Vertex Animation
Vertex animation or PLA (Point Level Animation) allows you to animate the individual vertices of an object. Vertex animation can be useful for creating complex or simulated animations. For example, it can be used to create a flag waving animation using cloth simulation.
Some things to consider when using Vertex Animation:
- Complex vertex animation can cause performance issues on lower end devices. Please pay close attention to your Lens frame rate
- Because vertex animation is storing keyframes for each vertex, vertex animations have a heavy file size. Please pay close attention to your Lens size-on-disk
The guides below have exports guides for the following 3D tools:
And a guide for importing Vertex Animation into Lens Studio:
Maya Export Guide
To export from Maya, first we need to define a set of objects that we want to export as vertex animation. In order to create a set in Maya, select the objects that have a geometry cache, then select Create -> Sets -> Quick Select Set…
from Maya’s menu bar.
This will open the Create Quick Select Set
window. In this window you can set the name for your objects set. Then, click the OK
button.
Now we are ready to export the Vertex Animation. Select the object(s) you wish to export in Maya’s Outliner
window. Then, Select the File -> Export Selection...
from Maya’s menu bar.
This will open the Export Selection
option window.
In the Export Selections
option window, expand Animation
options. Then check the Animation
checkbox.
Then expand the Geometry Cache File(s)
option and check the Geometry Cache File(s)
checkbox.
Now we need to select the Set
that we created before in the Set
drop down menu.
You should now be ready to export. Give your file a name then select the Export Selection
button.
To learn more about Maya's export process, refer to the Maya, 3D Object Export guide.
You now have an exported FBX
file with a folder in the same path that contains data for Vertex Animation.
Cinema 4D Export Guide
To export your own 3D object PLA
animation we need to make sure that the animation is cached as keyframes and is not using Cinema 4D's deformers
or effects
. Next, select the File -> Export… -> FBX (*.fbx)
from Cinema 4D’s menu bar. Select where you want to save your FBX and click Save
.
This will open the FBX Export Settings
window. In the FBX Export Settings
, inside the Animation
section, make sure Tracks
and PLA to Vertex Cache
are checked.
To learn more about Cinema 4D’s export process, refer to the Cinema 4D, 3D Object Export guide.
Finally, in the FBX Export Settings
window, click the OK
button.
You now have an exported FBX file with a folder in the same path that contains data for Vertex Animation.
3ds Max Export Guide
To export from 3ds Max, first we need to create a set of object(s) that we want to export as vertex animation. To create a set in 3ds Max, select the object(s), then click Create Selection Set
from 3ds Max’s menu bar and give the set a name.
Now we have a set called SphereSelectionSet
.
We are now ready to export the Vertex Animation
. Click on the 3ds Max icon
in the top left corner and then select Export
.
Select a path where you want to save your FBX
file and then in the Save as type
drop down menu, select Autodesk(*.FBX)
. Then, click the Save
button.
This will open the FBX Export
window.
In the FBX Export
window, click the small triangle to the left of Animation
to show the animation options and check the Animation
checkbox.
Then click on the small triangle to the left of Point Cache File(s)
to show the options and then, check the Point Cache File(s)
checkbox.
Now we need to select the set that we created before in the Set
drop down menu.
You should now be ready to export. Click on OK
button to export.
To learn more about 3ds Max’s export process, refer to the 3ds Max, 3D Object Export guide.
You now have an exported FBX file with a folder in the same path that contains data for Vertex Animation.
Vertex Animation Import Guide
To import your Vertex Animation make sure you have both a FBX
and also a folder with the XML
and MC (MCX for Maya)
inside. This folder should be stored at the same level as your FBX
. Then, drag and drop your FBX
file into the Lens Studio Scene Hierarchy
panel. This will open the FBX Import Options
window. The Import Vertex Animation
should be checked by default.
Once the FBX
is imported into Lens Studio, you should see it listed in your Scene Hierarchy
panel as a new object added to the scene.
In order to check if your object(s) has a Vertex Animation, select the object. Then, in the Inspector
panel make sure there is a Vertex Animation
component.
To learn how to play the animation please visit the Playing 3D Animation guide.