Full Window (IconTog)
Maximise the window or return it to the previous window display size; return to the old screen setting. HotKey: (ALT-)CTRL+UPARROW
[point]Home (IconBut)
All visible curves are displayed completely, centered in the window. HotKey: HOMEKEY
.
[point]IpoKeys (IconTog)
This is a drawing mode for the animation curves in the IpoWindow (the
IpoCurves). Yellow vertical lines are drawn through all the vertices
of the curves. Vertices of different curves at the same location in
'time' are joined together and can easily be selected, moved, copied
or deleted.
This method adds the ease of traditional key framing to the animation
curve system.
For Object-Ipos, these IpoKeys can also be drawn and transformed in
the 3DWindow. Changes in the 3D position are processed in the
IpoCurves immediately. #->$11
[point]Ipo Type
Depending on the active Object, the various Ipo systems can be specified with these buttons.
[point]Object Ipo (IconRow)
Settings, such as the location and rotation, are animated for the
active Object. All Objects in Blender can have this Ipo block.
[point]Material Ipo (IconRow)
Settings of the active Material are animated for the active Object.
A NumBut is added as an extra feature. This button indicates the
number of the active Texture channel. Eight Textures, each with its
own mapping, can be assigned per Material. Thus, per Material-Ipo, 8
curves in the row "OfsX, OfsY, ...Var" are available.
[point]Speed Ipo (Icon Row)
If the active Object is a path Curve, this button can be
used to display the speed-Ipo.
[point]Lamp Ipo (IconRow)
If the active Object is a Lamp, this button can be used to animate light settings.
[point]World Ipo (IconRow)
Used to animate a number of settings for the WorldButtons.
[point]VertexKey Ipo (IconRow)
If the active Object has a VertexKey, the keys are drawn as
horizontal lines. Only one IpoCurve is available to interpolate
between the Keys.
[point]Sequence Ipo (IconRow)
The active Sequence Effect can have an IpoCurve.
The DataButtons can be used to control the Ipo blocks themselves.
[point]Ipo Browse (MenuBut)
Choose another Ipo from the list of available Ipos. The option "Add
New" makes a complete copy of the current Ipo. This is not visible;
only the name in the adjacent button will change. Only Ipos of the
same type are displayed in the menu list.
[point]IP: (TextBut)
Give the current Ipo a new and unique name. After the new name is
entered, it appears in the list, sorted alphabetically.
[point]Users (NumBut)
If this button is displayed, there is more than one user for the Ipo
block. Use the button to make the Ipo "Single User".
[point]Unlink Ipo (IconBut)
The current Ipo is unlinked.
[point]Copy to Buffer (IconBut)
All selected IpoCurves are copied to a temporary buffer.
[point]Paste from Buffer (IconBut)
All selected channels in the IpoWindow are assigned an IpoCurve from
the temporary buffer. The rule is: the sequence in which they are
copied to the buffer is the sequence in which they are pasted. A
check is made to see if the number of IpoCurves is the same.
[point]Extend mode Constant (IconBut)
The end of selected IpoCurves are horizontally extrapolated.
[point]Extend mode Direction (IconBut)
The ends of selected IpoCurves continue extending in the direction in which they end.
[point]Extend mode Cyclic (IconBut)
The full length of the IpoCurve is repeated cyclically.
[point]Extend mode Cyclic Extrapolation(IconBut)
The full length of the IpoCurve is extrapolated cyclic.
[point]View Zoom (IconBut, click-hold)
Move the mouse horizontally or vertically to zoom in or out on the
IpoWindow. This is an alternative for CTRL+MiddleMouse.
[point]View Border (IconBut)
Draw a rectangle to indicate what part of the IpoWindow should be displayed in the full window.
[point]Lock (TogBut)
This buton locks the update of the 3DWindow while editing in the IpoWindow, so you can see changes maked to the Ipo in realtime inthe 3DWindow. This option works extremely well with relative vertex keys.
[subsection]IpoWindow
The IpoWindow shows the contents of the Ipo block. Which one depends
on the Ipo Type specified in the header.
The standard IpoWindow has a grid with the time expressed horizontally
in frames and vertical values that depend on the channel. There are 2
sliders at the edge of the IpoWindow. How far the IpoWindow is zoomed
in can be seen on the sliders, which can also be used to move the
view.
The right-hand part of the window shows the available channels.
