{"id":422,"date":"2015-10-12T19:57:02","date_gmt":"2015-10-12T19:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/avastar.online\/?page_id=422"},"modified":"2015-10-12T19:57:02","modified_gmt":"2015-10-12T19:57:02","slug":"my-first-animation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/avalab.org\/avastar\/279\/avastar-2\/reference\/my-first-animation\/","title":{"rendered":"My first Animation"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/image> My first Animation<\/h2>\n
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This document is about how to create your first Animation using Avastar. For the begin we will create a three frame animation. This is just to get you started. As your experience grows you will learn much faster ways to pose and animate your character.
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I assume you have already installed Avastar. And i assume you have some experience with Blender.
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Get me to the Newbie page<\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nFor the technician:<\/span> <\/strong>Avastar supports .bvh and .anim format. Both formats are fully supported by Secondlife and compatible target worlds.
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Preparations<\/h3>\n

How to add a new Avastar Character - Read more...<\/h3>
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Adding a new Avastar<\/h3>\n

You can add a new Avastar Character only when Blender is in Object mode. You navigate to the Add -> Avastar menu and select from one of the rig types:<\/p>\n

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After a short time (typically 2-4 secs) a new Avastar character is created in the 3D View and at the center of the 3D View .<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Now we switch to Blender’s default Animation screen<\/em>. You do this from the Top menu Bar.
\nNote:<\/span> <\/strong>Of course you can switch to whichever screen you prefer instead. But note that you will want access to the Timeline<\/em>, the 3D View<\/em>, the Dope Sheet<\/em> and the Properties Editor<\/em>.<\/div>\n
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Details about the Animation environment<\/h3>
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Here is an overview of Blender’s default animation screen:<\/div>\n
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In the Dope Sheet switch the Mode from Dope Sheet<\/span> to <\/em>Action Editor<\/em><\/span> with the pop up menu in the header.<\/p>\n

Hint: <\/strong><\/span>If the Mode Pop up menu does not display, then move the mouse over the menu bar of the Dope Sheet<\/span> <\/em>window, then press middle mouse button and while keeping the MMB pressed, drag to the left side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the Action Editor mode<\/em> you can create new Actions. You find the corresponding pop-up menu in the Dope sheet menu bar:<\/p>\n

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\nPress the white plus sign to get a new action and name it “FirstAnimation”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Remind:<\/strong> <\/span>If you do not find the Actions menu on your screen, then MMB -> drag to the left (as described above)
\nHint:<\/strong><\/span> you can edit the action name right inside the pop-up menu.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Adjust the timeline<\/h3>\n
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On the Timeline<\/em> click on the first frame of your animation, for this animation set it to zero. You can do that either by dragging the green progress indicator until the position indicator displays “0”, or by immediately typing “0” into the position indicator as marked on the image below.<\/div>\n
Hint:<\/strong> <\/span>Use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom the timeline in and out and the middle mouse button (or hold down Alt<\/em>) to pan.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Create the Start frame<\/h3>\n

I assume that you are still in Object mode now. In the 3D View<\/em> make sure that you selected the armature by right-click on one of the rings surrounding the avatar. The rings should now appear in bright orange.<\/p>\n

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Then switch to Pose Mode<\/span><\/em>. Now all Skeleton handles appear in a green color. You can select any of these handles and move them and rotate them as you like.<\/div>\n
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However while playing with the Pose you will note that we have placed a few constraints to the various parts of the skeleton. We did this mainly to keep you from ripping the character into pieces by dragging the bones to unrealistic positions.<\/p>\n

Note on Rotation<\/h4>\n
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The easiest way to rotate the bones is to use the rotation manipulator controls. For your first steps you may want to select the curve segment in the 3D Manipulator widget so Blender will show the rotation manipulators when you select a bone:<\/p>\n

You may want to use the Rotation mode “Normal”. I found this the most convenient mode when working with the mouse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As you get more experienced with Blender you will use keyboard shortcuts more and more. Maybe you will even skip the 3D Manipulator after a while when you realize how efficient the usage of shortcuts actually is.<\/p>\n

More Animation details<\/h4>\n

More about Rig Display Properties<\/h3>
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You have full control over which parts of the Rig get displayed at a given time. You find the Rig Display control panel<\/span><\/em> in the Object Data<\/span><\/em> section of the Properties panel. Below you find a comprehensive documentation.<\/div>\n
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More about the Rig Display<\/h3>
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The Rig Display panel gives you full control over which parts of the Rig can be seen at a given time. By default only the Control bones are visible. But sometimes it is desirable to hide or unhide parts of the Rig.<\/p>\n

Furthermore the control bones (green) use custom shapes by default. That is, they are formed as rings which are placed around the Avastar body. The benefit of the custom shapes is that they can be selected easier. But sometimes it is desired to switch from Custom shapes back to Blender’s default shapes (Sticks or Octahedrons).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Panel Overview<\/h3>\n
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The Rig panel basically contains a collection of properties which also are available at other regions in Blender. But having them all in one place is a time saver. The panel is provided It has 4 major sections:<\/p>\n