How to Make a Motion Capture Animation in 3D Studio Max

If you are interested in using real world simulations to propel a character in your animation, you can utilize motion-capture animation in 3D Studio Max. An artist creates traditional animation by drawing multiple frames with minute differences between each image. For example, a walking character is drawn many times, and in each image, the legs are repositioned ever so slightly to simulate movement. Using motion-capture technology, movement can be recorded from sensors fastened to an actor’s body. The resulting data file is then imported into a 3D Studio Max project and applied to a character, making it move in the same way as the actor moved in real life.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Launch 3D Studio Max on your computer. Open the animation project containing the character to which you wish to apply the motion-capture effect.
   • 2
     Select the character in the scene by clicking on it.
   • 3
     Click the “Load File” button in the Motion panel if you are using a BIP or STP motion-animation file, and then click the BIP or STP file from a folder on your computer. A dialog box opens. Click the BIP or STP file to apply its motion-capture data to your character. The character will now be animated based on the motion-capture data you just applied.
   • 4
     Click “Motion Capture” in the Motion panel if you are using a BVH or CSM motion-animation file. Click the “Load Motion Capture File” button. A dialog box opens. Click on the BVH or CSM file from a folder on your computer to select and load its motion-capture data into your character. The character is now animated based on the motion capture data you just applied.