CATMotion
CATMotion is CAT’s procedural motioncycle generation system. Using CATMotion you can create motioncycles that adapt to the velocity and direction of the rig without sliding footsteps – even while moving over an uneven surface.
For motioncycle creation CATMotion has a Walk On Spot mode. Moving the rig around the scene is achieved by linking the CATRig to a PathNode (typically a dummy or point object) which is animated as normal in 3ds Max. This could include assigning a 3ds Max Path Constraint or linking the dummy to a crowd system.
CATMotion settings can be saved as presets, which can then be applied to any rig with the same configuration. Multiple presets can be loaded at one time. Blending from one to another is achieved by animating preset weights. All blends take place without sliding footsteps.
CATMotion works by breaking the motion of the rig down into its component parts and giving the user powerful, parametric controls over each of the components. All parameters can be animated and the animation parameters assigned standard 3ds Max animation controllers, from Bezier Floats to Float Expressions.
Using CATMotion you can create convincing motioncycles in hours that would be hard to achieve in days using conventional animation techniques.
Image courtesy of Cobalt VFX
CATMotion
CATMotion Controls
The CATMotion hierarchy reflects the build of your rig. CAT has 5 fundamental rig elements (Leg, Arm, Spine, Tail, Extra Bone) that define the control you will have in CATMotion. CATMotion will generate footprints only for the limbs that are defined as legs. Arms are not able to get footprints in CATMotion, though it would make sense in some cases, for example if you want to animate a gorilla that is walking with 2 legs and running with 4. So in general it is important to think about the motions of your character thoroughly before you build the rig in order to have all the controls you need when animating.
How CATMotion Controllers Work
Using Retargetting and CATMotion
Animating CATMotion Parameters
Overview of CATMotion Controllers
Tips and Tricks for working with CATMotion
CATMotion Overview (17m 32s; 57.3 MB) (http://www.catoolkit.com/downloads/CATVideoTute_CATMotion_Overview.wmv)
Note: You will need the TSCC Codec from http://www.techsmith.com/download/codecs.asp to watch the video.
