AML Template Tutorial
 

 

Sample Transform

This sample shows you how to deal with the character root position when connecting 2 perform animations.

In this project you can test 2 perform commands and each has the same animation clips.

The 1st perform command's animation clip is set with SampleTransform = None, it means the character moves back to the original root once the motion is played. The other one is set with SampleTransform = Snap, which means the character sample the root location from the performed motion, the next motion starts from the sampled root location- thus you will have aggregated animation.

In the following videos you will see the difference between Sample Transform: None and Snap.

Sample Transform: None

The motion root stay at the same position when the new motion is applied, thus the second motion get dragged back to the same root.		 Sample Transform: Snap

iClone samples the motion root of the first motion clip, so the second motion clip can start from the sampled root location, thus the character moves forward when the perform command applied. Snap samples all X, Y, Z value, so this setting also works for terrain movement.

Sample Transform: NONE

  1. Add a Perform Command and rename the clip "Kick_NONE".
  2. Check "Lock Perform", now this denies all the other commands from interrupting while the selected command is in progress. When this is set you can ensure that the character will finish the animation clip before allowing the next clip to proceed.
  3. Assign a hotkey to the selected command. Then you can use the hotkey in Director Mode.
  4. Add an animation clip to the Kick_NONE command. Open the motion Kick_Combo from C:\Program Files\Reallusion\iClone 3\Template\iClone Template\Motion\iMotion_Kane\Perform.
  5. Noticed that Sample Transform has been set to "NONE". When Sample Transform is NONE, the character will be dragged back the starting position of the first motion. Therefore, the motion root (the root the character has during the animation) and the bone root (the actual location of the character relative to the entire scene) will not more together. The motion root will move but then revert back to the bone root which is in the original position.

         

Sample Transform: Snap

  1. Add a Perform Command and rename the clip "Kick_SNAP".
  2. Check "Lock Perform", now this denies all the other commands from interrupting while the selected command is in progress. When this is set you can ensure that the character will finish the performance without interruption.
  3. Assign a hot key to the selected command.
  4. Add the same animation clip to the Kick_SNAP command.
  5. Set Sample Transform to "SNAP". When Sample Transform is SNAP, it allows the next motion to start from the ending position of the previous motion. Therefore, the motion root and the bone root will move together, so therefore the next animation clip will be played at the new position.