Let’s start animating a character in Cascadeur! If you are starting or want to animate a 3d character and want to delve into the fascinating world of animation, you are in the right place. This detailed tutorial is designed to be your basic guide, helping you get started animating with Cascadeur. The tutorial deals with various topics, from the complexities of the interface to the creation of your first animation, all step by step.
Introducing Cascadeur’s Interface
Once you’ve successfully downloaded and installed Cascadeur, the first thing that greets you is the startup window. For easy access to this window at any time, simply click the home icon. Within the samples tab, a plethora of scenes with characters and animations await your exploration. To get started, let’s open one of these scenes as an example.
Navigating the Viewport
The viewport is where your characters come to life. Familiarize yourself with navigation tools to manipulate your perspective:
- To rotate the camera, hold the “Alt” key and left-click.
- Zoom in and out using the right mouse button.
- Move the camera by holding “Alt” and the middle mouse button.
- For more control, try using the translate manipulator (“W” key).
Auto Posing: Elevating Your Animation
Auto Posing, an AI-assisted tool, allows you to predict body positions using key points. Activate the tool by clicking the blue points on the character’s foot, then use the translate manipulator to move it. Observe the dynamic changes that ripple through the pose as you manipulate individual points.
Dealing with Multiple Points and Controllers
Mastering the art of animation involves handling multiple points and controllers:
- Select multiple points by holding “Shift” and clicking on them.
- Deactivate points by selecting them and clicking the deactivate button or pressing “Shift + Z”.
- Utilize the local and global manipulator modes for precise movement and orientation adjustments.
- Employ the direction controller to guide movement and positioning.
Crafting Animation Sequences
Animating sequences involves setting keyframes and defining poses:
- Create a sequence of poses on different frames to craft animation.
- Keyframes are depicted in blue on the timeline.
- Mirror poses efficiently by selecting all points and using the mirror tool.
- Use interpolation to smoothly transition between keyframes, controlling animation timing.
Embracing Physics and Secondary Motion
To infuse realism and dynamism into your animation, embrace physics and secondary motion:
- Employ Autophysics to predict motion changes and transitions.
- Customize physics settings to achieve desired effects.
- Apply secondary motion to simulate dynamic behavior, but remember to balance its influence.
Bringing Your Animation to Life
With your animation complete, it’s time to export and share your creation with the world:
- Export your animation as an FBX or video file.
- Remember to fine-tune settings, experiment with physics, and perfect the details.
Here a Cascadeur tutorial archive: /rigging/cascadeur-tutorial/