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01_3D_setKeysFromData_positionRotation.md

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Linking three dimensional position and rotation data to a 3D model

These steps can be applied to animating the position and orientation of any 3D object over time. Here we demonstrate the concept with some fake sample data and a simple 3D model of an elephant seal.

There is a PDF and video version of this tutorial if you prefer to learn in either of those formats. See our online learning center for a full list of our tutorials.

Data Processing

We first need to process the data to get it into the proper format. If you have 3-axis inertial motion sensors and a way to measure speed, you can calculate the three dimensional position and rotation for an animal with high precision, especially at high speeds. For more advice on how to process your data- follow this helpful tutorial: Animal Orientation Tutorial by Mark Johnson.

Example data:

See a sample dataset in our data folder called Example_PositionRotationData.csv Your data should be translated to a format similar to this:

Linking data to 3D model position

  1. Download and store 3D model

    Find a free 3D model online with an .obj download option and download it.

  2. Import 3D model

  3. Rename your model

  4. Save your scene

  5. Open the script editor

  6. Check your data

    Check that your data is in the format listed here.

  7. Enter your code

    Enter the code from 03_setKeysFromData_positionRotation.py (or copy/paste from here into your script editor).

     import csv
 import pymel.core as pm

 #Defining variables which will be used as column indices
 SECONDS      = 0
 PITCH_DEG    = 1
 ROLL_DEG     = 2
 HEAD_DEG     = 3
 X_POS        = 4
 Z_POS        = 5
 DEPTH        = 6
 
 #Defining two variables which will be used as indices where animation starts and ends 
 START = 0  #start time in sec
 END = 12   #end time in sec

 fs = 10 #Sample frequency (in Hz or "samples per second")

 #Reading in .csv file (update to reflect your own path)
 with open('~data/V1_Example_PositionRotationData.csv') as csv_file:
     data = csv.reader(csv_file, delimiter=',')
     
     #For loop runs through all rows in data .csv file
     for i, row in enumerate(data):
         if i % 10000 == 0:
             print 'Processing row %s' % (i)
             #Print progress in with data row counter in console to keep track of if/where code gets stuck
                 
         #If the row number is between the start and end indices of where we want to animate, run this code.        
         if i >= START*fs and i < END*fs: 
             
             #We will use the function float() to return floating point numbers (with decimals) for data values
             
             time = float(i) / fs - START #Translate .csv data time into animation time
             time = time * 24 #Get from frames to seconds
             
             translateX_value = float(row[X_POS])
             translateZ_value = float(row[Z_POS]) #to fit axis orientations
             depth_value      = float(row[DEPTH])
             
             #Define which object will be transformed according to data (use name as described in "Outliner")
             object = pm.ls('elephantseal')[0] 
             
             #..setKey function sets a keyframe of the given value at the given time.
             object.translateX.setKey(value=translateX_value, time=time)
             object.translateZ.setKey(value=translateZ_value, time=time)
             object.translateY.setKey(value=depth_value, time=time)
             
             pitch_value = -float(row[PITCH_DEG]) 
             head_value  = float(row[HEAD_DEG])
             roll_value  = float(row[ROLL_DEG])
             
             #..setKey function sets a keyframe of the given value at the given time.
             object.rotateX.setKey(value=pitch_value, time=time)
             object.rotateY.setKey(value=head_value, time=time)
             object.rotateZ.setKey(value=roll_value, time=time)

             print 'setting y= %s msw, x= %s, z= %s, rotX= %s, rotY= %s, rotZ = %s for time= %s frames' % (depth_value , translateX_value , translateZ_value , pitch_value , head_value , roll_value , time)`

  8. Preview animation

  9. Smooth animation

  10. Playblast animation

  11. Scale your scene

  12. Texture your seal

  13. Add some water

  14. Open render preview

  15. Create a SkyDome light

  16. Press play to preview

  17. Create node for SkyDome

  18. Link SkyDome light to color ramp

  19. Update preview

  20. Assign a texture to your ocean

  21. Another method to assign texture

  22. Customize ocean surface texture

  23. Update preview

  24. Link a file to use as a displacement map for the the surface of the ocean

  25. Find your files

    Select the folder icon and navigate to a saved copy of this file repository: Google Drive file repository with ocean texture image sequence

    Select the first image of the sequence.

    These displacement image maps were generated in Maya using the Boss Spectral Wave Solver with parameters similar to those in the open ocean, to give a real sense of adventure in the sea!

  26. Adjust the scale of the texture

  27. Loop the image sequence using an expression

    Enter this code to loop through all the images in the folder: file2.frameExtension=((frame%120)+1);

  28. Render your scene

  29. Make a video with your scene

  30. Enjoy your animation!