FCRVEDIT

Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment

The FcrvEdit->Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment command in the Motion module allows you to edit a displayed function curve by cutting segments, copying one segment to another location, or replacing one segment with another. You can also optionally scale the segment as you are performing these operations. You can refine the modified function curve by deleting points.

When you copy or cut a segment, it is placed into a function curve segment buffer, which can be saved with the Save->Fcurve Segment (Motion Module) command and retrieved with the Get->Fcurve Segment (Motion Module) command. You can also use the Info->Fcurve Buffer command to see information on the contents of the buffer.

For more information on using the function curve segment operations, see the Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Fcurve Segments section of the Animating User's Guide.

Tip:

You can also display either a segment of a function curve between two tagged points, or just one point on the function curve. To do this, use the FcrvEdit->Tag Key Points command to tag the desired key points. The segment between the first and last tagged points is displayed in the buffer window. If just one point is tagged, nothing is displayed in the buffer window, but information on that point appears in the Buffer Info area in the Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment dialogue box.

Procedure

Display the desired function curve(s) using the FcrvSelect menu cell and one of its commands.
The Fcurve window opens to display the fcurves. If more than one fcurve is displayed, select the one you want to edit.
Choose the FcrvEdit->Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment command.

The Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment dialogue box is displayed.

An empty buffer window in the upper-right corner of the dialogue box is where the selected fcurve is displayed.

Parameters

The top half of the Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment dialogue box contains the Buffer Window and the Buffer Info area, which displays information on the selected function curve segment. This information cannot be modified.

Buffer Info

No. Keys

Displays the total number of keys in the selected segment.

Length

Displays the total number of frames in the selected segment.

Max Value

Displays the maximum parameter value of the selected segment. This reflects the largest value displayed along the vertical axis of the Fcurve window.

Min Value

Displays the minimum parameter value of the selected segment. This reflects the lowest value displayed along the vertical axis of the Fcurve window.

Buffer Window

Displays the selected function curve segment.

Note:

You can see the total number of keys and frames in a segment held in the Fcurve Buffer at any time by choosing the Info->Fcurve Buffer command to display the Fcurve Buffer Information dialogue box.

The following options in the lower half of the Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment dialogue box can be modified.

Operations

Copy

Copies a selected segment (as specified in the Start and End text boxes) to the Fcurve Buffer. You can then use the Insert or Replace operations to copy the segment from the Fcurve Buffer, and place it in another location of the function curve.

Cut

Removes a selected segment (as specified in the Start and End text boxes) from the selected function curve and places it in the Fcurve Buffer so that it can be copied from the buffer and inserted into another location of this or another function curve using the Copy, Insert, or Replace operations.

Insert

Used in conjunction with the Copy and Cut operations or, if inserting a previously saved segment, used with the Get->Fcurve Segment (Motion Module) command. It copies the segment from the Fcurve Buffer and inserts it into the function curve.

Replace

Used in conjunction with the Copy and Cut operations or, if replacing with a previously saved segment, used with the Get->Fcurve Segment (Motion Module) command. It copies a segment from the Fcurve Buffer and replaces an existing segment on the function curve.

Tip:

If you perform any of the operations previously described and do not like the results, click Cancel. This returns the function curve to its original state and also exits the dialogue box.

The same Cut, Insert, and Replace operations can be performed repeatedly by selecting Process or pressing the Enter key.

Start

Sets the first frame, or starting point, of a segment to be selected. The default setting is 1.

End

Sets the last frame, or ending point, of a segment to be selected. The default setting is 20.

Scale

X Scale

Scale is used only with the Insert operation. It sets the proportionate length of a segment to be inserted into the function curve, as compared to the length of the original selected segment.

For example, if the selected segment contains 10 frames and X Scale is set to 2, the inserted segment is twice the length of the original segment to result in 20 frames. The default setting is 1.0.

The value entered in the X Scale text box is normally greater than 0, but a negative value can also be set. A negative value inverses the function curve segment and affects the speed of the animation. If a value between -1 and 1 is entered, the animation speeds up. If a value greater than 1 or less than -1 is entered, the animation slows down. For example, if frames 10 to 20 of a segment are given a scaling value of -2, the segment reverses and the animation is twice as slow as the original.

Y Scale

Y Scale controls how much vertical scaling is applied to the pasted function curve segment.

The default value for the Y Scale of a function curve segment is 1.0. A value greater than 1 exaggerates or enlarges the animation, and a value between 0.0 and 1.0 attenuates it.

You can enter negative values for the Y scaling to invert the animation. For example, a value of -10 inverts and enlarges the animation.

Y Pivot

Scaling is always done relative to the Y Pivot, which is set to 0 by default. When you scale a function curve, it may be useful to change the pivot point. By fixing a point on the y-scale using Y Pivot, the scaling of the function curve occurs around that point. For example, the part of the function curve above the pivot point is squashed (if the scale is less than 1) or stretched (if the scaling is greater than 1). The same effect occurs for the part of the function curve that lies beneath the Y Pivot point.

If you set the Y Pivot to 0, changes in Y Scale are in relation to the starting point of the function curve. If you set the Y Pivot to 50, and your function curve is from 0 to 100, then the Y Scale you set is applied from the centre of the function curve. In this case, reduce the height of the function curve.

Process

Processes the selected operations and updates the buffer window without exiting the dialogue box.

Setup

Opens the Paste Setup dialogue box where editing parameters are specified.

Insert Padding

When a segment is inserted into the function curve, one key point on each end of an inserted segment is automatically added to the function curve (before the start point and after the end point).

The Insert Padding option is useful when the Pts. removed Inside and Pts. removed Outside options (see Smoothing) are set to 0. The Insert Padding setting inserts a specified number of frames between the start and end points of the inserted segment and the key points that were automatically created. This padding helps to preserve animation continuity. Any key points within this padding zone are removed.

The default setting is 0.3 frames. The setting should always be greater than the Frame Tolerance setting in the Preferences->Animation dialogue box. The Frame Tolerance default setting is 0.15.

LEFT and RIGHT Windows

You can set separate parameters for points situated to the left or right of the segment to be pasted into the existing function curve. The parameters are described as follows:

Paste

Recorded values: The inserted segment keeps its originally recorded values, as displayed on the vertical axis of the Fcurve window. This is the default setting.

Relative values: The inserted segment does not keep its original values. It is integrated into the existing function curve while preserving the continuity of that curve.

Smoothing

This option is most useful when a Recorded Values paste operation is performed. The modified function curve can be "smoothed" by deleting selected key points on it.

Keys removed Inside specifies the number of points to remove within the inserted segment. The default setting is 0.

Keys removed Outside specifies the number of points to remove outside the inserted segment. The default setting is 1.

Cancel

Cancels the parameters set since the dialogue box was opened and returns to the Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment dialogue box.

Ok

Accepts the settings and returns to the Copy/Paste Fcurve Segment dialogue box.

Last updated 02-apr-1998