Zombie Chat, In Google SketchUp

Transcription

1 This fun project shows how to create an animated dialog between two characters. The characters in this case are the zombies created in one of the other projects this month, so you might want to try out that project first if you haven t already. If you don t have a character model and want to use mine, go to the 3D Warehouse with your browser ( and search for roskes zombies. Click the Download link to open the model in SketchUp. Note: If you download this model straight into another SketchUp model using the Get Models tool, be sure to explode the model before continuing. Note that these are face camera people - no matter where you orbit, the two characters always face the same way. So the boy will always be staring blankly at you, and the girl will never look you in the eye (which is probably a good thing). For this project, it helps to have some basic knowledge of Google SketchUp (though detailed instructions are provided). In particular, it s important to know how to zoom, rotate, and pan the view. If you need more information on how to get started, and a description of some basic tools, please read 3DVinci s Getting Started Guide (PDF). PC users: go to Mac users: go to 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

2 Step 1: Set Up Layers You need to have your dialog laid out (even if just in your head) before starting work in SketchUp. My dialog is pretty simple - just four lines that go like this: Boy: Hey, want to grab some lunch? Girl: No thanks, I m full. Boy: Why do you keep turning away? Girl: Oh, the left side of my face is melting off. 1. Each line of dialog needs its own layer. So choose Window / Layers to open the Layers window, and click the plus icon to create a new layer. 2. The new layer is created with a default name, but overwrite this name (just type over it) with a name that s the same as your first line of dialog. (You could also use a shortened version of the dialog line, as long as the layer name is unique and easily identifiable.) Press Enter when finished typing, to finalize the layer name. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

3 3. For each of the remaining three lines of dialog, click the plus icon to create a new layer, and assign each layer a name that matches the dialog line. 4. Uncheck the Visible box for each layer, except for the default first layer - Layer0 (this layer cannot be turned off or deleted, because everything in the model so far is on this layer). The reason for making the dialog layers invisible will become clear later. Step 2: Create the Dialog Text 1. Before creating any words, choose Window / Model Info, and open the Text page. We ll be creating leader text (text with arrows), so click the Fonts button under Leader Text and set a font and size you like. The size should be large enough to stand out - I m using 15 points. Then close Model Info. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

4 2. Activate Tools / Text. Or you can use the Text icon on the Large Tool Set (View / Toolbars / Large Tool Set). 3. My first line of dialog is spoken by the boy, so click somewhere on the boy s head to place the arrow head. The default label for this boy is the name of the component: 2d boy walking. 4. The second click places the start of the leader line. Once you click that point, you can overwrite the default text. Type in the first line of dialog, pressing Enter where you want line breaks. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

5 5. To complete the text, either press Enter twice, or click anywhere in blank space. 6. Create the other three lines the same way. The text lines will pile on top of one another, so things will look messy, but everything will be cleaned up later. Also, don t worry about how your model is oriented - the last step will be to create scenes - this is where you ll set the view you want for each dialog line. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

6 Step 3: Place Text on Layers 1. Now each line of dialog will be placed on its own layer. Activate the Select tool, then right-click on any of the dialog lines and choose Entity Info. The Entity Info has a field that lists the layer of the text you ve right-clicked. By default, this layer is Layer0. There s also a field that displays the text itself. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

7 2. Change the layer to the layer whose name matches the text. The dialog line disappears, because it is now placed on a layer that you made invisible. The good thing about this method of layer placement is that you don t have to keep track of what s on which layer - everything you place on a layer instantly disappears from view. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

8 3. Leave the Entity Info window open, and with the Select tool still active, click another text line. Change the layer of this line. 4. Place each dialog line on its own layer, until all of the dialog disappears. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

9 Step 4: Create Scenes 1. The final step in creating your dialog animation is to save each line as a scene. Return to the Layers window and make only the first dialog line visible. Also orbit to the view you want to see when the boy speaks this line. 2. Choose Window / Scenes to open the Scenes window, and click the plus icon. This saves the current view as Scene 1 which appears both in the Scenes window itself, and as a tab at the top of the SketchUp window. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

10 3. Return to the Layers window, turn off the first line and turn on the second line. Orbit to a new view, which features the girl speaking this line. 4. In the Scenes window, click the plus icon again to create the second scene. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

11 5. Switch to the third line, which I positioned this way, and create the next scene. 6. And do the same for the last line and the last scene. 7. To play all four scenes as an animation, right-click on one of the scene tabs and choose Play Animation. Or you can just click each scene tab individually. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May

12 8. If you want to change animation settings, open the Animation page of the Model Info window. The Scene Delay setting controls how long SketchUp lingers on each scene. 9. You can also save an animation by choosing File / Export / Animation. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month May