Tutorial 7 - Propeller

This is the propeller that we created in week 7, we learnt about using the set key and the auto key with manipulating the propeller and also what adjustments can be made to the propeller to give it a more realistic look. So first of all the set key was explained, this allows you to manipulate objects on the screen by setting the first frame with the object in one state and the last frame with the object set differently, 3ds max will then tween the objects that have been moved between the frames. As you can see in the video this has been used, the first frame was setup so the propeller had not been spun but on the state changes throughout ending with the propeller having spun many times. This is good for people animating helicopters or fan propelled objects. The auto key does a similar job the the set key but does the key setting for you, for example if I moved the timeline up 20 frames and then manipulated the object it would automatically tween the object rather than me selecting to add a frame in.

To create the propeller I had to first make the four rectangles which were going to spin and attach these to a centre spinning piece, the circle. Once these four objects were attached I then pressed set key and added the first frame in, then dragged the timeline to the 100th frame and span the propeller many times. You will see in the video that a motion blur has been applied this gives it a more realistic presence, I added the motion blur by right clicking on the object, object properties, motion blur. You can the adjust the properties to have different effects. Also you will see in the video the propeller changes colour, this was done with the auto key and dragging the timeline on four frames I changed the colour.