What is DMorph?
DMorph is used to play back an object sequence. Object
sequences are created using SaveMorph, which is one of the
selections on the Customize tab. DMorph
doesn't actually play back by loading the objects and displaying
them, what it does is use the object sequence as a displacement
(morph) for the base object (the object that you applied
DMorph to).
Why is DMorph?
There are several reasons for using DMorph, but perhaps a
good example would be to use it with Soft Body
Dynamics. Lets say you have a flag blowing in the wind
and it's just the way you want it. You would use
SaveMorph to record its animation into individual
objects--one object per frame-- and then use DMorph to play
back the sequence. That way you don't have to use CPU power
to drive the Soft Body Deformation. It will then also
allow you to render the animation with motion blur or over a
network. For more information about Soft Body
Dynamics click here.
Another
good use for DMorph is for making crowds. Just animate
a few characters, then SaveMorph their animation, then use
DMorph to make them into a huge crowd without slowing down
the playback speed as much as real characters would. It also
makes it easier to position them since there are no IK goals to
worry about anymore.
Anything else I should
know?
1) If you save a messiah Project File
(mpj), the object sequence will not save with it. The reason
is that the Project File only saves what
is actually loaded into messiah, but object sequences are
referenced, they are not actually loaded in. So if you send
someone a Project File and are using
DMorph, zip up the object sequence and
send that too. They might then have to re-load the sequence
in Setup, but that's quick, easy and
painless.
2) Look
both ways before crossing the street.
|