A simple method for "damping" movements

---

You will need the Transfer Plugin by Yoshihiro Manabe available at: http://www.plugincafe.com/

Part 1: Damping an object's movements (is this useful? could be)

Part 2: Damping a camera's targeting (definitely useful)

 

 

---

---

Part 1

---

---

Let's say we have a hyperactive object moving along a spline.

We would like to be able to dampen, or suppress, it's movement.

---

Create 2 Nulls and name them:

Place the DampNull at a point in space approximately at the center of the Cube's movement range.
This will be a sort of "home base" for the Cube.
We will then be able to set the degree of freedom the Cube has for moving away from base.

---

In the TimeLine window, move the AlignToSpline track from the Cube to the MoveNull.
Place a Transfer track (from the plugins menu) on Cube.

Create 2 keys at either end of the TransferTrack. The first should Target MoveNull. The second DampNull.
Make sure the Smooth settings are checked.

Note that there are Scale and Rotation options as well. I won't be using then in this demo, but I'm sure you can imagine uses for them.

---

In the TimeCurves window, in PathMode, create a linear "curve" with 2 points. Set them both to 50%.

The cube is now always at a point half way between the MoveNull and the DampNull

Let's damp it even more. Set both TimeCurve points to 85%.

Play with the Smooth settings. A setting of 100 will dampen even more.

-100 will make the cube follow the MoveNull more aggressively.

NEWS FLASH:
I just realized that you can make a horizontal line for a TimeCurve by making just 1 point. 2 are not needed.
This way, you can change the value by just sliding that one point up and down.

Of course, you could play with different TimeCurves other than the horizontal ones I've shown.
i.e. a ramp up would allow the Cube to move fully at first, then gradually be drawn in toward the DampNull, etc...

 

---

---

Part 2

---

---

A similar method can be used to dampen a camera's targeting movement.

Let's say we have a camera targeting the hyperactive Cube by means of a TargetExpression tag.

There are 2 problems with this.
The camera movement is too violent.
A real camera would never be able to keep its subject in frame dead center.

In the ObjectManager, remove the TargetExpression tag from the camera .
Instead, use a TargetTrack in the Timeline

Set 2 keys. The first to target the Cube, the second to target a stationary DampNull.
In the TimeCurves window, in PathMode, create a horizontal "curve". Set it to 80%.

Our camera is now "aware" of the cube's movement, without being overwhelmed by it.

 

HTH

JeremyW