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Adding a control parameter key resets the morph positions

Hello,

I am making a blink animation using a [0-1] float control parameter and a Morph (Controller).

I have two keys:

At 0, the eye is open.

At 1, the eye is closed.

I notice that the transition, around time 0.5, needs to be adjusted, so I want to add a new key at 0.5 and adjust the vertices.

However, adding a key resets all the vertices position to their 0 "Eye open" position for the new key. For example in my case:

At 0, the eye is open

At 0.5, the eye is now open too (exactly like at 0)

At 1 the eye is closed

How can I add a key (here at 0.5) without loosing the interpolated positions? (eye halfly closed)

As a workaround I wanted to copy my vertices positions at 0.5 before adding the key, then pasting the positions to the new key, but this doesn't work. I cannot copy vertices positions if it is in between two keys.

5 answers0 replies

Comments (5)

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RainyRizzle

Feb 11

Hi!

When using modifiers by control parameters, it is convenient to use the Copy&Paste function to create interpolated values.

Using the Morph (Controller) modifier, “Eyes Open” and “Eyes Closed” are expressed on two keys, respectively.

Now let's create an additional middle key.

(1) Press the Ctrl key to select both meshes that are the target of this Morph modifier.

(2) Move the control parameter to 0.5 and create a key.

(3) The vertices will be positioned in their default, non-interpolated state as you said.

To apply the intermediate value between "0 (Eyes Open)" and "1 (Eyes Closed)" to "0.5", you must use the Copy&Paste function.

(1) Change the value of the control parameter to “0”.

(2) Check whether the target meshes are selected.

(3) You can find Copy&Paste items in the right UI.

(4) Select the first slot.

(5) Press the Copy button. Once the value is saved to the selected slot, you will see the button's value change from "○" to "●".

Copy the value of "1" in the same way.

(1) Change the value of the control parameter to “1”.

(2) Check whether the same target meshes are selected.

(3) This step, select the second slot.

(4) Press the Copy button.

Next, it's time to interpolate the copied value and paste it into "0.5".

(1) Change the value of the control parameter to “0.5”. If the key has not been created, please create one.

(2) Target meshes must be selected. It is possible to paste into two or more meshes simultaneously.

(3) Click the first slot.

(4) Hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd key on Mac) and click the second slot. Both slots are now selected.

(5) Change the paste method to “Average”.

(1) In this state, press the Paste button.

(2) A dialog will appear to select which properties to paste. In this example, "Vertices" should be copied, so the corresponding button should be enabled. With the required properties selected, click the Apply button.

Now you can see that "0" and "1" have been interpolated and applied to "0.5".

You can use this function to express “Eyes blinking” more naturally by editing at a key value of “0.5”.

This function is covered in detail in the following manual.

https://rainyrizzle.github.io/en/AdvancedManual/AD_CopyAndPasteWithSlots.html

If the issue is not resolved or you have more questions, please leave a comment!

Also, if you have any additional suggestions for this feature, please let us know.

Thank you!

RainyRizzle

Feb 11

Replying to

Thank you for leaving a comment.

Early on in development, we thought it would be more appropriate for the new keys to have default values rather than interpolated values.

This is because in cases where the values assigned to control parameters are “discontinuous” (e.g. RED, GREEN, BLUE colors), default values are more convenient to work with and provide a more consistent experience than interpolated values.

However, as you commented, it seems better to apply the interpolated value as the initial value in the process of gradually changing from state A to state B depending on the value of the control parameter.

For the same reason as above, in animations with “continuous value changes”, the interpolated value is applied as the initial keyframe value.

In summary, when using control parameters, we do not know whether the state changes a user is trying to express are continuous or discontinuous, so we decided to assign a "default" value as the initial value in the interest of a consistent experience.

In particular, for control parameters of the "Vector" type, the interpolation method in some cases must be "Sum" rather than "Average", so we were unable to determine a specific interpolation method.

However, this decision is not absolute and may change or improve depending on users' overall experience.

Maybe more new options related to interpolation will be added.

In fact, the “Copy&Paste using slots” feature was developed based on feedback from other users.

We will use your experience to help us improve our tool in the future.

The “Help Button” is something we thought a lot about.

However, because there are so many functions displayed on the screen, it is difficult to insert a help button in all UI, so the idea is still on hold.

Instead, we are considering alternatives such as adding a dialog that shows “manuals for the functions currently displayed on the screen.”

In a similar vein, we need to give more consideration to the fact that the UI is not intuitive.

We also continue to worry about the lack of accessibility to manuals.

Your good feedback will help us improve our tool.

Thank you!

Xogloglo

Feb 11

Replying to

Regarding the first part of your comment, I probably expressed myself a bit wrongly. While creating a key with interpolated values would make more sense in my case, I understand that is doesn't apply everywhere.

What I wanted to suggested, is the option to select and copy the positions of vertices in between two modifier keys. For example:

"EyesClosed" has a key at 0. I can press "start editing" then select the vertices.

But if I move to 0.25, which has no key, I cannot press "start editing" which means that I cannot select the vertices, which means that I cannot copy their positions.

Since there is no key at 0.25, I understand that the vertices are not editable. However, it still would be useful to be able to select them to copy their positions when needed. This way we could go to a key-less time (here 0.25), copy the interpolated vertices, then add a key, then paste the vertices positions.

RainyRizzle

Feb 11

Replying to

Thanks for your comment.

We understand the inconvenience you are experiencing.

It certainly seems necessary to either allow copying where the key does not exist or to generate the key as it is currently interpolated.

We will consider improving the tool to resolve this inconvenience.

Thank you!