Create Multiple Footsteps Dialog: Run

The Create Multiple Footsteps dialog for the run gait allows you to create a sequence of running footsteps by setting a series of parameters.

This dialog displays when Run is selected on the Footstep Creation rollout first, and you then click Create Multiple Footsteps.

Interface

General group

  • Start Left Starts the footstep sequence with a left step.
  • Start Right Starts the footstep sequence with a right step.
Alternate
Turn on to alternate between right and left footsteps. When this box is cleared, all of the footsteps will be either right or left, producing the effect of a hopping run on one foot.
Number of Footsteps
Determines the number of new footsteps to be created.
Parametric Stride Width
Sets the stride width as a percentage of the pelvis width.

A value of 1.0 produces a stride width equal to the pelvis width. A value of 3.0 produces a wide, waddling stride. Changes to this setting automatically change the Actual Stride Width.

Parametric describes the parameter in terms of biped anatomy, and Actual describes the value in 3ds Max units.

Stride Width=1 and Stride Width=3

Actual Stride Width
Sets the stride width in modeling units. Changes to this setting automatically change the Parametric Stride Width.
Total Distance
Displays the total distance the footsteps will travel with the current settings. This value cannot be changed directly.

Timing group

Auto Timing

Sets timing parameters automatically.

Auto Timing affects the following timing parameters for the Run gait:

  • Run footstep, Airborne

    When Auto Timing is selected, these parameters are automatically adjusted to reasonable values. You control the footstep sequence by adjusting the Stride Length and Time to Next Footstep parameters.

    When Auto Timing is off, you can control the footstep sequence by adjusting the gait timing parameters, but you can't change the Time to Next Footstep parameter.

Interpolate

Control acceleration or deceleration of the series of footsteps. When this box is selected, a second set of step parameters under Last Step is enabled.

Biped creates the footsteps starting with the values of the parameters under First Step and ending with the values of the parameters under Last Step.

By interpolating between the two, Biped produces a footstep series that changes over time.

When Interpolate is cleared, the Last Step parameters are grayed out. Biped creates all the footsteps using only the parameters under First Step.

  • Start After Last Footstep Appends the newly created footsteps to the end of the existing footstep sequence.
  • Start at Current Frame Inserts the newly created footsteps at the current frame after the existing footstep sequence allowing you to make a gap in time before the footsteps start again.

First Step and Last Step groups

Parametric Stride Length
Sets the stride length for the new footsteps as a percentage of the length of the biped’s leg. The default value of 1.5 gives a typical running stride.

A value of 1.0 will produce a stride length equal to the leg length, which makes the biped stretch slightly to reach the next step. A value of 0.0 will make the biped run in place. A negative stride length will make the biped run backwards.

When a biped runs backwards, it does not simply reverse the forward movement but maintains the correct foot-state sequence with the toe touching the ground first, followed by the heel.

Adjusting Parametric Stride Length automatically changes the value for Actual Stride Length.

Stride Length=0.75 and Stride Length=1

Actual Stride Length
Sets the stride length for the new footsteps in 3ds Max units.

The same rules apply as for Parametric Stride Length (described above).

Adjusting Actual Stride Length automatically changes the value for Parametric Stride Length.

Stride Height=5 units

Actual Stride Height
Sets the rise or fall between footsteps. You can use this parameter to create a set of footsteps going up or down a slope or a stairway.

The value for Actual Stride Height is the difference in height in units between each of the new footsteps. Positive values step up and negative values step down.

Time to Next Footstep
Specifies the number of frames in each foot movement cycle. A cycle starts with the frame in which a biped foot touches the ground, continues as the foot lifts and moves, and ends with the frame before the foot touches the ground again. This parameter is only enabled if Auto Timing is on.
Speed
Displays the number of units the biped will move per frame. It changes in response to changes in the other parameters but cannot be adjusted directly.

The following two parameters are only enabled when Auto Timing is off. You can use these parameters instead of Auto Timing to control the speed of the forward motion over the series of footsteps.

Run Footstep
Specifies the number of frames each footstep will be on the ground during the run.

The higher the number, the longer the biped foot remains in contact with the ground and, consequently, the slower the speed of the running motion.

Footsteps 2 and 3 are on the ground for 5 frames each

Airborne
Specifies the number of frames the body will be in the air between footsteps.

The higher the number, the longer the biped hangs in the air for each step and, consequently, the slower the speed of the running motion.

Parent topic: Footstep Creation Rollout