AML Template Tutorial

• Avatar_Breath
• Prop_Idle
• Avatar_Idles
• Sample_Transform
• Avatar_Attack
• Prop_Open_The_Chest
• Avatar_Performs
• Prop_Perform
• Avatar_Any_Angle
• Avatar_posHelper
• Avatar_Open_The_Door
• Stationary_Rotation
• Forward_Rotation
• Motorcycle
• Avatar_Persona_All
• Elevator_Up_Down
• Effects
• Grab_and_Drop
• Switch_TV
• Persist_And_Desist

For this lesson, we will pick up a soda can, and then casually drop it on your nice clean rugs. In this lesson, we will learn how to give operate commands as well as linking and aligning objects that are to be picked up. Set the range for the action to be triggered (action radius) and drop it anywhere in the room.

In this tutorial we will focus on the link and unlink to an object. When a character is grabbing an object the character holds the object in hand. In this case we will have a link from the hand to the object. When a character wants to drop the object from the hand. The character needs to set an unlink to tell the object not to move with the hand. Is that all to this lesson? No, there’s more… We tell the object to leave our hand but we did not tell the object where to go. In this case we need to add an align clip to tell the object to drop onto the ground.

Grab

1. Since this is the interaction between the character and the prop. We need to create two operate commands for the grab and drop activities. Create an Operate Command. Rename the command to "Take".

• Lock Move: The real meaning of lock move is that when you are proceeding with this operate command you denies all Move command from interrupting. In this tutorial, the meaning of lock move would be totally different from the other projects. What happens is that when you do not set Lock Move for this command. When he nearly reaches to the angle of the certain item, the character's foot slide until he does the motion for grabbing the item. This case really show how important to set lock move when using Operate Command of a character and an iProp.

• Right Menu: This attribute shows the command in the right click menu.

• Hot key: When hot key is set to default this allow the user to use ctrl-click on target object in Direct Mode when the actor is in selection, this make the actor to do the default interaction with the target iProp without the need to switch between character and iProp.

• ActionRadius: This attribute defines the radius range, which the actor can approach and start to play animation clips once he enters into this range.

2. Let's talk about how the animation clips have been broke down into parts. A motion that the hand STARTS to pick up the object and another motion WHEN picking up the object. So we have added two animation clips for this command and one link clip to set link to the object.

• Animation Clip: "Take_Target_Start"

  • This animation clip refers to GOING TO GRAB motion of the character. When the character is reaching for the object. Of course you would need a motion clip for that. You can find the clip in C:\Program Files\Reallusion\iClone 3\Template\iClone Template\iAnimation\AML Templates\Operate Dummy\Operate001.

           

• Animation Clip: "Take_Target_Loop01"

  • This animation clip refers to GRABBING of the prop. The animation clip when the object is already in the hand of my character and the motion that the character is pulling toward the character. You can load the motion from C:\Program Files\Reallusion\iClone 3\Template\iClone Template\iAnimation\AML Templates\Operate Dummy\Operate001\Pick01_Low01_02.iMotion.

             

     

• Link Clip: "Pick_Link"

  • This link clip refers to the link to the object when pick up. This is the animation clip when the object is already in the hands of my character. You can load the motion from C:\Program Files\Reallusion\iClone 3\Template\iClone Template\iAnimation\AML Templates\Operate Dummy\Operate001\Pick01_Low01_02.iMotion.

             

3. Set Trigger Clip for the clips of the Take Operate Command.

          Let's think about how you would reach for an object. You will reach for the object, taking and holding (link) the object. So, that is what we need to know before placing our Trigger Clip numbers in the column. No. 0 is the reaching for the object clip, so we don't need to place any numbers for it in the Trigger Clip column. Since it's the very first clip this taking motion starts. No.1 and No.2 are the two clips that will happen at the same time. The reason for that is when the character takes the object you need to set a link for the object to hold in hand. Insert "0" for both of these clips for them to happen after reaching for the object, No.0.

Drop

4. Create a Drop Operate Command. Add an Operate Command as the settings in the Take command but select "Select None" in the Trigger Method.

5. Create the clips for the Put operate command. Same as the take command, put command has divided into sections.

• Animation Clip: Take_Target_Loop02

  • This animation clip refers to GOING TO DROP motion of the character. When the character is dropping the object. Of course you would need a motion clip for that. You can find the clip in C:\Program Files\Reallusion\iClone 3\Template\iClone Template\iAnimation\AML Templates\Operate Dummy\Operate001\Drop01_Mid01_01.iMotion.

    

                    Noticed that the Target Type is set to "Owner". Owner refers that you are the parent of an iProp. In this case, the character is grabbing an item in the hands, where the iProp is linked to the character.

• Animation Clip: Take_Target_End

  • This animation clip refers to END OF GRABBING motion of the character. When the character has dropped the object and unlinked to the object. Of course you would need a motion clip for that. You can find the clip in C:\Program Files\Reallusion\iClone 3\Template\iClone Template\iAnimation\AML Templates\Operate Dummy\Operate001\Drop01_Mid01_02.iMotion.

                   

• Unlink Clip: Drop_Unlink

  • The clip unlinks the connection between the character and the iProp.

             

• Align Clip: AlignTo

  • When the clip unlinks to the character. Use align clip to make it drop down onto the ground.

                   

• AlignSnap: When an object is dropped onto the ground, this attribute will align X, Y, Z to the ground.

         

• AlignFollow: When an object moves, not only the Move X, Y, Z of the object adjust automatically, but the rotation of the X, Y, Z also adjust to match the angle (normal) of the terrain.

         

6. Set Trigger Clip for the clips of the Put Operate Command. Think about the motion when you drop an object from you hand. First, I will reach to the place to drop the object. The unlink will happen and at the same time the character ends its dropping motion. Then the object drops onto the ground. Now you know that the order to the clips, it's easy for you to set the trigger clips for each clips.

          Just a reminder, remember to think about the animation sequence and the relationships between clips. This way, when you set for the trigger clips you won't have troubles with the clips.