Hello everyone,

I am fairly new to 3D Max animation. And I have lot of doubts regarding something which I want to do.

My intention is to first import a Google earth image which shows the route from House A to House B. The by the help of 3D Max animation I want to show the direction from House A to House B. The aim of the animation is to just show the direction from House A to House B.

As a first step I want to import the image to Max. Then by keeping that image as a background. I want animate a direction arrow which is comprised of spheres and an Arrow head. To understand it better please refer to the following;

S= sphere
X = ARROW HEAD

(House A) S1 S2 S3 S4 X (HOUSE B)
0th 5th 10th 15th 20th
frame frame frame frame frame

To do this I first create a sphere over the image close to House A then I set a key at 0th frame. After that I am moving the slider to the 5th frame and I am selecting the first sphere and I make a copy of it by holding shift. And then I am placing the 2nd sphere at a distance from 1st sphere after which I set a key at the 5th frame. I am following the same procedure till the 4th sphere.

After this I dont know how should I make the box appear on the 20th frame.

I would appreciate it if someone could help me with this. I have attached an image for reference.

	Attachment

Frame 19, box out of camera range and key set, frame 20 box in proper location and key set.

3ds Max 9 thru 2013
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit OS SP1
Dual Intel® Xeon® 6 core X5650 @ 2.67GHz CPU 36GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000
450GB HDD (x3) and 2TB HDD

3ds Max 2012 Certified Professional Models to Motion

	Attachment
boxappear.zip

At this point you are asking basic Max questions. I will have to point you in the direction of the tutorials that come with the software. Learn the basics from there. Sorry.

3ds Max 9 thru 2013
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit OS SP1
Dual Intel® Xeon® 6 core X5650 @ 2.67GHz CPU 36GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000
450GB HDD (x3) and 2TB HDD

3ds Max 2012 Certified Professional Models to Motion

I have attached the file on which I have worked on. Please check.

In that file the color of the arrow head looks lighter in the plan view it looks darker in perspective.

Can you tell me why is there a color difference?.

Thank you Steve for the tip.

I have attached zipped Max scene here

	Attachment
example_12.zip

Without going too much into it, the color difference is due to reflections. You are comparing a flat surface to a rounded one. How does it look when rendered? (That is what matters.)
It is 3D...give it something to work with...flat surfaces are blah. Look at a simple “enhancement” to your arrow.

3ds Max 9 thru 2013
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit OS SP1
Dual Intel® Xeon® 6 core X5650 @ 2.67GHz CPU 36GB RAM
NVIDIA Quadro 4000
450GB HDD (x3) and 2TB HDD

3ds Max 2012 Certified Professional Models to Motion

	Attachment
example_12_1.zip

After converting to editable poly did you chamfer the edges?