Animating a Rubik's Cube in 3DS Max tutorial: a simpler way

[thesadscraps]

Hey zigma.....

I am trying to follow aloong but when i get up to animating it allows me only to select one block and also it pivots at the bottom and not in the right spot

i followed steps

Any ideas???

[zigmar7]

That's sounds too complicated. Why won't you just use one image for one side, and create a cube mapping of the size of the entire cube, so each piece will display only a small part of the texture?

[Durolipons]

I've tried 5 or 6 different ways to create the cube. The only way the materials work is if I use a different material slot for eace face. This gets messy when there are only 24 slots as I have to delete a material and add a new one. If I continue that way I'll be using 96 material slots to complete the project. Any ideas? thought you might find the problem interesting too.

[Durolipons]

I create a multi sub object with 16 sub materials for the front face. When I try to apply the first material to the first poly of the top corner it applies to all the squares of that face of the cube or if it doesn't as soon as I apply the second material to the second face it removes the first. the behavior is so strange. i'm sure theres a simple solution that I'm not seeing.

[Durolipons]

Hi Zigmar, I have another problem with my project. Been trying to work it out myself without success for 3 days now. I built a 10 by 10 cube and animated it no problem. Separating a jpeg using a grid of 10 by 10 to have 100 jpeg files for each square was also no problem but I went to a 4x4 due to the monotony. so I have 3 sets of 16 jpegs to add for the 3 faces of the cube. Ok so far. The problem I have is when I try to add the material to via sub object to the cube...

[Durolipons]

I just recently followed you Rubik tutorial exept I'm making the cube 10x10 boxes so I can fit some text on the faces. Everything is fine until I run the animation. I've never used the scripting before and I'm not sure if it runs. Do I need to rewrite it for the extra boxes and if so how would I go about it? The animation runs over 300 frames intended to be a 10 sec animation. Alternativly I will have to modify all 1000 boxes. Hope you can help me. Great tutorial.

[zigmar7]

@Durolipons The script in video description works on selection, theoretically number of items and frames doesn't matter

[Durolipons]

Thankyou zigmar7 I used the script that shOdan posted. I've done one test render and things look pretty cool exept for a couple of sloppy keyframes. I will build the material maps for the charactures I need later this evening, re-keyframe and post the result tomorrow. With thanks.

[danielkirk1]

Great tut thank you! I must ask tho, is there a way you can interact with it so you can play like a real Rubik's? thanks.

[NathanJames21]

That was very good - thank you.

[sanjanakumta]

How do you change the colours of the faces like that? I'm not able to. I have 3DS six

[lapercanta]

help my 3dmax 2009 shoots me an error, the error start like: Welcome to MAXScript.

Menu Title:

-- Error occurred in i loop; filename: C:\Users\ASUS PC\Downloads\TCB_Set_Tension.m­s; position: 170

-- Frame:

-- i: 1

-- called in cube loop; filename: C:\Users\ASUS PC\Downloads\TCB_Set_Tension.m­s; position: 174

-- Frame:-- Error occurred in i loop; filename: C:\Users\ASUS PC\Downloads\TCB_Set_Tension.m­s; position: 170

-- Frame:

-- i: 1

and y can't animate it correctly

[3DmanBR]

TKS man for this great tutorial..I always want to do this kind of thing,...and the tutorial came in the rigth time. my great dificulty was turn each side (color) a single image..just like a puzzle and after hours studying I Did! It´s just pure matemathic.

[sh0dan2]

Script for any number of keyframes:

--Work for all cubes in selection

for cube in selection do (

for i in cube.rotation.controller.keys do (

i.tension = 50

)

)

[zigmar7]

@sh0dan2 Wow, thanks a lot! I'll add this to description. Not familiar much with this script language - this cube thing, is everything I wrote in this language, ever :)

[atiraedeon123]

you will need a prety high vidcard for that program

[minimemarcus88]

Help! When i create a object i used to be able to move/rotate/scale it easy. Now its different and limited to a certain XYZ plane.

for example. when i used to rotate it a sphere made of a X,Y,Z circle used to be dragged around to rotate it. now its dissapeared. please help. so frustrating

[sashadesilva44]

@minimemarcus88

You mean the red green yellow circles have disappeared ?

