Tutorial Created June 2007                                                                                                 ©2007 Alicorn and Jj

Animation in DazStudio

First steps, basic

For this we are using the V3 fairy.

 Make your scene and pose your figure. I added a background colour but it will work with any background.You can choose a background colour by clicking the arrow to the far right of the list of cameras at the top left of your viewport and select 'Background Colour' from the drop down menu.

Don't render yet.

Ok, your fairy wings are in the open position and we now want to set that as a place for the animation to start.

For this we use the 'Timeline' So, open the  Timeline at 'View’ ‘Tabs’ 'Timeline’

Set the red arrow slider to 0 and click on the ‘Create a keyframe at the current time’ icon

This sets a start place, the first frame of your animation.

Now to set an end place. In this starter tut we will  make the wings open and close, an uncomplicated animation from front to back, therefore not many frames are needed. So...on the Timeline, slide the red arrow to number 5. This will be the end position, the end frame.

In your 'Content' work down the 'Faeiry Wings' heirarchy until you get to 'r_MainWing' and click it to select.

In the 'Parameters' drag the 'Bend and as you do you will see your wing move. Stop when you think the wing is in it's final closed position

Do the same with the 'l_MainWing' 

When in place, click the 'Create a keyframe at the current time' icon.

You have now set a start frame '0' and a stop frame '5' and Daz will fill in the one's in between.

If you move the red slider up and down now between the 0 and the 5 you will see your wings move.

If you need to change anything before rendering, ie the background, clothing, the colour of the dress or even the pose, do that with the slider at the '0' position. Anything changed at the '0' position will carry through and be altered in all your frames.

Ok, now to render but first we have to alter the settings  to accommodate an animation.

So go to 'Render' and click on 'Render Settings'

 Under the  'General' tab....under 'Timeline '...

 check ‘Make Movie :’ and set the 'Start Frame:' to 0 and the 'End Frame:' to 5

Under the 'Render To' section, check ‘Movie File'

 then [ignore any file listed in the bar next to it, it could be one you've just been using] click the little line where you'd normally see 'Browse' ....

 and find a folder to save it in. Give your file a name, save as a AVI Files (*.avi) then click 'Save' and  then 'Accept'.

Now go to 'Render' and 'Render' your graphic

You will see the wings move as it renders each frame and the arrow slide along the timeline.Do be patient as it does take a while. It stops when its rendered your last frame even though your graphic doesnt seem to appear rendered and  you will get this window....

Just click 'OK'

 All that remains now is for you to find where you saved the file and open it in Animation Shop. 

BUT  BEFORE YOU GO, you have to go put your render settings back to 'Still Image' and 'Active Viewport' and 'Accept'

If you dont do this, when you come to make your next graphic, even if its a static one, it will render it umpteen times!

Ok ..now in Animation Shop, locate and open your file. You will see this window.....

Click 'OK' and all your frames appear. Crop and alter the speed in 'Animation' ' Frame Properties' where appropriate.

Save as a 'Compuserve Graphics Interchange (*.gif)

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial

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Have fun

© 2007 Alicorn and Jj