How to move 3D characters and props?

This tutorial will describe how to move both characters and props in a scene. (This tutorial assumes that a scene is already created with at least a character and an item added.)

1. Moving a character by adding waypoints

Open the character radial menu and left click on [waypoint mode] to go into the waypoint mode.

In the waypoint mode, there would be a yellow waypoint selected and located at the same place as the character to indicate the starting position, while there's a blue line joining the mouse cursor with the yellow waypoint. Add new waypoints by right clicking in the next location you want to go, and a new yellow waypoint shows up in place and is now selected. Add new waypoints repeatedly by right clicking in different locations.

You can left click to select each waypoint and move/rotate with the [widget] just like you do with characters and items. If you select a waypoint that is not the last, adding waypoints will insert the new waypoints before the next waypoint. You can remove the selected waypoints by pressing [Delete], undo the last waypoint added by pressing [Backspace]. Left click to pick a desired moving animation on the right side. Different animation has different moving speeds. Confirm waypoints by [Enter] or left clicking on the green tick at the bottom right corner of the screen. Once confirmed, the yellow waypoints become red, and a strip of waypoint animation is added to the timeline.

Note: the direction of the waypoints determine the direction active character faces upon arriving.

2. Editing waypoints

You can preview the waypoint animation by playing the scene using the play button, [|>]. If you don't like the direction given to the character, you can always edit the waypoint animation again. While the waypoints are red, they can be edited by accessing the [waypoint mode] button through the character radial menu like before.

There are three types of waypoints in total:

• Yellow – new or recently changed waypoints. Selectable and movable with widget, and can be removed by [Delete] or by the undo button [Backspace].

• Green – previously added waypoints. Selectable and movable with widget, turns yellow when moved and can be removed by [Delete] only.

• Red – not selectable and unmovable, confirmed waypoints. Turns green during editing.

Once confirmed, the waypoint animation is added back to the timeline, with a new updated duration.

Tip: while editing, move the waypoints vertically and have your character fly or walk into the ground.

3. Moving props with waypoints

The procedure to moving props, even lights, with waypoints is similar to moving a character. Just open the prop radial menu by right-clicking on the prop or press [Space] after it's selected. Click on [waypoint mode] to add/edit waypoints for the active prop.

After waypoints are confirmed, a waypoint animation icon will appear on the timeline timeline with the default speed.

To learn to change the speed of  these movements, go on to Tutorial 8 - Timeline Controls.

Save the scene when you are happy with the movements of your characters and props.

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