This zip file contains two MAX files; the original key-framed scene, and the finished scene with HyperMatter included. The final scene is intended for reference if you get stuck. Copy the maps, Flour.tif, and Dirtgray.jpg into your Maps folder. The latter may be already installed, as it is a standard MAX map.

This tutorial will demonstrate how easily HyperMatter can be used to impart natural believable character motion to an inanimate Max object.

Although the object you are animating will consist of one HyperMatter Object Level Solid, you will be applying Constraints to individual parts of the Solid, which to gives the impression of an underlying articulated structure thereby bringing the object to life.

View the Animation – part I

1. Load and play the file CH7_SACK.AVI and play the animation.

A bulging sack of flour springs into life, and walks down a path to a deep drop. It pauses at the edge, steadies itself, and then leaps over the edge.

The scene uses multiple Constraints to impart a complicated motion to an inanimate object, showing how HyperMatter can be used to produce an animation which would otherwise only be achievable through a more complex skeletal animation of an articulated structure.

2. Load the file CH7_SAC1.MAX and play the animation.

A HyperMatter Control Object H_Sack with an Object Level Solid SO_Sack_1 is situated on top of a standard Max Box object Box01. Four Dummy Helper objects are in place, one of which, ChestDummy has a Path Controller assigned to its position. This will serves as a guide rail to keep the sack supported throughout its animation.

The helper objects LeftDummy and RightDummy have been keyframed to represent footsteps. The sack has several Parts already created, and you will use two of these to make the sack walk.

Apply the Follow Constraints – part II

1. Select H_Sack.

2. Go to the Modify Panel, select SubObject: HyperMatter and Constraints.

3. Select the Part LFoot from the Named Selections dropdown.

4. Click Follow.

5. Select the helper object LeftDummy as the Follow object.

6. Highlight the Constraint in the list.

7. Set the Lifespan of the Constraint to Start: 15 and End: 300.

8. Check Apply to Each Point.

This will ensure that the foot follows exactly the animation of the helper object

9. Repeat steps 5 to 10 for the Part RFoot, selecting RightDummy as the Follow object and setting the lifespan of the Constraint to Start: 30, End: 300.

10. Play the animation

Editing the Substance Properties – part III

You will notice that although the sack begins to walk, with the feet following the helper objects accurately, the sack soon begins to twist and overbalance. This is because its Substance properties are not stiff enough to keep it upright. We are now going to edit the Substance Properties of SO_Sack_1 to make it stiffer, taking care not to make it too stiff as you could then lose the dragging motion that would be typical of a heavy object.

1. Click Substance Editor.

2. In the Properties rollout change Elasticity and Damping to 2.0.

3. Increase Friction to 1.25.

4. Save the file as CH7_SAC2.MAX.

The third helper object, ChestDummy, is has a Path Controller assigned to it and represents the approximate position of the upper part of the sack as it walks along. We will attach another Follow Constraint to the sack in order that it follows this path

5. Select the Part named Chest from the Named Selections dropdown.

6. Click Constraints from the HyperMatter Control rollout.

The Constraints rollout appears

7. Click Follow.

8. Select ChestDummy as the Follow object.

The entry FOL [Chest] -> ChestDummy will appear at the end of the Constraints list.

9. Set the Lifespan of the Constraint to Start:15, End: 300.

10. Play the animation.

The sack now walks much more convincingly, remaining upright as it does. At this stage you should experiment with the other Follow Constraint options, Apply to Whole Part, on the different Parts, one at a time, to see the difference in movement that results. You will find that the difference is most pronounced when the Chest Part is changed, as it will tend to swing around the helper object as it follows it.

11. Reset all the Follow Constraints to Apply to Whole Part.

12. Save the file as CH7_SAC3.MAX.

13. Play the animation.

The sack walks to the end of the box, and pauses.

By the time the Follow Constraints all end, the sack has stabilized, and is standing fairly still. However, once they release control, the sack will attempt to return to its original, undeformed state. And furthermore it will be displaced by the recoil it receives from the earlier Constraints ending. As you want the sack to leap off the edge, you need to apply further Constraints to accomplish this.

Creating the Jump – part IV

The helper object CrouchDummy has a small animated trajectory, which is used to pull the sack’s top half down towards the ground, and peer over the edge.

1. Select the Part named Chest.

2. Click Follow.

3. Select CrouchDummy as the Follow object.

4. Select the Constraint from the list.

5. Set the Lifespan of the Constraint to Start: 305, End: 350.

6. Be sure the Follow option is set to Apply to Each Point.

Once the sack is crouched and ready to jump, you will release the Chest Part from the Follow Constraint, and apply a Velocity Constraint to make it jump over the edge.

Applying a Velocity Constraint – part V

1. Select the Part named Inner.

2. Click Velocity.

3. Select the Velocity Constraint from the Constraints list.

4. Set the Lifespan to Start: 350, End: 375.

5. Set the Constraint to Relative to Start Time.

6. Enter values of -150 in the Y field, and 50 in the Z field.

7. Play the animation.

The sack now leaps forwards, but almost immediately starts performing a somersault. We need to apply a rotational force in the opposite direction to the sacks’ rotation, but only enough to keep the sack upright as it jumps.

Applying an Angular Velocity Constraint – VI

1. Select the Part named Inner.

2. Click Angular Velocity.

3. Select the Constraint from the list.

4. Set the Lifespan to Start: 350, End: 361.

5. Set the Constraint to Relative to Start Time.

6. Enter values of -1.05 in the X field, -0.15 in the Y field and -0.1 in the Z field.

7. Save the file as CH7_SAC4.MAX.

8. Play the animation

We do not need to set large values for this Constraint, only enough to counteract the roll that the sack naturally picks up by virtue of the velocity given to it.

Animating the Walls Object -VII

The sack now jumps perfectly over the edge. However, as soon as it returns to ground level although it should fall over the edge it actually bounces up again. This is because you have a hidden Walls object , H_Wall01, in place to allow the sack to walk along the ground up to this point.

The Walls Object needs to be in place until the sack jumps in the air. We do not need it after this, so you can animate it out of the way, before the sack hits it again, spoiling the illusion.

1. Go to frame 390.

2. Unhide H_Wall01.

3. Click the MAX Animate button.

4. Drag the Walls object vertically down, until it’s base is level with Box01.

5. Go to the Track View.

6. Expand the tracks H_Wall01 to its position controller.

7. Drag the first keyframe to frame 370.

This ensures that the Walls do not move until the sack is clear of the ground. By the time the sack reaches ground level, the Walls have gone, and the sack jumps cleanly over the edge.

NOTE: This could also have been achieved using a Walls Constraint with a Lifespan timed to disable the constraint at the right time.

8. Save the file as CH_SAC5.MAX

9. Play the animation.