Curve editor - Revision history

DahliaLynn: /* Curve Editor an EASY step-by-step Intro */

2012-10-15T20:57:04Z

‎Curve Editor an EASY step-by-step Intro

DahliaLynn at 20:56, 22 September 2012

2012-09-22T20:56:35Z

Ladyofpayne: /* Curve Types */

2012-05-03T16:52:56Z

‎Curve Types

BryanDerksen: nav template

2010-01-27T17:07:55Z

nav template

BryanDerksen: category

2010-01-14T17:42:45Z

BryanDerksen: imported from extranet

2009-06-27T17:23:32Z

imported from extranet

New page

When crafting a [[cutscene]] many object properties need to be continuously and smoothly varied over the course of the scene, rather than simply being discrete events or on/off characteristics. The curve editor allows the values of these properties to be changed over time with as much fine control as needed.

To make the curve editor visible, click the curve editor button in the toolbar (button #9 in the toolbar legend below) and select the object or specific keyed tracks containing the curves you'd like to edit.

[[Image:Cutscene toolbar.png]]

== Keys ==

Keys are points added to the position, orientation, and other similar value-based tracks that various objects have.

{{inspector start}}
{{inspector section|General}}
{{inspector row|Tangent | The tangent for this key. The tangent affects how the bezier control points behave. Can be broken, continuous, smooth, or auto. }}
{{inspector row|Time | The point in time the key is located at. }}
{{inspector row|Transition Out| The type of transition that follows from this key to the next key after it. Can be Bexier, Linear, or Step. }}
{{inspector row|Value| The value of the key.}}
{{inspector end}}

== Curve types and tangents ==

When you select a key it appears in the object inspector. You can set the style of the curve here by changing the "transition out" property of the key point, which determines the shape of the curve from the selected point to the point following it. If you select multiple points (either by control-clicking or by dragging a selection box over them) you can modify the type of curve for all of them at once.

The default curve type depends on the curve mode, selected in the toolbar (button #18). When curve mode is enabled the default is a bezier curve, when it's not enabled the default is a stepped curve.

A "step" transition causes the curve to suddenly jump from the old value to the new value at the next key.

[[Image:Curve editor stepped curve.png]]

In the timeline track this is represented with square keys:

[[Image:Cutscene timeline stepped to bezier key.png]]

A "linear" transition causes the curve to change from the old value to the new value at a constant rate:

[[Image:Curve editor linear curve.png]]

In the timeline track this is represented with triangular keys:

[[Image:Cutscene timeline linear to bezier key.png]]

By default when you use bezier curves the behavior of the tangents at each key is set to "auto".

[[Image:Curve editor auto tangent.png]]

In the timeline this is represented with rounded keys:

[[Image:Cutscene timeline bezier to bezier key.png]]

Setting a key's tangent to any other setting will cause the Bezier control points to appear. The details of how you can modify these control points depends on the tangent type.

When you set a bezier key to a non-auto tangent the indicator on the timeline switches to an "inverted" curve, like so:

[[Image:Cutscene timeline bezier to non-auto bezier key.png]]

A "broken" tangent allows you to move the two control points around freely:

[[Image:Curve editor broken tangent.png]]

A "continuous" tangent forces the two control points to be colinear, but they can have different weights:

[[Image:Curve editor continuous tangent.png]]

A "smooth" tangent forces the control points to be colinear and to have the same weight:

[[Image:Curve editor smooth tangent.png]]

== Adding keys ==

The key nodes of the curve are represented by circles. They can be dragged back and forth to change their position in the timeline. They can also be dragged up and down which changes their value.

Another way to change a node’s time or value is to select it and adjust the Time or Value field in the Object Inspector.

New nodes can be added to any curve. Move the timeline marker to the point where the node is to be added, right-click anywhere in the curve editor and select the "Add Key" command appropriate for this curve (eg, "Add FOV Key" for a FOV curve).

== Value Axis ==

The vertical axis on the left of the curve editor indicates the values of the nodes. The scale will depend on the specific unit that the curve values represent. For example, the value scale for an orientation curve is in degrees, and a position curve is in meters.