If so press X on the keyboard

[minimemarcus88]

i actual love you!

[Albertotube23]

Hey Zigmar7 i did one rubik's cube in 3Dsmax myself, following a very similar way, but i didn' use the array for the cubes and i didn't change the rotation to TBC, could you explain to me what does that do (the TBC rotation)?

If you can watch my video!

[theironpaw]

nice man 5 stars I'm gonna try this now.

keep up making these interesting tutorials!

people do watch them and find that they are cool

[notapus]

Hey, nice tutorial! Just a quick question, is there a shortcut for getting the cube centralised as you seemed to do it really quickly and I had to zoom to get it exact. Cheers.

[zigmar7]

@notapus

It is just type-in transformation, where you can enter all the zeroes. or other values quickly. I don't remember the shortcut though (maybe f12?). It could be also easier if you enable snapping.

[theironpaw]

@notapus

in max Press V on the keyboard and it centers on the object you have selected. ; )

[notapus]

Cheers mate =D

[theironpaw]

or if your not centering in on the object right click the spinners and they should re-setback to 0.

*Im talking about the 2 little arrows you pull up and down, if you right click them they drop back to 0 again*

[megamickeench]

Great video!

I having a problem after the "Affect pivot only" step. I can't rotate or move anything when the "Affect pivot only button" is klicked.

Thank you for all help

[zigmar7]

@megamickeench

You don't need to more or rotate anything, bisides the pivots themselves (a virtual object (or point) representing the coordinate system origin and transformation anchor for an actual object).

[Helgon70]

thanks guy, nice

[Danetist]

It's strange really, because I also got that "Unknown property 'tension' in undefined" error. (3DS Max 8)

I then created a program that generated all the exact statements for all objects and keys, and saved the result as a Max script. Then I executed that script without any problems.

It appeared that Max dstiinguishes between object names with prefixed zeros (i.e. $ChamferBox01 instead of $ChamferBox1).

Anyhoo.. GREAT tutorial. I finally got the hang of that darned Cube :-)

[zigmar7]

Thanks! Can you post the updated script if you have any?

[Danetist]

I would love to but it is a program that generates a script :-(

Output from the program:

select $ChamferBox01

$.rotation.controller.keys[1].­tension = 50

$.rotation.controller.keys[2].­tension = 50

... and so on for every key in every cube.

As you can see it is a lot of script lines that is generated, as I could not get that loop thing in the script to work.

But mail me at anonym.helst on gmail and I can send you the script.

Regards,

Danetist

[zigmar7]

Well, I wanted to post the looped script for new Max version, but unless it will work for everybody, it is not really usefull. I probably could get it working but unfortunately I don't have a new max installed to test at...

[RafaelDinamic]

Hello my friend.

I presume I understand the problem with the script for the 3d max 2009.

You need to change the line 5 to:

cube.rotation.controller.keys.­tension = 50

(without the [i]). So, it will works.

Sorry my english.

[raza2241]

Ive figured out the problem thanks

[raza2241]

When i click affect pivot only and and do the transform type in and put in 0 the pivot doesn't go to the middle of the cube can you help?

[zigmar7]

Where does it move? Maybe it moves to (0,0,0) coordinate, but you haven't placed your cube center at coordinate system origin?

[raza2241]

i will send you a video of my problem as a video response.

[aliaseldelincuente]

I have a problem when rotating the faces at the end of the video

I do not speak English but want to help me

[claymantube]

Please, where can I download the script? I cant find it. Great tut anyway!

[claymantube]

Found, thanks.

