Animation
The animation toolbar provides tools for creating animated views in Rhino.
Choose among the viewport display and render modes to display the animation images.
To set up an animation
Animation options
Set up one day sun study
SetOneDaySunAnimation
Animate sun movement through a specified calendar day.
Note: Skylight is turned off during one-day animation studies.
Set up seasonal sun study
SetSeasonalSunAnimation
Animate sun movement through a specified week, month, or year.
Set up fly-through animation
SetFlythroughAnimation
Animate the camera and target movement along a path curve.
Set up path animation
SetPathAnimation
Animate the camera and target movement along separate path curves.
Set up 360 degree turntable animation
Limitations
- Rhino provides limited tools for creating animations of your models. These animation tools move only the camera and the sun. Rhino includes no tools for animating objects.
- Rendering the frames creates a series of still images. These still images can be combined into an animation file.
- Rhino does not include tools for compiling the frames into animation files, but many third-party products specialize in this process.
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The SetTurntableAnimation command animates the camera rotation once around the current target point.
The view rotates once around the current target point. To get an idea of what the animation will look like, click in the Perspective viewport and press and hold the left arrow ◀ or right arrow ▶ key.
Before setting up a turntable animation
- Use the ViewportProperties or Camera command to position the camera and target.
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Direction |
Specifies the direction the view will turn. AntiClockwiseTurns the view anti (counter) clockwise. ClockwiseTurns the view clockwise. |
Animation options
Number of frames
The number of animation frames to capture.
File type
Select an image file type from jpg, bmp, png, or tga to save the frames.
Capture method
Select RenderFull or RenderPreview to capture the frames rendered by the current renderer.
Or, select one of the viewport display modes to capture the frames.
Viewport
Select a viewport in the model.
Animation name
Enter a name for the animation.
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The SetPathAnimation command animates the camera or target movement.
The camera, target, or both are moved. The three results you can get are: moving camera fixed target, moving target with fixed camera, or moving camera with moving target.
Before setting up a path animation
Camera and target setup
For a moving camera with fixed target:
- Draw a curve for the camera path, and create a point object for the target path.
For a moving target with a fixed camera:
- Draw a curve for the target path and create a point object for the camera path.
For a moving camera and a moving target:
- Draw curves for both the camera and target paths.
Path animation setup
- Select the camera path object.
- Select the target path object.
Animation options
Number of frames
The number of animation frames to capture.
File type
Select an image file type from jpg, bmp, png, or tga to save the frames.
Capture method
Select RenderFull or RenderPreview to capture the frames rendered by the current renderer.
Or, select one of the viewport display modes to capture the frames.
Viewport
Select a viewport in the model.
Animation name
Enter a name for the animation.
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The SetFlythroughAnimation command animates the camera and target movement.
A fly-through animation looks ahead as the camera moves along the path.
Before setting up a fly-through animation
Fly-through animation setup
- Select the path curve.
Animation options
Number of frames
The number of animation frames to capture.
File type
Select an image file type from jpg, bmp, png, or tga to save the frames.
Capture method
Select RenderFull or RenderPreview to capture the frames rendered by the current renderer.
Or, select one of the viewport display modes to capture the frames.
Viewport
Select a viewport in the model.
Animation name
Enter a name for the animation.
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The SetOneDaySunAnimation command animates sun movement through a specified calendar day.
Note
- A daily sun study moves the sun across the sky to show how the shadows change on a given day.
- This animation type is useful if you need to see where shadows are going to fall based on the location of the sun. Architects, civil engineers, and city planners use these studies to determine if new construction will block sunlight from existing structures and green spaces.
- Daylight savings time is automatically taken into account.
- Sun study animations do not move the camera or target locations. Instead, they animate the sun. You cannot combine sun study animations with other animation types.
One Day Sun Animation Options
Latitude (-90 to 90)
Specifies the model's latitude location.
Longitude (-180 to 180)
Specifies the model's longitude location.
North angle (clockwise from y axis)
Specifies the model's north direction.
Date
Specifies the date.
Calendar
Click to select a date from calendar
Start time
Specifies the start time.
End time
Specifies the end time.
Minutes between frames
Specifies time interval.
File type
Select supported file type.
Capture method
Select from RenderFull using the current renderer, or display modes using Scene Lighting.
Viewport
Select viewport name.
Animation name
The name for the animation file set.
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The SetSeasonalSunAnimation command animates sun movement through a specified week, month, or year.
Note
- Shadows are shown at the same time of each day.
- This animation type is useful if you need to see where shadows are going to fall based on the location of the sun. Architects, civil engineers, and city planners use these studies to determine if new construction will block sunlight from existing structures and green spaces.
- Sun study animations do not move the camera or target locations. Instead, they animate the sun. You cannot combine sun study animations with other animation types.
Seasonal Sun Animation Options
Latitude (-90 to 90)
Specifies the model's latitude location.
Longitude (-180 to 180)
Specifies the model's longitude location.
North angle (clockwise from y axis)
Specifies the model's north direction.
Start date
Specifies the start date.
Calendar
Click to select a date from calendar.
End date
Specifies the end date.
Calendar
Click to select a date from calendar.
Time
Specifies the time of day.
File type
Select supported file type.
Capture method
Select from RenderFull using the current renderer, or display modes using Scene Lighting.
Days between frames
Specifies time interval.
Viewport
Select viewport name.
Animation name
The name for the animation file set.
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The PlayAnimation command plays an animation or animation preview.
The preview toolbar lets you view the animation sequence in wireframe. It is much faster than rendering or shading each of the frames.
For faster playback, play the animation preview in a Wireframe view.
To preview the animation in the viewport
- In the Animation Preview toolbar, click the Preview animation button.
The viewport will change showing a preview of the animation. You cannot adjust the speed of the preview playback.
Press Esc to stop.
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The ViewFirstFrame command displays the first animation frame.
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The ViewFrameNumber command displays the specified animation frame number.
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The ViewLastFrame command displays the last animation frame.
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The ViewNextFrame command displays the next animation frame.
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The ViewPreviousFrame command displays the previous animation frame.
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The RecordAnimation command renders and saves animation frames.
Each frame renders and saves to the specified folder. When all the frames are rendered, a preview of the animation will be displayed in your web browser.
To record the animation frames
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In the Animation toolbar, click Record animation button.
Press Enter to start recording.
Press Esc to stop.
Command-line options
TargetFolder
Specifies the folder for saving the animation frames.
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Search for "RecordAnimationTargetFolder" in Advanced settings to change the default target folder.
RunAnimation
Runs the animation when it is complete in an HTML page.
NumberOfPassesForRealtimeDisplay
Sets how many passes will be calculated for capturing each frame when recording the animation from the Raytraced viewport.