== Legend ==

The legend will show what types each curve is. There is also a checkbox — if the checkbox is cleared the curve will be hidden from view. This is very useful for orientation curves where two or three curves may be overlapping. Hiding one or two or them can allow better access to the curve that needs to be adjusted.

== Curve Types ==

=== Orientation Curves ===

Orientation curves are actually three different curves — one curve each for Yaw, Pitch, and Roll. When an orientation key is created three nodes will appear for it in the curve editor.

=== Position Curves ===

As with orientation curves, a position curve has three component curves - one each for the object's X, Y and Z coordinates.

The speed with which an object moves from point to point can be seen in the slope of the curve between those points. Fast-moving objects have steep slopes, slow-moving ones have shallow slopes.

=== Other curves ===

Some types of objects can have other special curves defined for them.

The following special curves are defined for the following objects:

*Light objects
** Color
*** Red
*** Green
*** Blue
** Radius
** Intensity

*Sound object events:
**SoundParam1
**SoundParam2
**SoundParam3
**SoundParam4
**SoundParam5
(These are custom-defined parameters that can be created for any given sound in [[FMOD]], and if they're defined their names will replace these. If they're not defined, changing the "SoundParam" values has no effect.)

*Animation actions
** Animation weight

*Shake (Orientation) actions
**YawStrength
**PitchStrength
**RollStrength

*Shake (Position) actions
**XStrength
**YStrength
**ZStrength

*Bloom effects
**Brightness
**Contrast
**Glow intensity
**Horizontal blur width
**Vertical blur width

*Depth of Field effects
**Far fade
**Focal radius
**Focus distance
**Max blur
**Near fade
**Weight blur

*HSV matrix effects
**Brightness
**Contrast
**Hue
**Saturation

*Motion blur effects
**Blend

*Simple Depth of Field effects
**Scene blur
**Weight blur
**Focal blend
**Focal length
**Focus
**Fstop
**Max blend

*Sound objects can have up to 5 custom parameters established when they're created in [[FMOD]], all five can be set using the curve editor.

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 ==  Curve Editor an EASY step-by-step Intro ==
-You will notice the actors mouth "Snaps" open to monstrous size.
+The following intro should help you familiarize yourself with the way the Curve Editor is used in the Cutscene editor.
-The object here is to open the actors mouth slowly and to a natural expression
- (as if he were about to say something) then close it naturally.
-. Select the animation, and in the top menu click the Curve Editor button. (#9 in the link)
+*1. Assuming you already know how to [http://social.bioware.com/wiki/datoolset/index.php/Cutscene_tutorial#Adding_an_animation_to_an_actor/ add animations] to your scene, use an actor and insert the following animation:
-. You should now see a new editor on the bottom. Expand it.
+cs_male.f_mouth_open
-. Place your timeline marker slightly *after* the beginning of the animation
+*1a. Stretch the animation bar out so you have more time to work with.
- in the main timeline window
 You will see "Weight" on the bottom right side. This is your animation "Intensity"
 Note: If you cannot see a red line, middle (mousewheel) click and drag the
 editor up and down/ use the mousewheel to expand and contract until you do.
 You should be between 0 and 100 on the left.
-. Right click on your Curve Editor timeline marker and select "Key selection"
+*6. Right click on your Curve Editor timeline marker and select "Key selection"
 This will add a new key
-. Move the timeline marker to the right and create another key.
+*7. Move the timeline marker to the right and create another key.
 You should now see two circles with a red line in between.
-. Select them both. In the object inspector>transition out select "bezier"
+*8. Select them both. In the object inspector>transition out select "bezier"
-. Deselect the two and reselect the first key you made.
+*9. Deselect the two and reselect the first key you made.
-. Drag the first key down to 0. (Zero weight/intensity)
+*10. Drag the first key down to 0. (Zero weight/intensity)
 You will see the mouth now opening more gradually, but still too quickly.
-. Move the second key to the right to slow down it's opening rate.
+*11. Move the second key to the right to slow down it's opening rate.
   (press play to preview the effects)
-. Now move the second key down to 50 to make the actors mouth open *less*.
+*12. Now move the second key down to 50 to make the actors mouth open *less*.
-. Place the timeline marker at the end of the animation
+*13. Place the timeline marker at the end of the animation
 (make sure it is still selected in the main timeline window)
-. Middle click and drag the curve editor the the left until you see the timeline marker again.
+*14. Middle click and drag the curve editor the the left until you see the timeline marker again.
-. Create two more keys in the same way and move your last key down to zero.
+*15. Create two more keys in the same way and move your last key down to zero.
-. Play around with this to get different results.
+*16. Play around with this to get different results.
 Congratulations! :D You can now use the Curve Editor for various

