Forum Discussion
User Friendly 3D Animation Program?
I'm looking for a 3D animation program that is user friendly. The problem is not that it is hard to move things around on the scene and such, the problem is using the timeline. You really shouldn't have to google how to use it, yet they tend to design them in such a way that you have to.
The program that I ended up using for quite a while was Daz Studio, and that's because it is simple. However, it doesn't let you drag a keyframe or copy and paste frames, though there is a way to "copy" and "paste". First you select a keyframe, click on a button that looks like an arrow with some lines and select memorize to copy. Then create a new keyframe, click on the same button and click restore to paste. In that same menu you also got copy and paste, but those doesn't work for the keyframes. With memorize and restore, you could technically move frames, but it would be so much better if you could just drag the frames.
I just had a look at Blender. It starts up showing the timeline panel, where you can see the different frames as well as play the animation. But there is no way to do anything with the frames, other than adding more. In order to change something, you have to change to the DropSheet panel. When you have that panel selected, you can't play the animation, which means that you will have to keep switching back and fourth when you want to play and edit the animation.
It have an ordinary copy and paste system, however, dragging frames doesn't work like you would expect it. Do you use the left mouse button, nope. Instead you use the right mouse button, which is also how you select a frame. To put the frame where you want it, you think you would release the mouse button, again, nope. What about pressing the right mouse button again, well, that just brings the keyframe back to the original position. Which is a pretty nifty feature... Oh, wait, there is a thing called Ctrl+Z... So what's the point, besides making you frustrated. Anyways, instead you press the left mouse button to let it go.
You can select multiple frames by holding down shift and right clicking the frames, which thankfully makes sense. Something that it is missing though, is the ability to drag over frames to highlight them. Now when you have multiple keyframes selected, you'd think that you would be able to drag them, the same way you dragged one frame, but it is not the case. Instead it just moves one frame, so what is the point of selecting multiple frames... It turns out that you have to press the G key... Excuse me, do you really have to make it more complicated than it is...
Could it be improved, of course it could. Combine Timeline and DropSheet, so that it is possible to edit and play the animation in the same menu. Use the left mouse button for both dragging and letting go. Make it possible to drag multiple frames the same way you drag one frame and add the ability to drag to highlight frames.
Another thing I'd like to mention is the fact that a keyframe looks differently in each panel, which shows lack of consistency. That is actually the problem with the thing, the way you interact with the timeline lacks consistency, making things overly complicated for what it is.
It may just be a small thing for most people, but it just makes it so frustrating to learn these tools when I have to keep google things that should be completely obvious. I also would like to learn the program that is user friendly, so that I can make sure that things gets done, and the program doesn't slow me down.
So, is there any user friendly 3D animation program? I also want to be able to import the animations to Unity, but that shouldn't be a problem.
The program that I ended up using for quite a while was Daz Studio, and that's because it is simple. However, it doesn't let you drag a keyframe or copy and paste frames, though there is a way to "copy" and "paste". First you select a keyframe, click on a button that looks like an arrow with some lines and select memorize to copy. Then create a new keyframe, click on the same button and click restore to paste. In that same menu you also got copy and paste, but those doesn't work for the keyframes. With memorize and restore, you could technically move frames, but it would be so much better if you could just drag the frames.
I just had a look at Blender. It starts up showing the timeline panel, where you can see the different frames as well as play the animation. But there is no way to do anything with the frames, other than adding more. In order to change something, you have to change to the DropSheet panel. When you have that panel selected, you can't play the animation, which means that you will have to keep switching back and fourth when you want to play and edit the animation.
It have an ordinary copy and paste system, however, dragging frames doesn't work like you would expect it. Do you use the left mouse button, nope. Instead you use the right mouse button, which is also how you select a frame. To put the frame where you want it, you think you would release the mouse button, again, nope. What about pressing the right mouse button again, well, that just brings the keyframe back to the original position. Which is a pretty nifty feature... Oh, wait, there is a thing called Ctrl+Z... So what's the point, besides making you frustrated. Anyways, instead you press the left mouse button to let it go.
You can select multiple frames by holding down shift and right clicking the frames, which thankfully makes sense. Something that it is missing though, is the ability to drag over frames to highlight them. Now when you have multiple keyframes selected, you'd think that you would be able to drag them, the same way you dragged one frame, but it is not the case. Instead it just moves one frame, so what is the point of selecting multiple frames... It turns out that you have to press the G key... Excuse me, do you really have to make it more complicated than it is...
Could it be improved, of course it could. Combine Timeline and DropSheet, so that it is possible to edit and play the animation in the same menu. Use the left mouse button for both dragging and letting go. Make it possible to drag multiple frames the same way you drag one frame and add the ability to drag to highlight frames.
Another thing I'd like to mention is the fact that a keyframe looks differently in each panel, which shows lack of consistency. That is actually the problem with the thing, the way you interact with the timeline lacks consistency, making things overly complicated for what it is.
It may just be a small thing for most people, but it just makes it so frustrating to learn these tools when I have to keep google things that should be completely obvious. I also would like to learn the program that is user friendly, so that I can make sure that things gets done, and the program doesn't slow me down.
So, is there any user friendly 3D animation program? I also want to be able to import the animations to Unity, but that shouldn't be a problem.
9 Replies
- The short answer is no, there is not any user friendly 3D software out there.
The longer answer is that once you follow some tutorials and practice for a bit the workflows become second nature even if they make no sense initially. Animating in Maya is fairly simple but even in that to move a keyframe on the timeline you need to select a portion of keys that you want and then middle click drag to move it.
Try visiting blender cookie or blender artists and Im sure you will get the hang of it in no time. - I used 3ds Max, again not that user friendly. But to copy and paste keyframes you can use multiple methods, pretty sure the old Ctrl-C Ctrl-V works, but you can just click on a key frame and shift drag to move a copy somewhere.
- Thank you for the replies.
I have been looking up the differences between 3DS Max and Maya. According to this source, http://machinimart.com/maya-vs-3ds-max/, 3DS Max is supposed to be more intuitive, but not be as good as Maya when it comes to making animations. However, 3DS Max is also more focused on games, so I think I'll have to give it a shot as well as Maya. - Max is the most unintuitive application period. I used it for years, and it's a mess now of icons and old code.
Maya is better but still pretty steep learning curve. Personally I use cinema 4d and with its tight integration in After effects and unity it makes a perfect compliment to the rift.
Also the fact you can have multiple documents and do all the normal things like copy and paste and the stuff you are asking about. - User Friendly? ..
First I would stick with Unity's animation tab- It can cover most of your basic animation needs.
2nd, I would give 3d-Max another look.
At its simplest, all you have to do is click the auto key button, adjust anything you want at the proper frame, and the key is set.
If you want to keep it simple, opt to use the 'dope sheet' instead of the curve editor. Plus there is a keyframe timeline for active objects below the time-slider.
best,
AG - I have played around a bit with 3DS Max as well Maya, and they're alright in terms of working with the timeline. In 3DS Max you need to drag a scrollbar to view the different frames, in Maya you need to hold down shift in order to select frames. So it is not a big deal, still, I'm looking for the best alternative there is.
Cinema 4D isn't too bad actually, it would be nice with some more interpolation options, but that is really the only thing so far.
I have looked at animating in Unity, there is no copy and paste, so there is not much use for it. Perhaps it can be good for editing, since it is possible to change the interpolation as you like.
Now I just got to work a bit with these programs and see which I can get the best workflow with. - I find Modo incredibly user friendly.
- Modo's also my preference. Works great with Unity too.
