Lockdown

The Effects->Lockdown command in the Motion module allows you to lock points to their original locations regardless of any additional effects applied to the model. This applies to both custom effects and to standard SOFTIMAGE 3D effects such as waves or lattices. At each frame in an animation, the tagged points are returned to their original locations. Dropoff and damping parameters allow the effect to be applied smoothly to neighbouring points.

These are some effects that can be easily produced with Lockdown:

• A flag created by applying a wave to a grid, then held to a flag pole by applying Lockdown to the points of the grid next to the pole.
• A part of a character undergoing deformation. For example, a nose can be held to the rest of the face by applying Lockdown to the points of the nose nearest the face.
• A vibrating drum top that is held to the frame by applying Lockdown to the outer ring of points of the top. Similarly, a vibrating guitar string can be held to the guitar by applying Lockdown to the end points of the string.

Procedure

1. Create a model and tag the desired points.
2. Choose the Effects->Lockdown command in the Motion module. The Lockdown dialogue box is displayed.
3. Set the parameters as desired.
4. Pick the model to which you want to apply the effect.

The effect icon is displayed indicating that the effect is active.

Notes

• The location and shape of the icon do not affect the result.
• To lock points that are moved by SOFTIMAGE 3D effects, such as lattices, you must set at least one keyframe.
• As with all Motion effects, the icon can be animated, and the parameters set can be further edited or animated by selecting the icon and choosing the Effects->Edit Parameters command in the Motion module.

Parameters

Falloff Start and End

Allows you to define a falloff area surrounding the tagged points. Points that are not tagged, but lie within Falloff Start and End of area are partially locked in place. This creates a smooth transition between the locked and unlocked points.

Percentage Damping

Allows you to define the extent to which tagged points are locked: a 100% value locks points in position; a 50% value means that half the motion applied to the whole model affects the points.

Model Has Shape Animation

This option is selected by default. If the model does not have a shape animation, deselect this option to increase the speed of the calculation.

Next, Previous, Delete, Key, and Frame

Next advances to the next keyframe, Previous goes back to the previous keyframe, Delete removes a keyframe, and Key sets a keyframe at the frame you specify in the Frame text box. These controls are available only after you have set the initial parameters in the dialogue box and clicked Ok. To return to the dialogue box and edit keyframes for the effect, select the effect icon and choose the Effects->Edit Parameters command in the Motion module.

Last updated 02-apr-1998