Section Plane Animation

Nick W · 28 Nov 2007, 11:06

This seems to be a basic technique that is well-known around here, but I've been unsuccessful in my attempts to get a handle on how section plane animation works.

An example of what I'm trying to achieve can be found in the first linked video in this thread by Paul Russam (the nursing home site one). About 2.5 minutes into the video, he starts using an animated section plane. I've also seen it in multiple other animations posted here, this is just the most recent one, so I remember where it is...

I have achieved motion of my section plane in animation, but there are two parts which I am missing:

First and foremost, I can only get the section plane to fly away like a bird into the sky. This in contrast to the slow smooth motion as in Paul's video. I have slowed down the scene transition time, but it still flies away up into the sky - definitely not smooth. Also the transition from one section plane position to another (1st floor, 2nd floor, etc) - as I mentioned, I've only gotten it to fly away, not to move from one position to another.
The red cut lines are cool. How are they displayed?

Any suggestions to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated.

Peace,
Nick

boofredlay · 28 Nov 2007, 11:07

Nick, here is some info on how Paul achieves his animations. I am not positive the section cut info is there but it is a start.

410 Gone

(www.sketchucation.com)

Nick W · 28 Nov 2007, 11:08

I found an answer to question 2:

You can edit various line type colors in the Styles menu:
Styles/Edit/Modeling/Section Cuts

John Sayers · 28 Nov 2007, 11:09

Nick - set up a model with a section cut through it and hide section planes but show section cuts. Save the page. Now show the section plane and hide the section plane (right click hide!!) and add another section plane and slide it futher down the building, hide section planes and save that page.

If you go from page 1 to page 2 the section cut will slide down the building.

cheers
john

Gaieus · 28 Nov 2007, 11:09

Thanks John,

I've already seen this happen but was too lazy to find out how it really works.

juju · 28 Nov 2007, 11:10

Nick, maybe you need to PM Paul and ask him if he wants advise on how he does it. I'm thinking that maybe Paul uses some of the Smustard ruby scripts for this, have a look at their "presentation bundle".

Gaieus · 28 Nov 2007, 11:10

Juju,

I could get it to work without any scripts (at least not that I know of...)

Nick W · 28 Nov 2007, 11:10

Great, thanks all.

Well, it just as simple as that.

Not sure what I was doing before, but my confusion may have been on account of trying to maneuver the moving section plane among an existing set of scenes. I just wiped my existing scenes and started over. Works as expected.

Thanks again.

Edson · 28 Nov 2007, 11:11

nick,

have you watched go-2-school's video on sections ? the one you want is #31.

regards.

charevir56 · 28 Nov 2007, 11:11

Edson is right, that video show all about section animation, i made my first antimation and post on forum portugues i used a model from Arqpadao, here is my video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qjGr3KqKLmM

boofredlay · 28 Nov 2007, 11:12

Dude, that rocks!!!

Great work.

Edson · 28 Nov 2007, 11:13

charevir, beautifull animation work.

Gaieus · 28 Nov 2007, 11:13

Just perfect.
Just what I need for my archaeology stuff: popping in with the "ruins" and reconstructing the whole building with animation like this. Step-by-step.

I'll jump into it.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Masta Squidge · 28 Nov 2007, 11:13

Aidan Chopra's videos own all:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-sQ-7dt95yw

Ive been watching alot of them lately.