Learn 3D Graphics

Object Mode Tweening

Tweening is the process of creating automated transitions from one state to another. This may be changing the size, location, rotation or more. The term Tween comes from Traditional Animation's "Inbetweens", which were drawn/painted by hand.

1. Select the object in "Object Mode"
2. Move the object into it's intial position/rotation or etc. as needed
3. Make sure "Frame 1" is selected in the Timeline
4. Press "I" to insert a keyframe for the selected object
5. Move to a different frame - ie. frame 36
6. Turn on "Automatic Keyframing" by clicking on the record button in the Timeline (or manually press "I" every time you want to add a keyframe)
7. Make changes to the position/rotation or etc. as needed
8. Use the playback controls in the Timeline to see the tween (the animated transition)
9. Add more keyframes as needed on other frames

Shape Key Animations

Shape Keys allow us to create animated transitions between different states of a single model.

Creating Shape Keys +—

1. Create a model to be morphed
2. In the "Object Data Properties" (where vertex groups are accessed), click on the "+" next to "Shape Key" - this creates a "Basis" shape - the default state of the mesh without any keys
3. Make the first shape key:
   1. Click on the "+" again to create the first keyframe
   2. In "Edit mode", adjust the vertices to an initial position as needed (if different from the basis shape)

Additional Shape Keys from Basis Shape +—

1. Back in "Object mode", in the properties panel, click on the new shape key button "+"
2. In "Edit mode", adjust the vertices as needed to make change the shape
3. Repeat these steps as needed

Creating New Shape Keys from Existing Keys +—

1. In "Object mode", back in the properties panel, in the shape key area, uncheck all shape keys except for the key to copy
2. Make sure the key to copy is selected
3. Click on the "⌄", below the add/remove buttons to open the shape key menu
4. Click on "New Shape From Mix"
5. In "Edit mode", adjust the vertices as needed to make a new shape
6. Repeat the previous steps as needed

Animating Shape Keys +—

1. In the Playback Timeline navigate to the frame for the first keyframe (ie. frame 1)
2. In the "Object Data Properties" make sure that all shape keys that will be part of the animation are checked
3. Set the value for the Shape Key that should be visible to "1" and click on the diamond to make a keyframe (or hover over the number and press "I")
4. Set the value for all the other keys to "0" and set keyframes for each key
5. In the Playback Timeline navigate to the frame for the next keyframe
6. Set the value of the first shape key back to "0" and set a keyframe to save the change
7. Change the value for the next shape key to "1" and set a keyframe to save the change
8. Scrub or play through the Playback Timeline to see the transition
9. Repeat as needed

Animating Properties

Any properties in the properties panel with a small circle on the very right can be keyframed. This means you can create transitions between different colors and more.

1. Click on the timeline on the frame number where the transition should start
2. In the properties tab, click on the far right circle to add a keyframe for a value (the circle changes to a diamond shape when the property has a keyframe)
3. Move to the frame number where the transition should end
4. Click on the empty diamond to create a new keyframe (or turn on "Auto Keyframing")
5. Change the value
6. Use the playback controls in the Timeline to see the transition