CATMotion Presets/Layers
 
 
 
Command entry: CATMotion Editor Hierarchy panel Click CATMotion Presets.

A CATMotion preset comprises the settings for all CATMotion controllers for a particular motion cycle. This data is contained in a CATMotion layer, which is different from the animation layers found on the Layer Manager rollout. You can save and load individual layers using text files with the extension .cmp.

Using CATMotion Layers

Like the CAT Layer Manager, CATMotion has a layers system, only for cyclical motion rather than for overall, frame-by-frame animation. The similarities are:

There are differences, though, especially in the use of the curve graphs in the CATMotion editor. There is only ever one curve for any particular controller, no matter how many layers there are; the curve is the weighted, combined output of all the layers. When you edit the curve, you’re actually editing that combined output. So, for example, if you drag a point on a curve for a track weighted at 50%, with the previous track at 100%, the point will move at only half the rate of the mouse.

Thus, for predictable results when editing curves, set the Weight for the track you’re editing to 100%; you can lower the value later, if you like, to mix the track with those lower on the stack.

ImportantYou can edit values in a CATMotion layer only when the Weight value for the layer is over 50.0% (that is, 50.001% or higher). But, again, for predictable results, always set a layer weight to 100% when editing its components.

Procedures

To load a CATMotion preset:

  1. If you want to replace an existing layer with the loaded preset, highlight the layer to replace in the Current Layers list.
  2. In the Available Presets list in the CATMotion Editor, navigate to the preset to load and double-click its name.

    The Options dialog opens.

  3. Choose whether to create a new layer or to replace the existing (highlighted) layer with the new one.

    After you load a preset, its name appears in the Current Layers list on the right-hand side of the dialog. The name is highlighted, and the preset has a weight of 100%.

The preset is now loaded and in effect.

To remove a CATMotion layer:

  1. In the Current Layers list, highlight the layer to remove.
  2. Click (Remove Layer).
NoteYou cannot remove the first layer.

To save a CATMotion preset:

  1. Highlight the layer to save.
  2. Click (Save Preset).
  3. Navigate to the desired folder.
  4. Enter a new preset name.
  5. Click Save.

To blend between CATMotion presets:

TipTo create or edit Weight animation, on the CATMotion Presets panel, click (Weights View).

The rest of the editor window is dedicated to editing the selected layer, whether it is a loaded preset or a new, default layer.

Note Before editing a preset, make sure the Preset layer to edit is highlighted in the Current Layers list.

Interface

You can load a CATMotion preset successfully onto a rig with any configuration, but not necessarily with ideal results. For example, loading a preset for a four-legged creature onto a biped will likely give undesirable results. It’s important to use sound preset naming conventions.

As with the Layer Manager, the layer at the top of the stack overrides those underneath it. Each layer has an animatable weight to allow blending between presets.

Available Presets

This list shows the CATRig presets in the current folder. You can navigate up to other folders by double-clicking the <..> symbol at the top of the list.

Current Layers

This list shows the currently loaded layers/presets of your CATMotion layer. If the Current Layers list contains multiple layers, you can view and edit a layer/preset by clicking on it, so the curves for that layer/preset will be active in the CATMotion hierarchy, ready for editing.

Note The advantage of having multiple layers in the Current Layers list within a single CATMotion layer is that you can blend seamlessly between different walk cycles while still controlling the whole walk sequence with a single set of footprints. This means you have non-sliding footsteps even while blending between different walk cycles (for example, walk/run/sneak). If you used multiple CATMotion layers in the Layer Manager instead, blending between the CATMotion layers would result in sliding footsteps and a lot of unnecessary footprints.
Name

The name of the highlighted layer.

Weight

The weight of the highlighted layer.

Open CATMotion Preset

Click to browse for a preset.

Save CATMotion Preset

Save the settings of the highlighted CATMotion layer as a new preset.

Add CATMotion Layer

Create a new default CATMotion layer to edit.

Delete CATMotion Layer

Delete the highlighted layer.

Curve Editor: CATMotion Weights

Edit CATMotion Layer Weights in Track View .

Use this function to edit the animation of preset weights, blending between presets.