@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 Congratulations! :D You can now use the Curve Editor for various
 different applications. Have fun experimenting!
-[http://social.bioware.com/group/2718/discussion/12094/ Source]
+[http://social.bioware.com/group/2718/discussion/12094/ Source] (Dahlialynn)
 == Curve Types ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:52, 3 May 2012
Line 82:		Line 82:

	The legend will show what types each curve is. There is also a checkbox — if the checkbox is cleared the curve will be hidden from view. This is very useful for orientation curves where two or three curves may be overlapping. Hiding one or two or them can allow better access to the curve that needs to be adjusted.		The legend will show what types each curve is. There is also a checkbox — if the checkbox is cleared the curve will be hidden from view. This is very useful for orientation curves where two or three curves may be overlapping. Hiding one or two or them can allow better access to the curve that needs to be adjusted.
		+
		+	== Curve Editor an EASY step-by-step Intro ==
		+
		+	You will notice the actors mouth "Snaps" open to monstrous size.
		+	The object here is to open the actors mouth slowly and to a natural expression
		+	(as if he were about to say something) then close it naturally.
		+
		+	3. Select the animation, and in the top menu click the Curve Editor button. (#9 in the link)
		+
		+	4. You should now see a new editor on the bottom. Expand it.
		+
		+	5. Place your timeline marker slightly after the beginning of the animation
		+	in the main timeline window
		+
		+	You will see "Weight" on the bottom right side. This is your animation "Intensity"
		+
		+	Note: If you cannot see a red line, middle (mousewheel) click and drag the
		+	editor up and down/ use the mousewheel to expand and contract until you do.
		+	You should be between 0 and 100 on the left.
		+
		+	6. Right click on your Curve Editor timeline marker and select "Key selection"
		+
		+	This will add a new key
		+
		+	7. Move the timeline marker to the right and create another key.
		+
		+	You should now see two circles with a red line in between.
		+
		+	8. Select them both. In the object inspector>transition out select "bezier"
		+
		+	9. Deselect the two and reselect the first key you made.
		+
		+	10. Drag the first key down to 0. (Zero weight/intensity)
		+
		+	You will see the mouth now opening more gradually, but still too quickly.
		+
		+	11. Move the second key to the right to slow down it's opening rate.
		+	(press play to preview the effects)
		+
		+	12. Now move the second key down to 50 to make the actors mouth open less.
		+
		+	13. Place the timeline marker at the end of the animation
		+	(make sure it is still selected in the main timeline window)
		+
		+	14. Middle click and drag the curve editor the the left until you see the timeline marker again.
		+
		+	15. Create two more keys in the same way and move your last key down to zero.
		+
		+	16. Play around with this to get different results.
		+
		+	Congratulations! :D You can now use the Curve Editor for various
		+	different applications. Have fun experimenting!
		+	[http://social.bioware.com/group/2718/discussion/12094/ Source]

	== Curve Types ==		== Curve Types ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:07, 27 January 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{Infobox cutscenes}}
		+
	When crafting a [[cutscene]] many object properties need to be continuously and smoothly varied over the course of the scene, rather than simply being discrete events or on/off characteristics. The curve editor allows the values of these properties to be changed over time with as much fine control as needed.		When crafting a [[cutscene]] many object properties need to be continuously and smoothly varied over the course of the scene, rather than simply being discrete events or on/off characteristics. The curve editor allows the values of these properties to be changed over time with as much fine control as needed.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:42, 14 January 2010
Line 162:		Line 162:

	*Sound objects can have up to 5 custom parameters established when they're created in [[FMOD]], all five can be set using the curve editor.		*Sound objects can have up to 5 custom parameters established when they're created in [[FMOD]], all five can be set using the curve editor.
		+
		+	[[Category:Cutscenes]]