To make it easier to work with rotation-IpoCurves, they are displayed in degrees (instead of in radials). The vertical scale relation is: 1.0 'Blender unit' = 10 degrees.
In addition to the IpoCurves, the VertexKeys are also drawn
here. These are horizontal blue lines; the yellow line visualises the
reference Key.
Each channel can be operated with two buttons:
[point]IpoCurve Select (TogBut)
This button is only displayed if the channel has an IpoCurve. The
button is the same colour as the IpoCurve. Use the button to select
IpoCurves. Multiple buttons can be (de)selected using SHIFT+LeftMouse.
[point]Channel Select (TogBut)
A channel can be selected whether there is an IpoCurve or not. Only
IpoCurves of selected channels are drawn. Multiple channels can be
(de)selected using SHIFT+LeftMouse.
[subsection]The Mouse
[point]LeftMouse (hold-draw)
These are the Gestures. Blender's gesture recognition works in two ways here:
- Draw a straight line: start translation mode (Grabber)
- Draw a V-shaped line: start scaling mode.
[point]CTRL+LeftMouse
Create a new vertex. These are the rules:
- There is no Ipo block (in this window) and one channel is selected: a new IpoBlock is created along with the first IpoCurve with one vertex.
- There is already an Ipo block, and a channel is selected without an IpoCurve: a new IpoCurve with one vertex is added
- Otherwise a new vertex is simply added to the selected IpoCurve.
- This is not possible if multiple IpoCurves are selected or if you are in EditMode.
[point]MiddleMouse (hold-move)
Depending on the position within the window:
- On the channels; if the window is not high enough to display them completely, the visible part can be shifted vertically.
- On the sliders; these can be moved. This only works if you are zoomed in.
- The rest of the window; the view is translated.
[point]CTRL+MiddleMouse (hold-move)
Zoom in/out on the IpoWindow. You can zoom horizonally or vertically
using horizontal and vertical mouse movements.
[point]RightMouse
Selection works the same here as in the 3DWindow: normally one item is
selected. Use SHIFT
to expand or reduce the selection
(extend select).
- If the IpoWindow is in IpoKey mode, the IpoKeys can be selected.
- If at least 1 of the IpoCurves is in EditMode, only its vertices can be selected.
- VertexKeys can be selected if they are drawn (horizontal lines)
- The IpoCurves can be selected.
[point]RightMouse (click-hold-move)
Select and start translation mode, i.e. the Grabber. The selection can be made using any of the four selection methods discussed above.
[point]SHIFT+RightMouse
Extend the selection.
[subsection]The HotKeys
[point]PAD_MINUS
, PAD_PLUS
Zoom in, zoom out.
[point]PAGEUP
Select the next IpoKey. If more than one IpoKey is selected, the selection is shifted cyclically.
[point]SHIFT+PAGEUP
Extend select the next IpoKey.
[point]PAGEDOWN
Select the previous IpoKey. If more than one Object Key is selected, the selection is shifted cyclically.
[point]SHIFT+PAGEDOWN
Extend select the previous IpoKey.
[point]HOMEKEY
All visible curves are displayed completely, centered in the window.
[point]TABKEY
All selected IpoCurves go into or out of EditMode. This mode allows you to transform individual vertices.
[point]AKEY
Select All / deselect All. If any item is selected, first everything is deselected.
Placing the mouse cursor above the channels, (de)selects all channels where there is a curve.
[point]BKEY
Border select. Draw a rectangle with the LeftMouse; all items that fall within this rectangle are selected. Draw a rectangle with the RightMouse to deselect.
[point]CKEY
If one vertex or one IpoKey is selected, the current frame
number is set to this position.
[point]SHIFT+DKEY
Duplicate Ipo. All selected vertices or IpoKeys are copied. Then translation mode is started automatically.
[point]GKEY
Translation mode (the Grabber). This works on selected curves, keys or vertices.
Alternatives for starting this mode:
- RightMouse (click-hold-move)
- LeftMouse (click-hold-draw) draw a straight line.
The following options are available in translation mode:
- Limitors:
- CTRL
increments of 1 frame or vertical unit.
- SHIFT+CTRL
increments of 0.1 frame or vertical unit.
- MiddleMouse toggle:
- A short click restricts the current translation to the X or Y axis. Blender calculates which axis to use, based on the already initiated mouse movement.
Click MiddleMouse again to restore unlimited translation.
