[Figure 5-4] Prop properties

Naming Props
Imported props carry the name assigned to them in the external 3D program, but you can change this name in the Name field found in the Properties palette, shown in Figure 5-4. You can open the Properties palette by selecting the Object, Properties menu command or by simply clicking on the Properties tab in the Parameters/Properties palette. The other properties are the same as those for figures, which are covered in Chapter 3, “Editing and Posing Figures.”

Select and Position Props
1.         Select File, Open and open the Imported table prop.pz3 file.

2.         Select File, Import, Wavefront OBJ and import the chair.obj file into the current scene.

3.         With the chair prop selected, click the Scale tool in the Editing Tools control. Hold down the Shift key and drag within the prop circle to uniformly reduce the size of the chair prop.

4.         Select Figure, Drop to Floor (or press Ctrl+D).

The chair prop should now be aligned with the floor like the table.

5.         Select the Translate In/Out tool from the Editing Tools and drag the chair prop behind until it is positioned behind the table.

6.         Select the From Left camera from the Camera Controls to see the scene from a side view.

[Figure 5-5] Figure sitting at table and chair props

 

7.         Click the Translate/Pull tool in the Editing Tools, select the figure’s hip element, and drag backwards until the figure is in a sitting position. Then, drag on the figure circle to move the entire figure backward until it is sitting in the chair.

8.         Select the Main Camera from the Camera Controls and rotate and move the camera until the figure is zoomed in to the figure.

The figure is positioned about the table and chair props, as shown in Figure 5-5.

9.         Select File, Save As and save the file as Figure sitting.pz3.

ATTACH PROPS TO ELEMENTS
If you look through the types of props that are included in the Library, you’ll find many figure accessories such as clothing items, jewelry, watches, hats, and ties. These props won’t help you much if you need to reposition them every time you change a figure’s pose. Luckily, you can attach and conform these props to the figure, so that when the figure is posed, the prop moves with it.