Introduction to Animation in XSI

Learn the essentials of animation and creative approaches to effectively using XSI's robust animation tools. Contains 6 hours of project-driven training for aspiring animators and experienced artists seeking a refresher.

Popular highlights include: Overview of XSI Animation Tools; Understanding Non-linear Animation; Manipulating Keyframes from Timeline; Overview of Animation Editor; Using Animation Mixer; Animation Preferences; Frame Rate Preferences; Copying and Pasting Animation; Fine-tuning animation; Editing Keyframes; Dope Sheet; Region Tool; Utilizing Expressions; Using Edit Key Tool; Editing Slope Handles; Controlling Function Curves; Utilizing Snapshots; Automating with Cycle Tools; Animating Seamless Cycles; Plotting Function Curve Cycles; Ghosting Animation; Path Animation; Layering Animation; Plotting Parameters; Optimizing Keyframe Data; Transitioning Animation Clips; Animating with Constraints; Linking Parameters; Parameter-driven Relationships; Real-time Previews of Sequences;

1. Overview of Softimage's timeline 3. Discussion on Softimage's frame rate and animation preferences 5. Temporarily disabling animation in Softimage 7. Speeding up the keying process with Auto Key 9. Copying keyframes in Softimage 11. Exploring the Dope Sheet 13. Working with Softimage's animation editor 15. Using simple expressions in the animation editor to enhance animation 17. Adding and removing keyframes in the animation editor 19. Using the animation editor to copy and paste keyframes 21. Working with function curve Snapshots 23. Modifying slope handles for moving holds in animation 25. Exploring the keys menu in the animation editor 27. Accessing transform parameters for keyframes 29. Working with Softimage's high level editing tool 31. Cycling animation in Softimage 33. Animating seamless cycles (part 2): modifying function curves to cycle seamlessly 35. Plotting parameters to extract animation data 37. Utilizing Character Key Sets in Softimage 39. Understanding Softimage's Animation Mixer 41. Analyzing time properties for animation clips 43. Animating with Softimage constraints 45. Previewing animation in real-time with captures

2. Understanding Softimage's playback panel 4. Basic ways to set keyframes and remove animation data 6. Copying and pasting animation from the keying panel 8. Manipulating keyframes from Softimage's timeline 10. Using the middle mouse button as an alternate solution for copying and pasting animation 12. Copying and pasting animation in Softimage's Dope Sheet 14. Modifying keyframes in the animation editor 16. Restricting the movement of keyframes in time and value 18. Examining Softimage's various interpolation types via the animation editor 20. Copying and pasting entire function curves 22. Manipulating slope handles 24. Zeroing a slope's length and breaking a slope's orientation 26. Efficiently flipping function curves in value and time 28. Utilizing key properties 30. Ghosting animation in Softimage 32. Animating seamless cycles (part 1): animating parameters 34. Using path animation to animate a long trajectory 36. Optimizing keyframe data while preserving animation 38. Exploring Softimage's Animation Layering System 40. Inspecting animation clip properties 42. Blending animation clip data in Softimage 44. Driving parameters with the parameter connection editor 46. Rendering Animations into images or a movie