Firstly drag the handle so that it snaps to the default length, then release the mouse and drag again to the length you a red handle while holding the Ctrl key to stretch a segment11 Figure ControlsButtons on the left hand side of the main window can be used to add new figures to the editing area and modify the current selected figure or figures.ħ A figure can be selected by clicking any of its handles. If the segment is a non-default length and you wish to position the segment close to the default length then it will require two drags of the handle. This can be useful for creating realistic movements for deformable or stretchy objects as well as creating the effect of 3D Ctrl dragging a segment from a non-default length, then it will snap back to its default length when the cursor is close enough.Ħ It won't snap to the default length if the drag is begun from the default length. The segment handle will then follow the cursor position without being constrained to its default length.
This can be done by holding down the Ctrl key on the keyboard while dragging a red handle. The figure will rotate and scale around its origin point at its orange a red handle while holding the Alt key to rotate and scale the whole figure10 Segment StretchingIn some cases it may be useful to adjust the length of a single figure segment on its own. You can also change the size of a figure by dragging a red handle while holding down the Alt key on the keyboard, which can be quicker.ĥ This can also be used to rotate the whole figure. You can set the scale by using the edit box in the tools panel on the left hand side of the main window (the default will be 100%). When unselected, all figure handles will be displayed in blue.Ĥ Figures can also be positioned accurately by using the arrow keys to move the selected figure or figures in 1 pixel a red handle to rotate the segment it's at the end of and all segment attached to it9 Drag the orange handle of a figure to move the whole figureSize / Scale & Rotation The size of a figure can be changed in two ways. In this way you can easily adjust the pose of a figure to any position you want while keeping the proportions of the figure constant. Click and drag the orange 'origin' handle to move the whole figure. Click and drag the red handle at the end of each segment with the mouse cursor to rotate it around its Pivot.
This can require more time to create a smooth animation than it does in flash for example, because Pivot doesn't support frame tweening.Ģ This however makes Pivot very easy to use and gives the Animator full control over figure stick figures can be created in the figure builder so that any object can be created and animation can be exported in a number of common formats for use on web pages or for uploading to enough time and effort, some very advanced animations can be created with Pivot, despite its relative StartedThe basics of creating an animation in Pivot at a GlanceThe main Pivot Animator window showing the default figure in the frame editing area7 The figure builder window.ģ Open by clicking 'Create Figure Type' in the main windows File menu8 Positioning FiguresPose and MovementA stick figure consists of 'segments' (lines, circles or images) connected by pivoting joints. An animation is made up of frames added to the time-line, which are shown at the top of the screen. The basic concept is that stick figures can be easily moved and positioned by dragging handles.
1 1 Pivot Animator User guide 2 Table of Contents at a Frame & Opening an Figure an AnimatorHelp file for Pivot Animator version user friendly stick-figure Animator for Animator is designed to be a user friendly way of creating 2D stick-man animations.