Any 3DSMax4 expert out there

[robinmitra1]

Is there any way to change the frame rate of an animation at the required keyframes.

Robin

[willy_ph]

I'm a little confused. Do you want to slow the animation down at specific points, or do you want to alter the frame rate of the entire animation?

[Daft_Ghosty]

humm Are you asking if each keyframe can have it's own frame rate? what would be the purpose? if this is what you are asking..

[robinmitra1]

Actually, I wanted the animation to have different frame rates at certain periods of time, e.g. consider a man jumping. Now I want that the man should initially jump normally but when he rises to the limit the frame rate should get decreased substantially and then after a few seconds it should catch its original tempo; much like the slow motion effect in the Matrix.

Robin

[Daft_Ghosty]

u can get a slow motion effect by making smaller transition changes to each keyframe.. that will cause it to have slow motion.. or u can do normal animation.. and then use a movie editor add in the slow motion effect

[OuTpaTienT]

hmmm. I wouldn't think altering the frame rate would be the best or easiest way to go about that.

You should work with the idea that the frame rate is a constant. What you need to do is slow down your scene's movement during the slow-mo part. You can do this by stretching out how long it takes to complete the action.

For example, At normal speeds a 3D character might take 30 frames to perform this action sequence: jump/mid-air spin-kick/then land.

If you wanted to make only the mid-air spin-kick portion Matrix-style slo-mo,, then you're going to need to use many more frames to complete the action. Maybe 60 or more. All you gotta do is stretch out that middle section.

If this is the action at normal speed: :
-begin jump / 10 frames
-spin-kick / 10 frames
-landing / 10 frames

with Matrix-style slo-mo
-begin jump / 10 frames
-spin-kick / 30 frames
-landing / 10 frames

Then all you gotta do is make the camera do a cool rotating-pan and keep the focus on the character (circle-strafe) during that extended middle section, and then you'll be giving Keanu's acting abilities a run for their money.

[robinmitra1]

Great answer outpatient. But suppose I have already prepared an animation and created the required keyframes but I find it unsatisfactory, then how am I going to modify the animation as it would take a lot of time to get exactly what I want. And if I do alter the animation again it may result in some undesirable results. Now, you see changing the fps is the better alternative as it will take less time and the results will be more desirable.

Robin

[OuTpaTienT]

Well, I totally do not agree that changing the frame rate would be a better idea. In fact, I don't even know if it's a valid idea at all. If it is possible then I have no clue how it'd be done.

What file format are you writing the animation to that's going to allow a staggered frame rate? Then what player do you plan on using that's going to playback a flick that has an inconsistent frame rate? I don't think it's even possible.

But let's just say maybe it is possible...I still think it'll yield extremely poor results. If you're really trying to imitate one of those Matrix shots, then you're surely going to include the camera pan in conjunction with the slo-mo. Right? Well, think about it. If you achieve the slo-mo through drastically reducing the frame rate, then there goes your smooth cameral pan out the window. It'll look like a choppy slide-show.

I'm sorry that there is no "convert scene to cool Matrix slo-mo style" single click button to push and have it do all the work for you. Maybe one day. But by the time everyone has that button then the effect will have already become old-hat. (And truthfully, it already is old-hat thanks to Hollywood's keen ability to take anything that is ultra-cool and just run it into the ground.)

So,...good luck. I hope you find some way to accomplish your goal here. If I thought it were possible then I'd continue to offer any help I could. I just don't know how one could manipulate the frame rate during playback and still have a file that is a functional and conforms to any of the known movie file formats.

[robinmitra1]

I think you are quite right.
Now I have another question. I want to model the after-burner effect in 3DS Max4. I've prepared the aircraft but I am stuck with the afterburner. Now, I am trying to add the fire effect to produce the afterburner flames. Do you have any other alternative .

Robin