Using the Sequence Replicator Behavior
The Sequence Replicator behavior allows you to animate elements of a replicator in
sequence over time. This is the only way to animate elements individually—keyframing
the cell parameters or applying other behaviors affects all elements in the pattern
uniformly.
Using the Sequence Replicator behavior, you can select and apply replicator cell parameters
such as Position, Color, Scale, Rotation, or Opacity, then animate those parameters in a
cascading sequence that passes through each element in a replicator pattern.
The starting point for the sequence animation is based on the replicator’s origin or build
style. For example, if a spiral replicator’s Origin parameter is set to Center, the sequence
animation begins at the center of the spiral and moves outward; if the Origin of a rectangle
replicator with a tile fill is set to Upper Left, and the Build Style is set to Across, the
sequence begins with the elements in the upper-left corner of the pattern, then moves
toward the lower-right corner.
The Sequence Replicator behavior can be applied to the replicator object, or to the cells
of the replicator. When applied to each cell of a replicator with multiple cells, animations
can be created for each cell.
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After you create a Sequence Replicator behavior, you can save the behavior to the Library.
To apply the Sequence Replicator behavior to a replicator
Do one of the following:
µ
In the Layers list or Timeline, select the replicator, then choose Replicator > Sequence
Replicator from the Add Behavior pop-up menu in the toolbar.
µ
In the Library, select the Behaviors category and then the Replicator subcategory. Drag
the Sequence Replicator behavior from the stack to the replicator in the Layers list, Canvas,
or Timeline.
The Sequence Replicator controls appear in the Behaviors Inspector.
At the top of the Sequence Replicator controls in the Inspector are the Parameter pop-up
menus, which are used to add parameters to the behavior, or to remove them after they’ve
been added. The added parameters determine which properties are animated.
Underneath the Parameter pop-up menus are the Sequence Control parameters, which
determine how added parameters affect onscreen elements. These controls include
options for setting the direction of the animation, whether the animation is applied per
element or to the whole pattern, the number of times the animation cycles through the
pattern, and so on.
Sequence Control
parameters
Add or Remove
parameters
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Important:
Before any sequencing animation can occur, you must add at least one
parameter to the behavior in the Inspector and then set a value for that parameter. Until
a parameter is added, adjusting the Sequence Controls in the HUD or Inspector has no
effect.