Screen shots - astrolabe

astrolabe

ten steps back, one step forward...

Lots more learning and unlearning this past 3 weeks.
Couldn't get SU scenes to import smoothly so utilised cameras.  Set up 3 cameras in ES model for start, mid (underwater) and end scenes. Assigned cameras to start (null) in turn with appropriate delay relating to timing of overall model animation, publishing each to a separate ESP file.  Starting view of each published file at a distance away from camera to "fly" over to camera view.
Disappointed that I can't get a background environment (sky) in; suspect the ocean texture too big (as warned) but I like the tidal rhythm and link with the music environment.  Probably there is ample texture in the model already!

Screen shots from Esperient Creator showing cameras

        

  

                                                                        Camera 1

       
                                                                        Camera 2

Camera 3

   All cameras        

                                                         

Refined Sketch Up model for Esperient Creator

I needed to go back and refine the Sketch Up model to be linear (built along an axis) to allow walk through animation with trigger fields to spin (rotate) each bead in turn on X or Y axis, and "push" (move) beads along thread (X or Y axis) and drop/drift from thread.  (For the beads and thread in my model to be cohesive the "rotate" and "move" options in ES need to be constrained to these axes). More systematic set up of scenes in SU for smoother and more meaningful exploration of space and movement from scene to scene as an alternative to "walk through".

Thinking about my model and animation; it works best with a SU model (when exported to EC still differentiates textures of inside and outside of beads). 

Published a simple model and animation with sky environment map today.  I am happy with the 2 metal reflective textures on the beads in combination with the Ocean texture on the ground plane which throws a (preset) rhythmic animation of tide and light on the beads and ocean surface, in keeping with the Rhythm Repeat design principle driving the idea.  I will use the Ocean texture ground plane in part of the movie only (?intro), as it takes up a lot of memory and stalls animation and navigation.  When exploring the beads I will have a second EC file (without Ocean texture, with ground plane out of view) so that the file is not too clunky.
Now back to EC to try the bigger SU model and set up some trigger fields and more sophisticated animations.