Build Your Own Animated 3D Cube
Using Kinemac - Video and Camera Animation
multimedia presentation
Show Me How:
Part II: Build Your Own Animated 3D Cube Using Kinemac - Video and Camera Animation
The Sequel: Adding Video and Camera Animation to Your Spinning 3D Cube
In the last movie we used Kinemac to build a simple, but very cool spinning 3D cube and we applied our own images to the sides. In this movie we're going to build on what we learned. In this movie we'll re-create the cube and not only apply a video clip to a cube side but we'll also create and animate a camera. Very cool.
Step By Step
- You'll want to re-create the spinning cube that we created in the last movie. Click here to revisit that if you need a refresher, but I'll go through it briefly in this movie also.
- A few reminders: Cmd+K enters a keyframe onto the timeline. A keyframe represents a change in time, so typically you'll have 2 keyframes for an animation (a start and an end). You can shorten or lengthen the distance between keyframes to increase or decrease the duration of the animation, respectively.
- You can apply a video clip to a side (or sides) of your cube (or other 3d object) in exactly the same way you apply an image, just drag it from the Finder panel in the Inspector Window onto your cube's face. I love this, super easy.
- To animate a camera: First click the camera button on the top of the application window and a camera sprite is automatically placed into your timeline. Make sure the camera is the first (top) layer in your timeline or it won't work. You'll have to create additional keyframes for your camera sprite layer (keyframes are layer/object specific). Click onto the camera sprite layer, move the play head to the beginning of the timeline and add a keyframe (Cmd+K). In the Inspector Window, click on the Geometry tab to make the Eye and Target XYZ coordinates visible. In the Y position of the Eye settings enter 700 (don't forget to hit enter on your keyboard!). You should now be up in space, above the cube (if not, check Views > Sprite Movable Cameras. If you're in the Default Static Camera View the camera animation won't work). Now move the playhead to the end of the timeline, create one final keyframe (Cmd+K). Go back to the Geometry tab and enter -50. Position 0,0 puts you exactly in front of the object, but using -50 actually puts you just slightly under the cube and lends a little creative drama.... ooooooh. Hit the space bar to play your animation and be awed....
- Tweak and modify the animation settings as desired. Ideally, if you're looking to create a looping animation you'll need to be slightly strategic in your placement of keyframes and where you start and end your animation, but as you can see Kinemac does a good job of empowering you to do things like this quickly and easily.
Next Presentation: I Haven't Decided Yet.
There are just so many things you can do with Kinemac that I'm not sure if I want to create some coolness in my cube scene (depth, lighting, etc.) or move onto some other things. Kinemac makes an awesome animated filmstrip animation that will blow you away. So I'll get back to you on this one....
If you have any questions feel free to post it on the blog below or drop me a line.
Comments
- Rich Leach
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Please keep all comments on topic: Build Your Own Animated 3D Cube Using Kinemac - Video and Camera Animation. All other posts will be considered spam and will be removed. Thanks!
- March 3, 2011, 7:20 AM
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- Leena Almashat
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Does it work of we put the 3D glasses on? I mean, I want to make a short 3D movie because of the Physics project I'm having, and I want to use the 3D glasses for the school to see in a live 3D motion. Is Kinemac the program to help?!
- April 4, 2011, 1:47 PM
- Reply
- Rich Leach
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Hi Leena-
Sorry, but I don't think Kinemac will provide you with that level of performance. Perhaps Autodesk's products?
Rich
- April 4, 2011, 2:13 PM
- Reply
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