Hi guys, I want to hear your opinion about this project that I have, which if it works it will be a great enhancement for XSI…

Well, I have a web design background and in “ActionScript 3” (Flash animation Language) there is a class called tweening. This class basically is the same as the interpolation parameters in the FCurve in XSI. But while XSI has only 3 (step, linear, cubic) the flash class has a lot more: back, bounce, elastic, etc.
You can guess what I am aiming at, the flash class is an open ActionScript file, I could just translate it into python and try to apply it to XSI, making alternative interpolations that will greatly enhance the animation process, imagine an elastic bounce set up with only two keyframes.
I want to make it an Add On with its own GUI, but not necessarily so since its only function will be to change the interpolation of the FCurve.

This is my first project so I will like to clarify a couple of things before starting:
First - Was this already made by someone or is there an XSI equivalent class to what I am talkng about? If Yes, I will like to know this class or add on name, and sorry for the waste of time. If Not, what you guys think about the idea should I go for it?

Second - do you guys think the project is posible? I am worry about trying to develop a plugin that will basically overrride the interpolation parameter, it will be my first attempt so I don’t know if XSI is open to this kind of enhancement. And I will not like to develop difficult mathematical calculation to later find out I can’t implement them as interpolations in the FCurve.


Well, any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hi, for me this plugin isn’t really usefull. As Animator I want to have full control of my key tangents, stepped-linear curves are only a help for blocking animation out, after the blocking is done you have to switch to splined and work on your tangents. Imho there isn’t really a need for more then those 3 options.

Just my opinion. greetings

I understand, that this will not be helpfull in doing precise animation, that’s not the point, the purpose will be if needed to create 100 elements jumping around, or bouncing to the ground, etc. Just 2 keyframes and you have an interesting little quick animation. animate or create a rithm in those 2 keyframes and you got a cool effects. and if you get 8 different interpolation to choose from, and the posibility to ease in and ease out that interpolation, the posibilities multiply exponentially.

In any case. What you guys think? is this possible? does this already exist?

I’m sure some people would find it useful. I agree with you, the more possibilities we have, the better it is.
I’ve never eared of such plugin.
I can’t tell you if it would be possible, but I wouldn’t know how to implement them as interpolations in the FCurve.

good luck and keep us posted.

you can cycle, loop and bounce animation in XSI without a plug-in.  Just move the curves to the Animation Mixer and use the animation clip’s features

If you just want to loop a portion of a an fcurve, select the start and end keys in the Animation Editor and choose Curves->Cycle

I’m not aware of a way to write your own interpolator for curves in XSI.

Ok, I will try to keep everyone posted about this...I’ll see what I come up with in the next weeks. However I have other projects that I have to attend so it may take a while.

I am sorry to say that even though I find this project very interesting and with future. I cannot pursue it due to time constraints. I am kind of sorry because as a designer I know this will be extremely useful for quick motion graphics animations.