Arts >> Art >> Other Art

How to Animate Helicopter Blades in 3DS Max

As animation software becomes cheaper and easier to use, more people are enjoying animation as both a hobby and a career. Animation has far more uses than just in games or film. Every day more artists are moving to the digital medium and using software such as Autodesk's 3DS Max to create short films, animated greeting cards, YouTube videos or simply to have fun. Battle scenes are particularly popular, and no battle scene is complete without a helicopter, blades spinning, soaring across the sky.

Things You'll Need

  • 3DS Max
  • Helicopter Model
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select the helicopter blades as a group, picking the group whose pivot point allows the blades to spin in the proper direction. Confirm the pivot point is located in the center where the blades attach. Adjust it to the center if necessary. Set a keyframe at zero.

    • 2

      Move the timeslider to the end of your animation sequence. Rotate the blades several 360-degree cycles. Set a new keyframe.

    • 3

      Render the animation at 30 frames per second to confirm the blades are spinning at the desired speed. Adjust the number of 360 rotations until you feel happy with the rotation speed. Override the second keyframe by setting a new one with the adjusted rotation. Repeat this process until you have the desired effect.

+:
+:

Other Art

Related Categories