Object Transform vs Body

posted to: Arcing Bounce

I had a problem with adding keyframes and noticed that it is because I was trying to put them on Object Transform instead of Body. But in the video Arcing Bounce (Blender Animation Bootcamp), I don't see Object Transform, therefore my confusion. What is the difference between the two???

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  • Martin Bergwerf replied

    Hm, Wayne will explain this better, but:

    did you have one of those human skeletons in biology class?

    Moving the skeleton from one classroom to another would be like an Object Transform.

    Some kids playing with the skeleton before the teacher comes in...taking its skeletal hand and lifting it up or so, would be a Bone Transform..

    (I am tempted to delete this answer, because it doesn't sound very helpful, but I'll just leave it...)

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  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    Here's a picture of what I mean: 4-05 à 11.44.01.png

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  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    What a funny answer!!! 😆 I understand... a little. It's because I'm still confused - I should say: ignorant - about rigs and bones. Wouldn't have been possible to make the animation with a simple sphere instead of a rig??? (Then, I wouldn't have that misunderstanding problem!!!)

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  • Dwayne Savage(dillenbata3) replied
    Object transform is transforming the entire rig.(Done in object mode). Body is the name of the bone. Thus body transform is the transforms of the bone named Body.(Done in pose mode) Additional information: Transforms are location(also called translation), rotation, and scale.
  • Martin Bergwerf replied

    Yes, like Dwayne said.

    You Inserted Keyframes in Object Mode, hence the appearance of the Object Transform.

    You could indeed do this particular exercise with just a Sphere (or even a Circle) Object, instead of a Rig, but then you would have to learn working with a Rig in the next exercises, that are already more difficult...

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  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    I started again the exercise and there are many things I must do wrong. Like I am able to place the first keyframe, but after that, when I place the cursor to the end of the trajectory and take the ball to that point, I get no keyframe, even if I type i: I get the error report. Why? Also: I loose my sketch! And finally (at this moment, I mean), I get the Body under the Object Transform (I couldn't see the Body before). I think I don't select the ball correctly... By the way: I am in Mode Pose, in case we were wondering... 

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  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    Ok: I haven't seen the two last answers before I wrote my last message. So I start the exercise another and check the mode...

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  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    Martin, I think you got it. Have been very attentive at the moment I changed to Mode Pose and now, I see the Body, and not the Object Transform. Also, I discovered 😳 that in order to insert keyframes while Autokeying, the cursor must be in the 3D Viewer, and not in the timeline or the graph editor!!!

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  • Wayne Dixon replied

    Hi delama
    I wonder if you might benefit from taking the 'Fundamentals of Animation' before this course.
    A lot of the questions and stumbling blocks you are experiencing are explained in detail in that course.

    You will learn about objects vs rigs and the advantages for using rigs (even when it's a bouncing ball)
    Plus you will learn about the different modes and many of the fundamental things that will deepen your understanding before tackling this harder course.

    You can pause where you're up to and pick it up again from where you left off.
    I think this will save you a lot of headaches.

  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    Dear Wayne... I don't know if I should laugh or cry. Because I took Fundamentals of Animation around 10 days ago. And I experienced some difficulties that you (and some other guys) helped me to go through! 😉 Then my question is: should I take it a second time??? Or am I a desperate case for learning Blender? For now, a pill for headaches will be more convenient... ☺️4-07 à 21.08.40.png

  • Omar Domenech replied

    Marie this stuff is hard, it takes a long time to learn and master, 10 days is nothing compared to the years of experience that are needed to feel comfortable with 3D and animation. So yes, take the course a second time and a third for that matter, there is no wrong answer. I have had to watch courses two or three times, I have had to repeat exercises five and six times, I forget things if I don't use it often and then I have to go watch a tutorial again to remind myself. Remember, Blender is just a tool, what you have to keep in mind is that you want to do cool stuff with it, you want to make cool animations and the tool is getting in the way. The point is not to master Blender but to master animation, no matter the software. So give it time, practice a lot, and you will get better even if you're not noticing it, have grit, keep moving forward without loosing enthusiasm, anything you'll want to learn will require such discipline, so keep moving 🤙🏼

  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    Thank you Omar for sharing with such transparency your own journey in Blender and animation. I feel less... lonely? I finally decided to watch another time Fundamentals of Animation (even if the first time it had already taken me hours and hours to grasp the principles). 

    I am a multidisciplinary visual artist and I want to make video animations and experimentations (I've started with Final Cut Pro). With the help of Blender,  I dream of a sort of medusa form which would swim in an environment made of my former drawings and paintings. I have discipline on my side, but time can be an obstacle: let's say (it's a metaphor...), I have less sand left in my hourglass than younger Blender's apprentices. Thanks again!

  • Wayne Dixon replied

    Sorry Marie, that was my mistake.  I remember you asking a lot of questions and I lost track of what course they were all attached to.
    I mistakenly thought they were all related to the bootcamp course.

    I'm glad you have discipline on your side - you definitely need it with learning this stuff.
    It's also not a bad idea to run through the other course again anyway.  I'm sure it's a language barrier thing and you may have just missed a few key things from that course.
    If you get stuck - you know where we are ;)

  • Marie Delagrave(delama) replied

    Hi Wayne. I would like to think that's just a language barrier thing but, no, it's not just that. I've always said that I'm the kind of person who understands quickly but has to get a lot of explanations before that happens... (It's cynicism...😉) 

    • He he he