Now things are going to be really simple. Click on the Set Key button in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) to toggle Set Key mode ON. The button will be depressed and turns red. The whole time display turns red too. This notifies that now we are in the animation mode in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). Make sure that the Time Slider is at the far left corner and reads 0/50 on it. If not, drag it to the left extreme. Now we are going to set the key fixing the position of the ball at the zeroth frame. Shall we? Make sure that the ball is above the floor at the 'going to fall' position and make it selected in the viewport in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). Now click on the Set Keys  button (not the Set Key used to toggle, but the one having key symbol on top of it). This will set the key for the ball at the current frame. The position of the ball is now fixed. Now we need to define the position of the ball at the 25th frame (touching the floor) and also at the 50th frame (again above ground but on the other side).
Just drag the Time Slider in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) to 25th frame (reading 25/50), and move the ball down touching the floor and at the same time a bit towards the left. (since it should move forward during the fall). Now when you are sure about the position at 25th frame, press Set Keys button with the ball still selected in 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ). This sets the keyframe for 25th frame.
Now move the Time Slider to 50th frame, ball above the floor to the left most end and click Set Keys button again to set key.
Refer to the figures given, for proper placement of the ball in the 3D Studio MAX ( 3ds max ) scene at each keyframe position. |
