Multiple Targets and Weighting

A constrained object can be influenced by several target objects. When using multiple targets, each target has a weight value that defines the degree by which it influences the constrained object, relative to other targets.

Using Weight is meaningful (and available) only with multiple targets. A value of 0 means the target has no influence. Any value greater than 0 causes the target to influence the constrained object relative to other targets' Weight settings. For example, a target with a Weight value of 80 will have twice the influence of a target with a Weight value of 40.

Procedures

To assign a LookAt constraint:

1. Select the object you want to constrain. This is the object that will be always looking at its target.
2. Choose Animation menu Constraints LookAt Constraint.
3. Click the target object.

To access the LookAt constraint’s parameters through the Motion panel:

1. Select the LookAt Constrained object.
2. On the Motion panel Rotation list, double-click LookAt Constraint.

   The LookAt constraint parameters are located under the LookAt Constraint rollout.

To edit weight values:

1. Select the constrained object.
2. On the Motion panel Rotation list, double-click LookAt Constraint.

   The LookAt constraint parameters are located under the LookAt Constraint rollout.

3. Click a target from the list.
4. Use the Weight spinner or enter a numerical value to adjust the weight value.

To animate weight values:

1. Select the constrained object.
2. On the Motion panel Rotation list, double-click LookAt Constraint.

   The LookAt constraint parameters are located under the LookAt Constraint rollout.

3. Click a target from the list.
4. Turn on (Auto Key).
5. Use the Weight spinner or enter a numerical value to adjust the weight value.

Interface

Once you assign a LookAt constraint, you can access its properties on the LookAt Constraint rollout on the Motion panel. On this rollout, you can add or delete targets, assign weighting, assign and animate target weight values, and adjust other related parameters.

Add LookAt Target

Use to add new targets that influence the constrained object.

Delete LookAt Target

Use to remove target objects that influence the constrained object.

Weight

Use to assign and animate weight values for each target. Available only when multiple targets are used.

Keep Initial Offset

Maintains the constrained object’s original orientation as an offset to its constrained orientation.

Viewline Length

Defines the length of the main viewline drawn from the pivot of the constrained object to the pivot of its target (or the average, in case of multiple targets). A negative value draws the line from the constrained object in the opposite direction of the target or targets.

With a single target, the length of the viewline is determined by the distance between the constrained object and the target, as well as the Viewline Length setting. However, if Viewline Length Absolute is on, the distance between the two has no effect on the length.

The color of the viewline is defined by the Target Line element in the Gizmos category of the Colors panel in the Customize Customize User Interface dialog.

NoteWhen multiple targets are assigned, additional viewlines drawn from the constrained object to each target object inherit the color of the respective targets. If Viewline Length Absolute is on, the length of each target-specific line is determined by its target's Weight setting and the Viewline Length value. If Viewline Length Absolute is off, the length of each line is determined by the distance between the constrained object and the respective target, as well as the Viewline Length value. An additional (main) viewline, whose length and color are determined as specified above, indicates the actual, calculated orientation.

Viewline Length Absolute

When on, 3ds Max uses only the Viewline Length setting for the length of the main viewline; the distance between the constrained object and the target(s) has no effect.

Set Orientation

Lets you define the offset orientation of the constrained object manually. When on, you can use the Rotation tool to set the constrained object’s orientation. This orientation is then maintained as the constrained object looks at its target.

Reset Orientation

Sets the orientation of the constrained object back to the default. This is useful if you want to reset the constrained object’s orientation after having set the orientation manually.

Select LookAt Axis

Use to define the axis that looks at the target. The X,Y,Z check boxes reflect the constrained object's local coordinate system. The Flip check box reverses the directions of the local axes.

Select Upnode

The default Upnode is the World. Turn off World to manually select an object that defines the Upnode plane. This plane is drawn from the constrained object to the Upnode object. If the LookAt Axis and the Upnode axis coincide, the constrained object will flip. Animating the position of the upnode object will move the upnode plane.