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  AnimationLab v 2.0  

Tutorial - Getting Started 

Getting Started

Scenario recording

Creatures Modeling

Samples

ScreenCam Lessons

Step 1:  Getting Started

Step 2:  Animation – it is very easy

Step 3:  Saving scenario

Step 4:  AVI file creation

    
    Step 1:  Getting Started

Loading

During installation, you will be presented with the choice: 
       Install as a separate palette (TurboCAD v7 only) 
       Integrate in Internet Palette

If you select "Install as a separate palette" option, a toolbar with "AnimationLab" button will appear, and a menu item in View menu.

If you select "Integrate in Internet Palette" option, AnimationLab menu item will appear in the list of plug-ins in Internet Palette. In order to see it, use the home page button (TC icon); on the side of the button there is a down arrow. Press the down arrow, from there select AnimationLab.

 

Layout

After loading, AnimationLab is placed in the Internet Palette. Internet Palette Page is controlled similar to other TurboCad palettes (Blocks, Symbols). You can choose size and location of the palette that are convenient for you, as well as turn it ON/OFF (View\Internet Palette… menu).

For further information about AnimationLab controls see Scenario Editor

    Step 2:  Animation – it is very easy

Here are a few easy steps that will help you start creating animations using AnimationLab.

Let’s create “Rotating Cube” animation:

1. Draw a cube and save the file as Cube.tcw. 
2. Load AnimationLab in Internet Palette. 
3. Select the cube, using selector, and add an actor (“Create new actor” button). 
   A new actor with the name “Actor-1” will be added to the list of actors.
4.
Click on a blank line of Command field and select “Rotate” command from the list of commands. 
5. Type  "0" in "From" field, "35" in "To" field and set parameter AngleX = 10 for it.
        You will see the following command:
                 0 35 Rotate 10 0 0
         In this case the cube will make 36 steps, 10 degrees each, which will make the full turn.
6. Set TurboCAD rendering mode (for example, OpenGL). 
7. Press “Play Scenario” button.

You will now see a rotating cube on screen.

Note:
The size of the created BMP file can be reduced, by reducing height and width of the bitmap. 
To do this, press File/Save As - you will be presented with the "Save As" dialog.
In the file type combobox, choose BMP extension. 
In the "Setup" dialog, define the new values of height and width. 

    Step 3:  Saving scenario

Overview
All information about actors and their commands is retained in the drawing, so to save a scenario it is sufficient to save the drawing.

Import/Export of scenarios
Additional ability to import/export description of the scenario in a text file allows creating and editing scenarios in word processing programs, as well as having multiple scenarios for one drawing.

Import/Export of a scenario for one actor
You can import/export the entire scenario, as well as each actor separately. The latter in convenient for duplicating one scenario for several actors.

Also see Scenario Editor

    Step 4:  AVI file creation

Note: TurboCad Specific!

If “Output Range” option in BMP File Export (Save As\*.BMP\Setup…) is set to “View”, then the frames will be saved with the render that you have set (for example OpenGL).

If “Output Range” = “All” – the frames will always be saved without taking into account render settings.

Setting options 
To save the animation it is necessary to do the following:

On "General" page of "Options" dialog, you can define the Number of frames, turn on Save frames as bitmap files option, and define the path for saving bitmap and AVI files.

On "Movie Maker" page of the same dialog, you can choose from Built-In (AVI) or External Movie Creator.

Saving animation
After running the scenario (“Play Scenario” button) each frame will be saved in the directory, which you indicated, as a BMP file. When the last frame is saved, an AVI file will be created. If you have turned on Delete BMP frames option on "Movie Maker" page of "Options" dialog, then after creating an AVI file all created BMP files will be deleted.

    
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