Clock Rig

I successfully managed to rig my clock so it can now move in a organic way similar to a human. I feel that this will create an effective animation as it will look very interesting as it is a realistic object moving in an unrealistic way.

Clock Model

I finished modelling the top platform of the grandfather clock and extruded in the space where the clock face sits. I feel that the model over all looks accurate to the original image as there are only small details that I left out.

Evaluation of Animation Investigation

When searching on how to set a key frame and edit a curve in the graph editor I explored various tutorials and forms. I found it quite difficult to find points on very specific parts of animation as most of it was included in larger tutorials that were hard to understand unless you followed most of the tutorial. As this was the most common way I was finding information I decided to follow some basic bouncing ball and other various tutorials. I feel that doing this was very successful in my learning as I found out how to set key frames and edit curves in the graph editor which is what I wanted to be able to do after I finished my investigations.

Animating A Basic Bouncing Ball

The first step in animating a simple bouncing ball is to create a sphere and move it the desired height above the plane.

Next on the animation bar at the bottom you need to select the 1st frame and in the Channel Box/Layout Editor select both the Translator Y and Scale Y. Right click on the selected boxes and select Key Selected. This creates a small red box next to the name.

Next select the 15th frame and move the ball down to the bottom of the plane. Also scale down the Y axis to make it seem like it is being deformed when it is hitting the ground. Once again go into the Channel Box/Layout Editor and repeat the process with the Key Selected.

Select the 30th frame and rescale and move the ball back up the Y axis. Also once again repeat the Key Selected process.

However when you now play your animation it might seem very artificial and too soft for a falling bouncing ball. This can be changed in the Graph Editor found in Windows - Animation Editors.

Once you have this box open there will be a simple graph. To be able to edit this graph correctly you need to select the orange points at the curves and select the Break Tangent button found at the top of the editor.

Once you have broken the tangents you can now edit the curve. When you select the orange points a grey point will appear at either side. Move these points  so the graph no longer has curves but straight lines.

The bouncing ball should now be animated in a more realistic way.

Clock Progress

 This is the progress I have made on my Grandfather Clock model. I have made the base and the first set of pillars that sit in front of the main body. It was a challenge getting the base to look like the reference pictures but I successfully managed to make it look similar. Next I will go onto making the top half of the clock where the clock face sits.

Main Model Change

I have decided to change my main model to a Grandfather Clock as I feel that there would be more opportunity to animate and rig. When animating this I could make the doors and clock hands move but also make it body move like an organic form and not an inanimate object. I feel that this model is a good challenge as I would like to put as much detail in as possible.

Camera Texture

I managed to add simple textures to my camera model I made. I used a black leather texture for the main body, a reflective grey for the buttons and top half of the object and a reflective dark grey for the lenses.