Making Subnodes Animatable
A typical 3D model is comprised of many parts (subnodes). Not all of these parts need to be animated; most are just used for display. However, if you would like to animate a specific part, such as the door of a spaceship sliding open, you need to create properties for that subnode—in this case the door.
Properties, also known as function columns, allow an object to be moved, rotated, scaled, etc. Subnodes with properties will appear in the Timeline view as a layer. You can then keyframe movements of any of the subnode's properties in the Timeline view.
There are two ways to make properties available to a subnode:
- In the 3D Graph view
- By moving the subnode in the Camera or Perspective view—see Animating Individual Parts of 3D Models
- In the 3D Graph view, select a subnode that you would like to animate.
- Click on the 3D Graph view menu button and select Insert > Make Properties Available.
- In the Timeline view, expand the subnode layer to view its properties.
OR
In the 3D Graph view toolbar, click on the Make Properties Available button.
The subnode appears in the Timeline view.