Time to 00:09:03.
10. Use the Add Key Event tool to add a key event to the Transformation track at 00:09:03.
11. Use the Pan tool to rotate the camera back toward the cactus. Center the cactus in the Production Frame.
1. Click the green arrow/green plus sign next to "Kind:Conical" to expand the property category.
2. Use the Add Key Event tool to add a key event to the Zoom track at about the 8-second mark.
3. Choose Camera Properties from the Windows menu.
4. Increase Zoom to 79.
5. Set Current Time to 00:11:00.
6. Use the Add Key Event tool to add a key event to the Transformation track at 00:11:00.
7. Select the cactus.
8. Use the Dolly tool to rotate the camera around the cactus. Stop when the camera is viewing the logo essentially straight-on.
9. Select Rendering Camera.
10. Activate the Perspective Window and choose Align:On Gravity.
11. Use the Add Key Event tool to add a key event to the Kind:Conical track at 00:11:00.
12. Set Current Time to 00:13:00.
13. Use the Add Key Event tool to add a key event to the Transformation track at 00:13:00.
14. Decrease Zoom to 24.
15. Use the Track Tool as necessary to center the logo in the Production Frame.
16. Hold down the Command Key and use the Track tool to move the camera back so that the entire logo fits within the Production Frame.
17. Select Rendering Camera.
18. Activate the Perspective Window and choose Align:On Gravity.
19. Select all transitions but the first on the Transformation track.
20. Double-click one of the selected transitions.
21. In the Transition Options dialog, choose Bezier and accept the default settings.
22. Rewind and Play.
ANIMATE SHADER ON LOGO
1. Rewind.
2. Switch to Preview display quality.
3. Double-click the wheel object with the Paint Shape Selection tool.
4. Drag the wood shader from the Shader Editor into the Shaders Browser for storage.
5. Click the text object with the Paint Shape Selection tool.
6. Drag the striped stucco shader from the Shader Editor into the Shaders Browser for storage.
7. Click the text object again to edit its shader.
8. Choose Global Mix from the Components menu in the Shader Editor.
9. Drag the striped stucco shader into the left branch of the Global Mix shader.
10. Drag the wood shader into the right branch of the Global Mix shader.
11. Select the middle branch of the Global Mix shader and choose Value from the Components menu.
12. Experiment with different values to see the blend from one shader to the other.
13. Select the middle branch of the Global Mix shader and choose Movie... from the Components menu.
14. Double-click on the Movie component's red sphere preview to access the movie controls.
15. Click and hold on the disk icon to access the pulldown menu, and choose Open...
16. Locate the Wipe.avi movie and open it.
17. Click Apply.
1. Drag the Current Time Bar between 00:01:04 and 00:01:05. Find the point in time where the back edge of the Wheel aligns with the far left side of the text object.
2. Working in the Shader Editor, click the More... button in the Movie component.
3. In the Movie Time Selection dialog, drag the movie frame indicator to the far left of the slider to select frame 1 of 300, then click OK to close the dialog.
4. Click Apply in the Shader Editor..
5. Set Current Time to 00:06:00.
6. Click the More... button in the Movie component.
7. In the Movie Time Selection dialog, drag the movie frame indicator to the far right of the slider to select frame 300 of 300, then click OK to close the dialog.
8. Click Apply in the Shader Editor.
RENDERING YOUR ANIMATION
1. Choose Settings... from the Render menu to open the Render Settings dialog.
2. Examine the settings and adjust them if you like. The settings saved with the file produce a quarter-resolution animation. Be sure to set the frame rate you want--15fps is probably sufficient. Increasing the resolution or frame rate will result in longer rendering times; decreasing them will result in shorter rendering times.
3. Click OK to accept the render settings.
4. Choose Use Current Settings from the Render menu to render your animation.
MAKE THE MANNEQUIN WALK
1. Open the Walk file.
2. Set Current Time to 00:00:02.
3. Pose mannequin in full stride (with left leg forward).
4. Set Current Time to 00:00:04.
5. Pose mannequin in between strides (with right leg lifted). Use pose at 00:00:00 as a guide.
6. Set Current Time to 00:01:00.
7. Pose mannequin in full stride (with right leg forward). Use pose at 00:00:02 as a guide.
8. Select all of the mannequin key events at 00:00:00.
9. Option/Alt-Drag to copy the key events to 00:01:02.
