Animation is the procedure of
constructing high quality movements of certain objects including 3D modeled
characters. Animation is achieved through the making of conceivable movements
and actions using software. The animation helps in visually presenting the close
to life actions and movements hence, creating a virtual impact.
3D Studio Max is having multiple features of modelling and animating objects and
characters. The timeline technique is labelled as a manual technique for
animating any character while adding .bip files to the bones of the character is
an easier and effective means to creating realistic movements.
Three dimensional model is a mathematical representation of three dimensional
real object. Modelling is the first step in making animation. It includes making
of different parametric or organic objects with the help of polygons, splines,
vertices and edges. Articulation of minute details is a necessary element of
modelling. Creatively texture and mapping operations are applied for giving fine
looks to the modeled object. The artist models the objects using a modelling
tool depending upon the type of the game. Procedural animation is created as to
produce illusionary movements. Animation is the temporal description of the
modeled object, which means how the object will move or will deform itself over
a specific period of time.
The modelling of enemy character begins with the basic shape of sphere that is
available in 3D Studio Max, the software chosen for the game. The modifiers are
applied as to change its shape into a character. Its face, eyes and lips are
modeled along with the editing of the basic shape. It is given baggy hands and
feet out of the body. This overall structure is the mesh (skin) of the
character. Application of color is another feature in modeling step for
enhancing the character model. Bones are added in the mesh (skin) of the
character. The biped i-e the skeleton is utilized from the software. The biped
and the skin are joined together using the “Physique” modifier. The first step
in creating animation is to highlight the bones and make them visible inside the
mesh (skin). This part is achieved when by choosing the wire frame view port.
The next step is to add .bip file to the visible bones. This goes as choose the
“Motion panel” in the tools, inside it there is a biped tab which has an option
of adding .bip files with an “open” button. Click that “open” button and choose
from the .bip a file that goes best to the character animation e-g run, jump,
walk etc. The last step is to play the animation on the timeline that has been
made using bip file earlier. This is the easiest way to create animation of a
kind that is best for the character movements. The animation is played in the
software by clicking on the play button that is present on the timeline bar at
the bottom of the screen. That bar contains the frame information and when
animation is played the frame by frame movement indicates the flow of the
movement. If there are flaws in the sequence, the played animation is paused and
the movement is edited on the particular frame.
Rendering means exporting the final format of animation in any extension i-e avi,
mp4, mpeg etc. The animation using .bip files is rendered in .avi format as to
have a closer look of the enemy character and its movements. Rendering is
performed using the Rendering menu available in 3D Studio Max.
This 3D animation technique is best suited to create a more effective and quick
virtual environments. Virtual reality and animation can have a far reaching role
in communication of certain high-quality projects e-g making of games and
therapy games. It is believed that illustrating images, designs and animation to
audiences for creating a virtual environment is a paramount that results in
success. The used software 3D Studio Max is best suited to create a virtual
environment. It is one of the best modelling and animation software used by
graphic artists. It is a scenic production software and a game modeler program.