Non-Linear Animation: Animating with the Trax Editor in Maya 4.5 and 5

By Brian J. Immel

What is Non-Linear Animation?	Why use NLA	When not to use NLA	Build your animation first
Converting keyframes into Poses and Clips in the Trax Editor	Using the Poses and Clips in the Trax Editor	Modifying Clips	Layers of NLA
Advance NLA	The Big Show: Recreating a Slow Motion-Hyper Fast Animation Sequence	References and Resources

Advance Non-Linear Animation

Sharing Clips

You can share clip data from one object to another as long as the receiving object has the same types of attributes that the incoming clip data has. For example: If you animate a ball bouncing around using just the X and Y translates and convert this data into a clip, you can apply this bouncing clip to other objects that have the same attributes (Translate X and Y).

You can even share the clip data with objects that do not have the same attributes but some information might be lost. Example, if we added an attribute called squash to the bouncing ball from above and use it to squash the ball accordingly, that data will not transfer to another object unless that other object has the same attribute from the bouncing ball.

Importing and Exporting Clips

Importing

• Go to File > Import Clip. Select the folder and name of Clip you wish to import in.
• When you import the Clip, you can find it in the Visor under Unused Clips tab.
• To use the Clip, simply MM drag and drop it from the Visor to where you want it on the Trax Editor of your character.

Exporting

• Select the Clip in the Trax Editor. Next go to File > Export Clip. A dialogue box opens up asking for a name and save location for your Clip. Name and place the Clip accordingly.
• This method will only export the animation data on the geometry, not the geometry itself.

Blending Clips to make a new Clip

Sometimes, making several layers, blending multiple Clips to make a unique motion can take a while to build. In which case you should blend down to a new Clip to save yourself the trouble in case the unimaginable happens.

To make a Clip of several blended Clips, just select all the Clips and create a new Clip (Create > Clip).