3

newbie here, so please be kind. I tried googling and searching here for an answer but I think I just don't know correct terms to use.

I am trying to model a ghost for a game. I have a frame (UV sphere extruded down) and a plane with cloth modifier that I drape over it. When I run the cloth simulation, I eventually get the ghost shape that I want. Now, I want to add some actions for it. How do I "pause" it at the ghost shape that I want and start making animations for it, like Idle (I want the cloth to swing around a bit, like the ghost is swinging its hips) and Walk (I want the cloth to flow back like it's walking). I hope that made sense.

Thanks!

ariscris
  • 133
  • 4

1 Answers1

2

When I run the cloth simulation, I eventually get the ghost shape that I want.

...

How do I "pause" it at the ghost shape that I want

Part 1.

Selected Cloth Go to the frame you want and make sure the cloth settings are perfect. This change will be permanent. Apply Go to your modifiers panel and click Apply.
editable mesh This will convert it from a dynamic modifier into an editable mesh.

Now, I want to add some actions for it.

...

I want and start making animations for it, like Idle (I want the cloth to swing around a bit, like the ghost is swinging its hips) and Walk (I want the cloth to flow back like it's walking).

Part 2.

Next you'll want to rig the ghost. An armature system is a complex topic but I'll give you the basics.

Add bone Start by adding a bone to your ghost.
xray Enable X-ray so you can see what you're doing
Edit Making sure your bone is positioned at the top of the ghost hit TAB to go into edit mode and E to extrude it down once.
Select "with automatic weights" Back in object mode select your ghost, hold down SHIFT and then select your armature you just created. Press CTRL and P to bring up the menu in the illustration.
Animation screen Finally animate the ghost how you like it to look.

Here's a GIF of what I came up with:
Ghost glides across screen Not bad for simple it was to create. More bones gives you more control obviously.

Community
  • 1
Ora Walters
  • 36
  • 4
  • Not bad at all. Thanks so much for all the detail! I will try this out tomorrow. – ariscris Oct 08 '14 at 03:44
  • Glad I could help. I tried to make it as easy as I could to follow let me know if there are any questions. – Ora Walters Oct 08 '14 at 03:46
  • Is there any way to make the cloth still move like cloth during animation after the cloth modifier has been applied? – ariscris Oct 08 '14 at 03:48
  • The problem is that Blender cloth sim does not work with the game engine from the little I know. You might try adding more bones for a finer level of control and animating it from there. But like I said I know little about the game engine. – Ora Walters Oct 08 '14 at 03:54
  • Just FYI, I re-added a cloth modifier back to the cloth again to make it animate like cloth. Thanks again. – ariscris Oct 10 '14 at 15:42