Simple Abstract Animation

Posted by admin on January 31, 2008

In this tutorial, we will learn how to make a simple “loopable” visual effect
with Lines in association with the Camera Animation. This is a simple animation
effect. But, by practising this animation technique, you can make other complex
and more nice animations.

At fist, we will make a Free camera so that we can see the line shapes in
camera viewport from the begining. Choose Create>Camera>Free.

In the front viewport, create a camera exactly in the center of the viewport.

In the Top viewport, move the camera to down. Assign the Camera to the
Perspective viewport. Your four viewports should look like the following image.

Now, choose Create>Shapes>Line.

Go to the options for line and in the Creation Method roll-out, choose both
Initial Type and Drag Type as “Smooth”.

In the Front viewport, draw a line as below.

In the Top viewport, draw another line as below. This line will not be
rendered.

Select the previous line (Line01) and go the Modifier panel. We should make
the Line01 (and its clones which we will make just after 3 steps) Renderable.
So, set its parameters as below illustration.

Open the Material Editor and create a material with pure white diffuse color
and Self Illumination set to 100. Then assign this material to Line01.

Now activate the Rotate tool and Angle Snap in the main toolbar. In the Front
viewport, rotate Line01 45 Degree around the Y (view) axis.

We will now clone Line01. While Line01 is still selected, go to Tools menu >
Spacing Tool.

In the Spacing Tool dialogue box, click “Pick Path” and in the viewport pick
the Line02 on which we want the cloned lines to be placed at even distance. Make
sure “Count” is on and set its number = 75. In the Context group, choose “Edges”
options and check “Follow”. In the Type of Object group, choose “Instance”
method so that we can change all lines shape and geometry by changing only one
line. Click “Apply”. Close the Spacing Tool dialogue box.

We will not render Line01 as you can see that it is not aligned with other
lines. So, while Line01 is still selected, right-click in the viewport and
choose “Hide Selection”

Now we will animate the camera. Select Camera01. Activate Rotate tool and
Angle Snap (if you want to rotate the camera manually). Then, turn the “Auto
Key” mode ON and go the end frame i.e. 100.

Right-click on the Rotate Tool for displaying the Rotate Transform Type-In
dialogue box. In the Offset:Screen group type 360 as the Offset Value for Z axis
and press ENTER.

If you play the animation in the Camera viewport, you will see that our
animation cannot be loopable. We should make the rotation of the Camera as
Linear. For this, make sure Camera01 is still selected and choose Graph Editors
menu > Track View - Curve Editor.

You will be presented with 3 animated rotation properties (X, Y, Z Rotation)
as Yellow highlighted at the Left Side and the rotation keys in the right.
Region select all the keys by “Drag-Select” method.

Now in the toolbar click “Set Tangents to Linear” to make the created
rotation keys linear so that the motion becomes smooth and even all the way.

Open the Render Scene dialogue box, Check “Force 2-Sided” and then click
render. After rendering a single frame, if you are satisfied with the result,
you can render the whole animation. That’s all for today.