Animators’ Toolkit for 3ds Max “creates cool stuff, faster”
Ingenuity Engine CG supervisor John Martini and animator Andru Phoenix have released ATK: a “compact suite of modular tools to rig, copy and manipulate animation” in 3ds Max.
ATK (it’s short for ‘Animators’ Toolkit’) comprises 27 modular ‘devices’ for automating common tasks – such as copying keys and randomising the animation of the copies – or enabling new workflows.
The devices may be combined to create more complex results via ATK’s built-in sequencer. According to the website: “Each tool can be instanced, so you never have to play memory games with your settings.”
Prism, ATK’s parametric curve editor, enables artists to use curves to control weights, timings and transforms, picking the order of distribution or using automatic sorting methods, including distance, volume and hierarchy.
Costs less than a night out
At $25 (including a “treasure chest of bonus scripts”), ATK isn’t likely to put a hole in your wallet. The developers also note that “there is no need for extra licences, as ATK uses methods native to 3ds Max”.
ATK is available now for 3ds Max 2010 and above. If you want to try before you buy, you can download the free Lite version from the developers’ website via the link below.
Read a full list of features in ATK
(Includes more demo videos and a download link for the free Lite edition)
Visit John Martini’s Vimeo channel
(Includes videos of more ATK devices and scripts)