Suggestion for new feature in the TimeCurves window (C4D XL)

Please excuse the ugly PhotoShop mock-ups of the GUI. This section is just about concept.
There is a PrettyLovelyNiceNice GUI at the bottom of the page.

 

Suppose we have five keys on our sequence in the time line,

each placing the sphere at the corresponding locations: A-E.

Of course, 5 keys are not needed to move in a straight line. This is for purposes of demonstrating an idea.
Bare with me.

 

What I purpose for the TimeCurve window is that the keys from the timeline sequence be represented as below,
where the first key of a sequence would always be at 0% on the vertical axis,
the last key would always be at 100%, and the in-between keys distributed according to the way they are in the timeline sequence.
They are there for visual reference only. I do not suggest that they have any effect on the actual keys on the TimeLine Sequence.

I am demonstrating this in Path mode, but it would be useful in Velocity mode as well.

Basically, I've rotated a visual representation of the sequence 90 degrees and slapped it onto the vertical axis.
It would always be scaled on the vertical to span from 0-100

In order to make this more useful, we could add horizontal indicators of each key:

Now if we customize our time curve (path mode) we can see at which frame the sphere will be at a given location (A thru E).

 

So, at frame 30, the sphere eases into position D.

 

At frame 68, it eases back into position B

And at frame 100 it would continue on to finish at position E.

Useful, no?

JeremyW

 

Mr. bunk has offered this more elegant UI
(with modifications by me)

 

Let's say for example we have 4 separate Sequences on the same Position track.


Each is represented by a vertical bar, left to right as they appear in the Timeline window.
Clicking on one highlights it (currently #4) and produces the appropriate horizontal key indicators (black).

For demo, place your mouse over the other vertical bars.

Note the light red reference line that indicates the unaltered path (linear interp).
This is useful for maintaining the timing of Keys that you do not want to alter.

Perhaps we could have a snap-to function at the points where the horizontal key indicators (black) intersect the light red line.
This would assure no time displacement for the desired keys.

It would be nice to have an OPTION to automatically generate control points at each intersection.
This way, one could very quickly set up Ease in/out for each key.
Just a quick -Soft Interpolation- and a speedy -Flat- and you're done. Each keyed event remains nailed in time,
only the coming and going is altered. (as in sequence #3 rollover above)

I am not a programmer, so I will not lapse into any foolishness about how easy this would be to implement.

I can say with confidence however, that this does NOT entail any change in the way the TimeCurves work.
The curves made and their effect on the animation need be NO different then they are now (v6.3).
This is JUST about introducing an extra visual reference of information from the Timeline window
into the TimeCurves window in order to facilitate making useful TimeCurves.

JeremyW

If this makes sense to you, you might want to let Maxon know that you would be interested in such a feature in upcoming versions of C4D:

Maxon suggestion form