Using actors
Introduction
The editors, actor UI is used for both actors and digital humans. All the controls are detailed below apart from Behaviors; as these are used by multiple functions. An explanation of behaviors can be found here.
Features
(Fig.1) Actor functions
- Details
- Actor name
- Bundle name - All assets come in bundles, these can be useful for identifying assets
- Position - position of the actor in the scene
- Rotation - rotation of the actor in the scene
- Attach elements
- Available cameras - dropdown that shows all cameras that can be attached to an actor
- Add camera button - Adds a selected camera to the actor
- Added camera list - Any added cameras will be shown here
- Available attractors - dropdown that shows all attractors that can be attached to an actor
- Add attractor button - Adds a selected attractor to the actor
- Added attractor list - Any added attractors will be shown here
- Actor settings
- Urgency slider - urgency controls how fast an actor moves
- Override - this allows the override the default animation of an actor
- Behavior - find out how to uses these settings here
- Look at
- Eyes only - when checked, only the eyes will look at a specified point
- Look at duration - time in seconds
- Time between look at - how long to wait before an object is looked at in seconds
- Poisson -
- Randomize item order - items will be randomly looked at
- Select look at item button
- Seating settings
(only used if seated in a vehicle) - Left hand position
- Right hand position
- Left hand rotation
- Right hand rotation
Explanation
Some functions are only available in certain circumstances, such as the Seating settings. Others require other assets to be present in the scene like when attaching elements to an actor.
Attach elements
There are two different assets that can be attached to an actor; either a camera and/or an attractor. These both follow the same workflow.
- Use the drop down menu (Fig.1.5 and Fig.1.8) to select the a desired camera or attractor.
- When you have selected the desired asset, you then need to add it to the list using the corresponding add button (Fig.1.6 and Fig.1.9), this will add the asset to the attached asset list (Fig.1.7 and Fig.1.10).
- Once the asset is attached, you can configure it, by clicking the item in the list (Fig.1.7 and Fig.1.10). You can find out how to configure a camera here and you can find out about configuring attractors here.
Removing an attached asset
To remove an attached element:
- Click the asset you wish to remove from the list (Fig.1.7 and Fig.1.10). this will select that element.
- Press the DEL button on your keyboard.
Actor settings
Urgency (Fig.1.11)
Urgency decides how quick the actor will move. 0.5 (the default), is an average walking speed. 1 is a fast run. 0 is standing still. An actor will only move if it is attached to a circuit or in the influence area of an attractor. You can find out more about circuits here and more about attractors here.
Override (Fig.1.12)
All actor come with a primary walking animation. The drop down contains all the other animations the actor can perform.
look at
The look at function allows you to create a list of assets, that are placed in your scene, you would like the actor to look at. When an actor is placed in a vehicle, you can also set the actor to look at the mirrors.
Eyes only (Fig.1.14)
By default an actors head as well as it's eyes will move to look at an item. If you want only want the actors eyes to move to look at an item then check this function. The actors eyes will only move to the outer of the eye, so if an element is out of the actors field of view it will not be looked at.
Creating a Look at item list
- Move your scene so the item/s so you can see them
- Click the "Select look at item" (Fig.1.19)
- In your scene click on the item you want the actor to look at
You them repeat this process until all the items you would like the actor to look are in the look at list.
Seating settings (only for actors in vehicles)
These setting allow you to set an actors hand position when driving. Mainly used for refining positioning an actors hands on the wheel.