Limits of the NLA in using the new modifier system
Hi! I’m still working on my animation with my cop character “Jones”, and I have set a walk cycle which is working well. I have created an NLA strip with the main action which is the walk cycle. 3 Curve modifiers have been added : one for a bone driving the character torso on the main trajectory, and two modifiers on an other curve for the feet.
I have added secondary actions for the head and the hands, and everything goes as well as possible. I have used additive mode for the hands and the various actions are mixing as expected.
Now, here is my problem : I’d want to make the character stop and stand with the two feet at the same level, on half a step, or one step and a half, using an other action strip with an uncomplete walk cycle.
Is it possible to chain NLA strips supporting curve modifiers ? I ask that, because instead of stopping, my character jumps at the beginning of the main curve instead of walking a bit more and stopping. I believe that I have read somewhere (Maybe when 2.43 RC1 has been released) that it was not yet possible, but I’m not sure…
The release log says:
Modifiers are executed after all actions in NLA are evaluated, there’s no support yet for blending multiple strips with Modifiers.
In my mind, “Blending” means crossing strips. My question is about “Chaining” strips. I mean that I don’t want to mix two actions, but make the second strip just follow the first one without common frames.
But maybe it doesn’t make any difference for Blender…
Could it be only a problem with the start and stop frames in the header of the NLA strip ? Is it a real limitation of the current NLA System?
What do you thing about this?
Thanks in advance.
Philippe.