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really good graph editor tutorial?
Does anyone know a really good tutorial for the Graph Editor? I have seen a number of tutorials that explain the basic x/y functionality of the graphs but none that go the next step and demonstrate the graph editor in real world animation situations (other then the generic a bouncing ball). I have read the manual. i get the basics. but when I try to animate sophisticated motion (like an element panning across the screen and drifting to a prolonged stop, followed by a series of subtle moves) the graphs can get pretty confusing to my eyes. In short, I am still slogging away trying to get the editor down and make the graphs completely intuitive – I can see nuanced motion in my head but i don’t own the the graph editor yet. can anyone help illuminate those pesky graphs? Insight appreciated.
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2 Replies
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I’m sure there are tutorials out there, I found this one through Google in 2 seconds:
https://www.adobe.com/designcenter/tutorials/grapheditor/
I’m not sure if it’s the best one, but it was easy to find =)
As for the graphs, I think the most valuable thing you can remember is that there are two different kinds of graphs. The Value graph (which graphs the value of the property) and the Speed graph (which graphs the rate of change of the property).
Remembering back to my High School math days, the speed graph is the derivative of the value graph, or in other words: the speed graph represents the slope of the value graph (the rate of change) at any particular point in time.
You can also recall that the slope of the speed graph will be equal to the property’s acceleration at any given time (the derivative, or rate of change, of the speed). So if the speed graph is a flat horizontal line (regardless of the value) then the property is animating linearly (no acceleration). If it is a drastic downwards line then it is decelerating quickly, if that line is curved then it begins its deceleration slowly, quickens in the middle and ends slowly again.
It’s a pain, but mathematical concepts often help understand how these things work =)
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
Thanks for the remedial overview of graphs – helpful for understanding the graphs as they apply to the animation. Seems that manipulating the graphs is function of a number of variables, each influencing the other. once i figured out the relationships of the parts – adjusting the distances between key frames, accelertion value of keyframes, spatial distances between objects, and maintianing smooth transitions through key frames – i could generally get the graphs to behave in a understandable way. thanks again for the breakdown.
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