[Bf-funboard] IPO Interpolation

[Roland Hess]

And now, a small break from the colors/modes/tracking discussions...

Currently, there are three ways of interpolating between key values 
in IPOs: Constant, Linear, and Bezier.

In my animation work, I have found that the default action of the 
bezier method is never satisfactory. What I change it to by hand, 
almost every time, and what better mimics real-world motion, is an 
ease-in/ease-out, which the current method employs, but without the 
overshoot. Once my characters/objects hit their keys, I want them to 
stay put!

Most things in the real world that operate under power 
(people/animals/machines) do not overshoot their targets. Motions 
start slowly, move rapidly in the middle, then slow again at the end 
as the object attempts to more finely acquire its target. Once it 
finds it, it stops.

I would like to see one of two things: 1 (best): A new method added 
to the IPO interpolation list, called Ease In/Out. 2 (not as good): 
The default bezier method set to this. From a coding standpoint, all 
that has to be done is for the control handles of each point to have 
their y-values set to equal that of the key point.

I'm going to try to whip up a Python script tonight to apply this 
change to my IPOs, as I'm really tired of doing it by hand on 15 
differents action IPOs per character over 600 frames of animation. 
But if it were an embedded choice, it would make realistic character 
motion much easier.

Later.
-- 
Roland Hess - harkyman
IT Manager
Reed & Witting Company
Pittsburgh, PA