Page Turn in Action Using a Deform Node


In action, add an image then add a deform node. Make sure “auto key” is OFF. The page animation is done by flying the deform node through the image, the deform node is not keyed. Go to surface>deform. Turn off show source, and Outside, make sure Show dest is turned on.

In the schematic select the deform node, then go back to the perspective view and ctrl-drag a box around all the vertices to the right of the deformer.

 

Using the blue boxes (current point) move this column of vertices so they align with the vertices on the left side of the deform node and about 100 pixels in front.


TIP: after you select this column, note the values for x, y, and z. If you are working on NTSC the x value should say something like “330.48”, then just type “-330.48” in this box. Then type 100 on the Z box. Leave the Y box as is.


Select the second column of vertices from the right, repeat the same procedure in order to end up with the following shape:


 

Select axis2 in the schematic. Drag the x value left and right. The page turn is almost complete. But you will notice that when you drag the X value to a negative number, you get some weird artifacts, as shown to the right.

 

This is because the deform node is not large enough to accommodate the the picture once the axis has been slided to the left. To fix this, scale the deformer (using axis2). Just scale the deformer enough to accommodate for the picture when the deformer is the furthest to the left. (start with a scale valued of about 130)

NOTE: if you are just going to animate in the deformer only in the X axis, then you only need to scale the deformer in X If you are going to animate the deformer in X and Y, the you should also scale the deformer in Y.

 

Once you are happy with the result, you can change the shape of the deformer to give the page turn a bit more character (again, no need to keyframe the deformer). You can also add some lights, or change the shine of the picture surface.