PATH

Roll

 

The Path->Roll in the Motion module allows you to roll one curve along another. The curve can be unrolled, such as a carpet going down stairs, or rolled like a tire along the road. When used in conjunction with other effects such as Sweep and GuidedExtrude, you can rapidly produce sophisticated animations.

 

Procedure

  1. Create two curves: one to be used as the roller curve, and the other as the floor curve. One or both may be animated.

    Note:

    The Roll effect requires a careful setup of the floor and roller curves. The floor curve must be long enough to fit the entire unrolled roller curve, or the effect does not take place. Furthermore, the first point of the roller must be positioned very close floor, and the floor and roller curves should not cross each other.

  2. Position the curves as desired.
  3. Choose the Path->Roll command in the Motion module.

    The Roll dialogue box is displayed.

  4. Set the parameters as desired.
  5. Pick the "Roller" curve, then pick the "Floor" curve.

    The effect icon appears, indicating that the effect is active.

  6. Play back the scene to view the result.

 

Tip:

You can animate the z rotation of the effect icon to speed up or slow down the Roll effect on a frame-by-frame basis.

 

Parameters

 

Anchor Points (Unroll)

When this option is selected, the first point of the roller curve is anchored in place, then subsequent points are anchored as they contact the floor curve, effectively unrolling the roller curve.

Don't Anchor (Roll)

When this option is selected, the points of the roller curve are not anchored, causing it to roll freely along the floor curve like a wheel.

Number of Revolutions

Allows you to specify the number of times the roller curve revolves within the time frame set. The Don't Anchor option must be selected for this parameter to be effective.

Start Frame

Sets the frame number at which to start the Roll effect.

Stop Frame

Sets the frame number at which to end the Roll effect.

Frame Rate

For the motion timing to be correct, this option must be set to the same frame rate being used in SOFTIMAGE 3D, usually 30.0 or 24.0 frames per second.

Roller Animated

This option must be selected if the Roller curve has been animated.

Floor Animated

This option must be selected if the Floor curve has been animated.

 

Last updated 02-apr-1998