Selecting the SOLIDWORKS Model for Animation

After reviewing my original CAD models, I decided to use my Moai design for this animation study. The Moai statues are monumental stone figures located on Easter Island, known for their cultural and religious significance. These statues are believed to represent leaders or religious figures, which makes them an ideal subject for animation.

Getting Started with KeyShot

Upon opening KeyShot, you are greeted with the default layout, which includes various libraries on the left side. These libraries offer materials, colors, textures, and environments to enhance the visual appeal of your model. These tools will be essential in making the animation both realistic and engaging.

Importing the SOLIDWORKS Model into KeyShot

To begin, click on File in the top left corner and select Import. A dialogue box will appear, allowing you to browse and select the CAD file you wish to upload into KeyShot.

Making the Moai Model More Realistic

As I earlier mentioned Moai are made of rock structures so we will find a material which will give rock visuals.I have used “Mossy rough Stone” material. I have downloaded this material from Cloud library provided by Keyshot.

 Note: To add material, drag and drop the material from the Material menu over the cad model.

Adding Environment

Environment provide realistic lighting to our model which makes it more original. I have used “Aversis_Clothing-store_3k.hdz” as it gives a spotlight over my model.

Now you can see the background of the model shows the cloths store. To change the background, we need to select different background for the environment. For this “backplate” option is used.

Customizing the Background

To contrast the stone texture of the Moai, I opted for a dark black background.

Additionally, the scene resolution may appear small due to the imported image resolution. To adjust this, click on the Image option, select Resolution Presets, and choose the resolution that best suits your project.

Creating the Moai Animation

Now, it’s time to animate the Moai! Follow these steps to begin the animation process:

• At the bottom of the screen, click on the Animation option to open the animation window.
• Click on the Animation Wizard at the bottom left to launch the dialogue box.
• For this animation, select Path under the Camera Animation option, then click Next.
• You will now need to add a camera for the animation.

Defining Camera Path

• To define the path for your animation, start by creating multiple view coordinates. Enable the “Geometry View” option to visualize the camera path you’ve used in the animation.

• Next, change the view of the CAD model by holding the left mouse button and dragging it to a different position. For example, in the image below, you can see the left side of the Moai model. Now, click on “Add New Control Point” in the Camera Path.

• As you can see, I’ve added several control points. The “Geometry View” helps to track the placement of each camera position along the path.

• The creation of these multiple views is based on your creativity. For instance, you can zoom in on the model for one view, then zoom out in the next. Try to create as many views as possible to achieve a smooth, uniform animation.

• Once all views are created, click “OK” in the Camera Path dialog box.

• The blue bar in the Timeline’s frame panel indicates the camera path. In this case, I’ve set the animation to 30 FPS, with a total duration of 5 seconds as shown in the timeline.

• Finally, click the play button to test your animation.

Exporting and Rendering the Animation

• To export the animation, click on the Render option at the bottom right of the screen.
• In the Render dialogue box, select the Animation option at the top.
• Since animation is essentially a sequence of rendered images, you can check the Frames Output option if you wish to export individual frames.

• Choose the Entire Duration option, which will generate 151 frames for the entire animation. You can also adjust the resolution based on your device’s capabilities. Keep in mind that higher resolutions will result in longer rendering times.

• Once ready, click Render and wait for the process to complete.

  Our Moai Animation is Ready!

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we successfully brought the Moai design to life using KeyShot 11. By applying realistic materials, setting the right environment, and creating a smooth camera path, we showcased the power of animation in enhancing design presentations. KeyShot’s animation features offer endless creative possibilities for designers, making it an essential tool for visual storytelling. Experimenting with different settings can help you create dynamic, engaging animations that elevate your designs. Happy animating!