What's New with SU Animate 3.1 Video

Check out a summary of features video

Also, take a look at the previous 3.0 video tutorial for explanation of other features

SU Animate Version 3.1

What?s new?

Use Component names not just Groups

SU Animate can now utilize components in animations along a path. Once a component is given a name, (above ?definition name? in the entity info window) it will appear in the animation parameters window.

Nested Groups or Components

SU Animate now has the ability to perform nested animations. Nested animations allow the user to create animations such as the wheel of a car rotating as it moves along a path. Other applications would include a propeller on a plane as the plane flies through the air or a drill bit spinning as it drills through a material. In the example of a tire on a car, the tire must be a group assigned to a round animation path both of which are grouped in a second group or component. The second group or component (the tire and the path) is then assigned to the animation path the tire will travel along.

An example of nested groups creating some interesting motions: Forklift moving backwards with rotating tires, lift moving

Multiple Camera Targets

A model can now have more than one target. Each unique path can have its own target assigned to it. The target-per-path option allows the user to switch between targets. Since SU Animate will progress to the next path after a path has reached its end, if the next path is assigned to another target, the target is effectively switched and the camera will follow that target.

Click on the image to see a demonstration of multiple paths and multiple targets to create complex walk-thru animation

Preview Control

The new preview control allows you to speed up or slow down the SU Animate Preview before you commit to making scenes.

Polyline Path Tool

When selecting this tool, you are asked to input a value for the radius of arcs created between each line. If you make a mistake, you can right click to bring up the ?Undo Last? option. When finished creating the path, you can right click and select done or simply double click to bring up the animation path window. Double clicking to end path creation may cause crashing when creating paths with many points.

Circular Path tool

This tool can be used to quickly make a circular path and jump right into the animation path window. Simply drag the circle to the size you desire, or type a value for the radius into the SketchUp VCB after selecting the circular path tool.

Edit Polyline/Circular Path

These tools are for when you decide to edit the shape, length or size of a polyline or circular path that has already been created. The edit polyline tool allows you to click on a line to reposition and select nodes of the path to reposition as well. Circular paths can be resized to a different radius after selecting the Edit Circular Path tool.

Make Path From Curves

As in previous versions of SU Animate, you can still create a path by linking together arcs and curves. You can either context click and select Create Animation Path, or select the toolbar button ?Make Path From Curves?. Either method will bring you directly to the animation path window to set animation parameters. Note: paths created in this manner cannot be manipulated with the Edit Polyline path tool.

Edit Animation Path

With a path selected, click this button to bring up the animation path window. This is the same window that comes up immediately after creating a path. This tool is if you decide to change the number of frames or what group is animating on the path.

Preview Animation

This tool allows you to see how your animation will look before creating scenes. The preview will begin instantly after clicking the button and will show exactly what the animation will look like when you create scenes. You are asked to input a number of scenes to account for any delay or path repetitions you may have. You can also click on Faster or Slower from the Preview dialog box.

Make Scenes

This tool creates the actual scenes in SketchUp in order to export the animation as a video file, or to render the scenes with Podium. You will be prompted to enter the number of scenes to be created. Unlike previous versions, if you have not saved the file, you will be unable to make scenes since the only way to undo the scene creation is to revert the model to the last time it was saved.