- ARROWKEYS
:
- With these keys the mouse cursor can be moved exactly 1 pixel.
- Grabber can be terminated with:
- LeftMouse, SPACEBAR
or ENTER
: move to a new position.
- RightMouse of ESC
: everything returns to the old position.
[point]HKEY
Toggle Handle align / free.
[point]SHIFT+H
Set Handle auto. The selected Bezier handles are converted to auto type.
[point]IKEY
Insert Key. Vertices can be added to the visible curves in the IpoWindow.
A PopupMenu asks you to make a choice:
- "Current Frame"; all visible curves get a vertex on the current frame.
- "Selected Keys"; (only in IpoKey mode) all selected IpoKeys get vertices for each visible curve, including IpoCurves that are not part of the IpoKey.
[point]JKEY
Join vertices. Selected vertices or IpoKeys can be joined. A PopupMenu asks you to make a choice:
- "All Selected"; all selected vertices are replaced by a new one.
- "Selected doubles": all selected vertices that are closer to each other than 0.9 frame are joined.
[point]KKEY
IpoKey mode ON/OFF. If the Ipo block is Object Ipo type, the Objects are redrawn with the option DrawKey ON (see the explanation under IpoHeader).
[point]RKEY
Recording mode. The X and Y movements of the mouse are linked to the height of the IpoCurve. Thus, this works with a maximum of two selected channels or IpoCurves.
The old curve is completely deleted; the new one becomes a 'linear' type. You cannot change parts of curves with recording.
The scale at which this happens is determined by the view of the IpoWindow.
A PopupMenu asks you to make a choice:
- "Still"; the current frame is used as the starting point.
- "Play anim"; the animation starts, allowing you to see the correlation with other animation systems.
During recording mode, the SPACEKEY
or ENTER
or LeftMouse to stop recording. Use ESCKEY
to undo changes.
[point]SKEY
Scaling mode. This works on selected IpoCurves and vertices.
The degree of scaling is precisely linked to the mouse movement. Try to move from the (rotation) midpoint with the mouse.
In IpoKey mode, you can only scale horizontally.
Alternatives for starting scaling mode:
- LeftMouse (click-hold-draw) draw a sharp angle; a V-shaped line.
The following options are available in scaling mode:
- Limitors:
- CTRL
: in increments of 0.1.
- SHIFT+CTRL
: in increments of 0.01.
- MiddleMouse toggle:
A short click limits scaling to the X or Y axis. Blender calculates which axis to use based on the already initiated mouse movement.
Click MiddleMouse again to return to free scaling.
- ARROWKEYS
These keys allow you to move the mouse cursor exactly 1 pixel.
- XKEY
Make the horizontal scaling negative, the X-flip.
- YKEY
Make the vertical scaling negative, the Y-flip.
- Terminate size mode with:
LeftMouse or SPACEBAR
or ENTER
: move to a new location.
RightMouse or ESC
: everything returns to its previous state.
[point]SHIFT+S
Snap Menu.
- "Horizontal": The selected Bezier handles are set to horizontal.
- "To next": The selected handle or vertex is set to the same (Y) value as the next one.
- "To frame": The selected handles or vertices are set to the exact frame values.
- "To current frame": The selected handle or vertex is moved to the current frame.
[point]TKEY
If an IpoCurve is selected: "Ipo Type". The type of selected IpoCurves can be changed. A PopupMenu asks you to make a choice:
- "Constant": after each vertex of the curve, this value remains constant, and is not interpolated.
- "Linear": linear interpolation occurs between the vertices.
- "Bezier": the vertices get a handle (i.e. two extra vertices) with which you can indicate the curvature of the interpolation curve.
If a Key is selected: "Key Type". The type of selected Keys can be changed.
- "Linear": linear interpolation occurs between the Keys. The Key line is displayed as a broken line.
- "Cardinal": fluent interpolation occurs between the Keys; this is the default.
- "BSpline": extra fluent interpolation occurs between the Keys, four Keys are now involved in the interpolation calculation. Now the positions themselves cannot be displayed precisely, however. The Key line is shown as a broken line.
[point]VKEY
Vector Handle. The selected Bezier handles are converted to vector type.
[point]XKEY
Erase selected. The selected vertices, IpoKeys or IpoCurves are deleted.
If there are selected VertexKeys, they are also deleted.
-cw-
Last modified: Tue Oct 24 13:54:37 CEST 2000