12.10 The Time Offset Modifier

With the Keyframe Group contracted to 20 Frames and all Keyframes selected in Object Mode go

to the Properties Editor, Modifier Properties Tab. Click Add Modifier and in the Deform Category

select Time Offset (Figure 12.23).

Figure 12.23

In the Time Offset Modifier panel (Figure 12.24) check

(tick) Custom Range and click on the little triangle to

expand the Custom Range panel. Checking Custom

Range activates the properties.

Leave Start at 1 (Frame 1) but change End to 20

(Keyframes at Frame 1 to 20).

Play the Animation to see your Character continually

walk. The Timeline Cursor travels to Frame 250 then

repeats but the Character walks all the way.

Figure 12.24

The Character is only a rough sketch, therefore, at this

point you may want to refine the Strokes in each Pose by

using the Tools available in Edit Mode or Sculpt Mode.

Alternatively you can draw over the sketches.

Remember: The Character is marking time in the same

position in the Scene. If you want to Animate to walk

across the Scene you would create Poses in Edit Mode

and position the Strokes at intervals in the Scene.

Positioning in Edit Mode creates Keyframes in the

Timeline. You may select and duplicate the Keyframes to

have the Character traverse the Scene.

Properties Editor - Modifiers

12.11 Animating the Scene Background

By having the Character marking time as the Animation plays you can create the illusion that the

Character walks in the Scene by animating a Background to traverse the Scene opposite to the

Walk Cycle.

Figure 12.25 shows a simple Background depicting a ground plane and a tree with all Stroke on

the Layer named Grass in the Outliner Editor. Having all the Strokes on the single Layer

simplifies the demonstration.

The Character is left in situ as a reference for positioning the background in the Scene.

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