Step Motion
Step Motion should be easy to use, but feel free to read the documentation, or watch the video below.
Documentation
We'll go through all the functions Step Motion has. Let's first make sure that we have setup Step Motion properly. After installing the addon (StepMotion.py) you could either open the "StepMotion.blend" file or append the "Step Motion Preview" object to another Blender file. Step Motion makes use of the Step Motion Addon, Step Motion Preview and Step Motion Shader, here's what they do.
Step Motion Addon
Create Step Motion
The first time you open the Step Motion panel, it'll only say "Create Step Motion", pressing this will open the other menus, create a Collection called 'Step Motion' and one called 'Frames' and create your first frame; a smoothed Sphere.
Create
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New Frame (ctrl + shift + N)
Creates a new frame, containing a smoothed Sphere.
Duplicate Frame (ctrl + shift + D)
Creates a duplicate of the current selected frame.
Add Object
When an Object outside of the Frames collection is selected, and Add Object pressed, it'll be moved to the Frames collection and renamed to Frame
Set Position
Set the position of the selected Frames to the World Origin
Visibility
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Mode
Changes every Frame in the Frames collection to Object or Sculpt mode
Frame (ctrl + MouseWheel / LeftMouseButton + Drag)
Displays current Active Frame number
< > (ctrl + ArrowKey Left/Right)
Flick through Frames
Onion Skinning
Turn Onion Skinning on/off (only works when animation is paused)
Frame Visibility
Turn non active Frames Visibility on/off (only works when animation is paused)
Finish
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Finish Step Motion
Renames Frames collection to 'Animation', deletes Step Motion Collection, and resets Step Motion Addon.
Export
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Start / End
Start and end Frame of exported .abc
Export .abc
Exports Alymbic to current Blender file location (Object with Step Motion Preview Geometry Node has to be selected and 'Realize Instances' turned on)
Step Motion Preview
Frames Collection
The collection that will be played as an animation
FPS
Speed of the animation
Use Material / Material
When activated, uses the Material selected below. When deactivated, use the individual frames Materials
Loop
Loop the animation, deactivating starts 'Key Frames'
Key Frames
Use to keyframe frames
Realize Instances
By default deactivated, active before exporting .abc
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