- Why Blender for Animation: Overview of Blender’s robust animation tools and Three.js’s animation capabilities.
- Use Cases: List common animation needs, such as character movement, object transformations, and environmental animations.
2. Setting Up and Exporting Animations in Blender
- Rigging for Smooth Animations:
- Tips on building efficient rigs using Blender’s Armature system.
- Naming conventions for action-based animations, which are crucial for Three.js’s Animation Mixer.
- Types of Animations:
- Differences between keyframe animations, skeletal animations, and morph targets.
- Guidance on when to bake animations for static models.
3. Exporting Animations for Three.js
- GLTF Export Settings: Proper settings for GLTF to maintain rigging and animation integrity.
- FBX Export for Skeleton-based Animation: When and how to use FBX for complex skeletal animations.
- Checking Animation Playback in Three.js: Preview exported animations using Three.js editors or GLTF viewers.
4. Loading and Controlling Animations in Three.js
- Using Animation Mixer:
- Setting up mixers and actions for play, pause, and loop controls.
- Synchronizing actions, like transitioning between walking and running.
- Blending Animations: Using blend trees to create smooth transitions between animations.
- Using Tweening Libraries: Steps for integrating tween libraries (e.g., GSAP) to handle animation easing.
5. Optimizing for Performance
- Simplifying Bone Structures: Reducing bone counts for smoother performance on lower-powered devices.
- Animation Compression: Exploring compression techniques for GLTF animations to reduce file size.