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View Full Version : Creating and using a second TIME node

MikeRhone
09-03-2004, 03:25 AM
Does anyone here know how to get a 2nd time node to correctly control another node?

Lets say I wanted to create an explosion, and freeze the explosion for 100 frames so I can camera-move in, then continue the explosion as if it was never frozen. In a sense it is the same as bullet time, but I'de like to be able to play an explosion backwards while other characters in the set are moving forwards in time.

Some notes:

I DONT want to cheat this via a drag feild or similar. I want to be able to directly control a second particle system via a second time node.


Any suggestions? I seem to recall learning how to do this a long time ago, but I have long since forgotten the trick, and I cant find any notes on the net.

Thanks!
DiGiman
09-03-2004, 03:31 AM
in the quick selection box at the top right, type "time1". This will select your original time node. Then duplicate this node and connect it to your particle system, this will only work if your particles have been cached though.

Once you have it all setup, you can open the new time node in the graph editor and play all you want. the great thing is it will only effect the nodes connected to it, i.e. your little explosion....
misterdi
09-03-2004, 04:54 AM
You can also issue a MEL command :

createNode time -n "explosionTime";

This will create a time node and name it as "explosionTime"

When you have created your particle disk cache, you can connect this time node to your particle currentTime attribute with hypergraph or issue a MEL command as:

connectAttr -f explosionTime.outTime particleShape1.currentTime;

And then open Attribute Editor for explosionTime and keyframe your value in Out Time.
If you want to see this node in Outliner you should uncheck Display->DAG Objects Only in outliner panel menu
alexx
09-03-2004, 08:39 AM
you dont have to create a new time node for that.

just cache your first explosion. then disconnect it from time and keyframe the time attribute to your needs (forward and backward is possible).

thats all you need to do.

cheers

alexx
MikeRhone
09-03-2004, 08:16 PM
You guys are geniouses... thanks all!

alexx: Sooo simple... how did I not think of that?
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