[gamerboy123p]

This was taking forever for me because of the rotation problem. Then I saw this video, and it's all solved. Thanks a million!

[changhock]

I wonder, of all 3d model software, can they make a gun out of it, like crysis and others FPS game?

[drummerboy768]

yea, sure thats what they use?

[Sidslotm]

First class tutorial, the best Iv'e seen so far, keep going.

Now I might be able to rotate my 2001 space station

[TheBroken69glass]

wow..very great..where could i get taht software???

what do you call that software??

how to use that fuck??

[5252airplane]

Thanks for the grreat tutorial!

[daft2000]

for a quick workaround if this script doesnt work for you. just add an extra key frame at the end of eack spin, this stops the over rotation.

thanks for the tutorial Zigmar was very useful

[VS3GFX]

where do i get that material at???

[dave109109]

Forget what i just said, I deleted the random other cube by pulling the smaller pieces out and deleting them :) Don't know why there was an extra cube in the first place though :S Thanks anyway, great tutorial!

[LyaMayLya]

Hi,

Thank you for this very complet tutorial !

I don't know very weel 3D Studio Max 2009

I followed all your instructions I downloaded your script

but it's doesn't work for me

an error window displays : "-- Unknown property: "tension" in undefined"

I do not understand why...

could you help me

thank you very much

[zigmar7]

Probably, in latest Max 2009 (or maybbe even in some previews versions) the script syntax or API has changed. Unfortunately, I don't have a access to the latest versions of MAX, but it would be nice if somebody would able to fix and send me the script for newer versions.

[iaindonnelly92]

Fantastic. A very nice tutorial.

When I try and ruc your script in 3ds max 2010 I get the error:

"-- Unknown property: "tension" in undefined"

Is the syntax different for max 2010?

[iaindonnelly92]

* run

[zigmar7]

Yea, probably. But unfortunately, I don't have a Max2010 to check what is a new syntax.

[iaindonnelly92]

Thatnks anyway, this helped me get used to max :)

[shaheedworld]

this good

thanks

shaheedworld

[zzzspawn]

You my friend.. are AWESOME!!! :D

[DeenaCal]

Thank you... I just started 3Ds Max in college, and this is a wonderful display of what the program can do!!

[Toca91]

what college is it? ill probably sign up for programming but maybe ill change my mind....

[DeenaCal]

I go to the University of Arkansas, at Fort Smith, majoring in CADD Mechanical option, but I really enjoy this 3Ds Max, so I don't know...!

[kicheko37]

hi, thanks for this amazingly easy to understand tutorial. i just wanted to ask, is it possible in 3d max instead of having the colors on the faces, to map a logo or image onto the surface, such that it spreads across the 9 faces on one side? thanks a lot.

[zigmar7]

Sure, done quite easily. I actualyl had a video on the sides of the cube, but left this out to simplify the tutorial.

[aissa336]

thank you

[hwud1]

Thankksss man... amazing tutorial.. you cleared all my doubts !..

thx a lot..

[beanieboy007]

Thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for.

[jonny5050]

HI,

Everytime i attempt to import the script, when i eveluate it, it highlights "cube.rotation.controller.keys­[i].tension = 50".

I have changed the amount of keyframes but it still does it... any suggestions??

[zigmar7]

Maybe you have some other, incompatible version of 3DS Max, which has a different script syntax?

[noveanu]

Good work! Good training movie! ;)

[noveanu]

There is still a tiny problem, but it can be resolved easy:

A part of this cube must have maximum three faces colored differently,

two if it's at the edge and one if it's in the middle!

Cheers! :)

[bootis316]

Zigmar, thank you for this great tutorial. This is exactly what Ive been trying to do but couldnt figure out. BUT- How is it possible to make the sides of the cube be complete pictures that get mixed up instead of solid colors? it MUST be possible, but I just cant figure it out!

