Blender For Dummies » Chapter 10

Track To Constraint

Jason — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:20:08 +0000

This file is a simple illustration of the Track To constraint. Select the cube (right-click) and Grab (G) it to move it around. Notice that both the camera and the cone follow its every movement.

Files:

trackto.blend

Stretch To Constraint

Jason — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:19:17 +0000

The cube has been given a Stretch To constraint with Suzanne as it’s target. So anywhere you Grab (G) and move Suzanne to, the cube will scale itself and try to reach her.

Files:

stretchto.blend

Introducing the Ipo Curve Editor

Jason — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:18:17 +0000

This .blend file should match the first figure in Chapter 10. To see what the curve in the Ipo Curve Editor does, move your mouse cursor into the 3D View and press Alt+A.

Files:

ipo_curve_editor.blend

Floor Constraint

Jason — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:17:08 +0000

The cube has a Floor constraint with the plane as its target. Try Grabbing (G) and moving the cube below the plane. You can’t do it. That’s the basis of the floor constraint.

One thing to pay attention to, though, is where the constraint happens. Note that the cube can actually go through the plane. This is because the constraint opeerates on the centerpoint of both objects. So the centerpoint of the cube cannot go beyond the centerpoint of plane.

Files:

floor.blend

Copy Rotation

Jason — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:16:07 +0000

Suzanne has a Copy Rotation constraint on the cube. This means that if you rotate the cube, Suzanne will rotate to match its orientation. Go ahead… try it out.

Files:

copy_rotation.blend

Parenting an Object to a Vertex Group

Jason — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:14:20 +0000

From the looks of things here, there’s not much special going on. The only important thing to note is that the Suzanne head has a constraint on it. However, you can Grab (G) and move the head around all you want. But, select the circle object (right-click) and Tab into Edit mode. There should be a single vertex selected right where the Suzanne head is. That vertex is the sole member of a vertex group call Group. If you Grab (G) that vertex and move it around, the Suzanne head will follow it.

Files:

childof_vertex.blend

Camera Orbit

Jason — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:11:14 +0000

Here’s a good real-world application of constraints. The camera has two constraints on it: a Follow Path constraint to lock it to the curve circle, and a Track To constraint to keep it always pointing at Suzanne. This is a really nice way to get an spinning table top animation for presenting your models.

Files:

cameratrack.blend