3ds Max MAXScript Essentials, 2nd Edition

Transforms and Animation

Chapter 5

This chapter will discuss principles ofanimation via MAXScript. All animation in3ds Max is implemented using one of themany controller classes accessible in theTrack View and Motion Panel, or assignedautomatically by 3ds Max when you use theAuto button to do key framing. Thesecontroller classes are fully accessiblethrough MAXScript.

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

• Work with the position, rotation and scale transforms in MAXScript.
• Calculate rotations accurately.
• Change an object’s pivot point or axis of rotation.
• Create and delete animation keys.
• Work with controllers.
• Work with tangent types.
• Work with the new animation layers system.

Introduction

In this chapter, you will ...