[zigmar7]

Well that's simple. Actually thus tutorial came up while researching for a way to make cube with video pictures on it's side (for TV opening). The idea, just instead of color sub-materials, use a bitmap (or video) texture, and make uv box mapping on all the rubics cube.

[bootis316]

Aye thats what I thought, but it doesnt work! Not if you want each side of the whole cube to be one whole picture. (not lots of the same little pictures) If you select the whole face of one side of the rubiks cube, and apply a bitmap, it insists on also putting that bitmap on the other sides of all the little cubes. I cant figure a way around it.

[sassdiva]

you have to do it with uvw unwrap. there are tutoials on this as well

[atlastorm]

Hi...it's a great tutorial, but at the end, once i enter the script, it says 'tension' undefined. Why is that? Thanks again for a great tutorial!

[zigmar7]

Have you adjusted the number of keyframes?

[atlastorm]

Yes, I have. I also tried doing exactly what you did. It always gives me the error 'Unknown property:tension undefined'. No clue as to why it's happening.

[spider853]

maybe you have selected more objects that cubes

[monkeycudgel]

my rotation circle axis thing with the colered lines crossing used to rotate objects has disappeared.please help = [

[zigmar7]

Check in preferences in you display "transformation gizmo".

[monkeycudgel]

you really rock man.thank you so much.problem solved = ]

[wprozz]

I can't hear you

[FLIRT5341]

Turn up the volume! ;)

[monopita]

thanks so much for sharing! this is a great tutorial. Thanks for the script as well.

[zigmar7]

Thanks. You are welcome!

[MaziluAur]

how did you color the cube ?

[EvinePOL]

Example:

Target your Cube -> Convert to: ->

Editable Mesh -> Polygon -> (Target one of side)

Then -> "M" set up color -> get material.

[chriscook1981]

You have to use a 'multi sub object' material rather than the standard one, set up the individual colours in that with material 1 being your 'base' colour and 2-7 being the other colours then apply the whole material to the box.

On your box apply and 'edit poly' or 'edit mesh' modifier, select each polygon individually then in the modifier panel, locate the polygon properties (quite far down) and set the ID to the corresponding colour (from the 2-7 mentioned above)

[soovantha]

best

[dic0224]

Good work mate!!! it's useful!!

[royal7]

wow nice tutorial .. good work

[davelk87]

got it working perfect now. It helps to put a second identical key frame 2 frames along after every rotation to make it look more realistic.

thanks a lot, great tutorial

[bengofet]

i've been brainstorming how to succesfully animate a rubix cube with a friend. never would have thought of doing it that way. Thanks.

[helmus2000]

Wow Wicked awesome stuff!

Can't believe it was that simple

[davelk87]

p.s. im using 3ds max 2008

[davelk87]

hi, when i select affect pivot only and go to tools i dont have the option at the top of the menu that you have where you set the values to 0.

any help would be great i really need to get this to work, thanks

[zigmar7]

At max 2008, this is called "Transform Type-In..." under "Edit" menu, or simply hit F12. Just make sure you have the move transformation enabled ("Select and Move" in the toolbar or Edit->Move from menu).

[davelk87]

nice one mate I just hit F12. The only problem I have now is even thought its rotating properly the rotation point is always at the side or the bottom and never around the middle cube I really cant see what I'm doing wrong?

[zigmar7]

You haven't probably move the whole rubik's cube to the center of coordinates beforehand. Just move it manually, or temporally group all the sub-cubes, move the group to absolute (0,0,0) with F12, than ungroup. Just remember to check the pivots afterwards again.

[zigmar7]

...

Of course, you can do the other way around - move pivots to the real center of the cube, but this would be more difficult. For the simplicity of the tutorial, I've suggested to move cube to the center of coordinate system, and than assumed this in several operations, like in this pivots transformation.

Good luck!

[saif631]

thnxxx.. a load.. PIVOT.. clever.. :)

[irac78]

Great work. I think you kicked other's guy ass who made this different way on youtube.