User manual ZAXWERKS PROANIMATOR 4.0

[. . . ] Temple City, CA 9780 (66) 309-90 phone (66) 309-94 fax http://www. zaxwerks. com Sales: sales@zaxwerks. com Tech Support: support@zaxwerks. com © 996 - 006 Zaxwerks Inc. All rights reserved. This manual, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such license. The information in this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and does not represent product specifications or commitment on the part of Zaxwerks. Zaxwerks assumes no responsibility or liability for any error or inaccuracies that may appear in this document. [. . . ] 4 Resolution Settings The resolution settings let you set the size of the image that will be rendered . In the ProAnimator the Resolution Presets popup contains a variety of rendering sizes . If you want a custom rendering size, just type it into the Width or Height fields . In the ProModeler there is an additional field for DPI, and the Resolution popup lets you pick the real world units of Inches, Millimeters, and Points . Having control over DPI is very useful, especially if you are creating a piece for print . Just type in 300 dpi at 4x5 inches and the ProModeler will calculate how many pixels to render . Zaxwerks ProAnimator / ProModeler - User Guide V. 4 73 Pixel Aspect The Pixel Aspect popup is used to set the shape of the rendered pixels . Most computer screens show pixels at a 1:1 ratio where each pixel is as tall as it is wide . The ProAnimator uses this popup in conjunction with the Resolution Presets popup so if you choose a resolution that uses nonsquare pixels the Pixel Aspect will be automatically set for you . Alpha Channel The Alpha Channel checkbox enables the creation of an alpha channel during the rendering . When this option is turned on, which it is by default, the background color of the scene is dropped out and only the pixels making up the 3D image will remain . If this option is turned off, you will see the 3D image as well as the background color in the final image . The alpha channel also contains the antialiasing information, so the rendered image will composite perfectly with other layers in your video editing or compositing program . When the Alpha channel option is used there is no need to render over a green or blue background and then key out the background later. 74 Zaxwerks ProAnimator / ProModeler - User Guide V. 4 Background Color The Background Color swatch shows the color of the background used in the scene preview window, and used in the rendered image if the Alpha Channel option is turned off . This will open up a color picker where you can pick any color . Background Images And Movies The dark gray box below the background color swatch is used to load a background image or a background movie . The background image will appear in the 3D window and is used for registering the 3D objects with other images . Background images and movies can be rendered into the final image by leaving them visible during rendering . If you see the background in the 3D window it will be rendered into the final image . Background images and movies can be in any of the file formats supported for textures . So, if you are rendering an image that is 720 x 486, you should use a background that is the same size . Background Color swatch Zaxwerks ProAnimator / ProModeler - User Guide V. 4 75 Onscreen Grids The ProAnimator and ProModeler have several grids to help you align and layout objects . Floor Grid - This is the grid you see below objects in the 3D window . Action Safe - Action appearing outside of this area may not be seen on all TVs . [. . . ] Holding down Control+ Shift, with the Scale tool, gives you proportional scaling where all three axes scale the same amount larger or smaller . 57 Inside the Material Set-up Window Temporary overrides: only active while these keys are held down . Enables you to leave the Split tool selected, then temporarily turn on the Grabber or Dolly tool to change the view in the window . Spacebar = Grabber hand Spacebar + Control = Dolly in/out Click a key to activate this tool: S = Split tool G = Grabber Hand tool D = Dolly tool Z = Zoom tool (hold Option key for Zoom Out) Zaxwerks ProAnimator / ProModeler - User Guide V. 4 -- The Effect Of Modifier Keys On The Tools -- Shift Tumble Constrains to X-only or Y-only rotation Shift has no effect on the Roll tool Constrains to X-only or Y-only tracking Shift has no effect on the Dolly tool Constrains to X-only, Y-only or XY proportional scaling Control Activates the Roll tool Activates the Tumble tool Activates the Dolly tool Activates the Track tool Activates Z scaling The Control key activates the "Complimentary" tool. Shift+Control Activates the Roll tool Constrained tumbling Activates the Dolly tool Constrained tracking Makes scaling XYZ proportional Command (Mac) Alt (Win) Activates "Drag Using Object Axes" mode Activates "Drag Using Object Axes" mode Activates "Drag Using Object Axes" mode Activates "Drag Using Object Axes" mode No difference. [. . . ]