Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Controlling objects with null objects
Inside the effect controls for Element 3D, go to the
Group Utilities
setting for the lamp,
lampshades, bulbs, wine bottle, and both the shakers, and click on
Create
under
Create
Group Null
. As you create each null object, rename it in your layer window so that
you can keep track of the objects (as shown in the following screenshot). Then, parent
the null objects of your
Lampshades
and
LightBulbs
to the
LampControl
null object.
Your computer screen should look similar to the following screenshot:
Now, all you have to do is move the
LampControl
null object around in your scene
and your entire lamp (shades, bulbs, and so on) will move around the scene. Null
objects are a
very
handy way of moving objects around. You may note the
World
Transform
section in Element and wonder why we don't use this because this changes
the orientation and position of all of our groups simultaneously. It would not only
move the lamp but every other object in the scene.
Summary
In this chapter, we learned how to set up a scene with Element 3D. We learned how
to position, replicate, and scale objects. We also learned to set up our render settings for
lights, faking shadows as well as assign AEX null objects to control our objects during
the animation process. Finally, we learned how to overcome a major shortcoming of
Element 3D (limitation of groups) to allow more objects to be in our scene.
In the next chapter, we're going to see the consequences of setting up our scene in
this manner, overcome many of these, and avoid the others. Most importantly,
we're going to start animating our objects!
