animating along a motion path

Introduction to Maya - Modeling Fundamentals Vol 1

This course will look at the fundamentals of modeling in Maya with an emphasis on creating good topology. We'll look at what makes a good model in Maya and why objects are modeled in the way they are.

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# 1 18-09-2012 , 01:34 AM

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So im trying to figure out this motion path animation and animating joints along the path. Now i know about just animating the offset of the curve after creating a SplineIK and all but id does this weird stuff where it slows after hitting the curve. IS there any other way to animate a joint chain along a path other than using spline IKs?

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# 2 18-09-2012 , 06:33 AM

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Not sure what you mean could you show a screen grab......................dave

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Last edited by daverave; 18-09-2012 at 10:34 AM.

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# 3 19-09-2012 , 09:06 PM

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I have to put those joints on that curve and make it go from one end to the other like a roller coaster. I can get it on the curve by making the curve the base for the splineIK but when it rounds the bend it slows down even though in the graph editor for the movement its a linear climb no curving.

Now is there another way for me to animate this without doing the splineIK option and still get it to round the cure like its supposed to? Im trying to make it so that it uses the curve as a motion path but it wont do that if i make the curve the base for the splineIK for the joints.

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# 4 20-09-2012 , 07:22 AM

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Yes use a flow path, create a motion path then a flow path..............dave

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# 5 20-09-2012 , 09:25 AM

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so do i just select the joints and curve then select flow path or is there a step im missing?

I keep getting this msg.

//Warning: none of the selected objects are animated by a morthion path with the Follow option

but i did that

Last edited by MamoruK; 20-09-2012 at 09:35 AM.

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# 6 20-09-2012 , 12:17 PM

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Just select the mesh that should do it and click follow curve you will need to up the lattic on the direction that the curve is following...............dave

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# 7 20-09-2012 , 06:31 PM

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there is no mesh in this case only joints.

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# 8 20-09-2012 , 06:42 PM

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Joints will not render what are you going to put on the joints.............dave

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# 9 21-09-2012 , 08:19 AM

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doesn't matter about the render i just need to get the joints to move along the path.

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# 10 21-09-2012 , 09:14 AM

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It does not look like you can use a flow path on joints you are going to have to find another way...............dave

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# 11 24-09-2012 , 11:56 PM

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well i did which is animating the offset which will move the joints from one end to the other but when it rounds the curve it automatically slows down and i don't know why. I checked the graph editor and the motion path line was linear no curving so i don't know why its slowing down when it rounds the curve.

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