Functionality
Magnet Target(s) (MT) must be present for this command to function. MTs are created by Create Magnet Target Or Center Marker (SMR) and should be positioned inside parent Symbols to indicate the point of magnet contact.
Upon execution the command repositions the selected (children) Symbol(s) matching their Registration points to the Registration points of a Magnet Target present in a parent Symbol.
1. Animation / Symbol Mode
- Elements belonging to a Smart Magnet Rig
The Symbols have been rigged with the FreeStyle Rigging Tool or via Smart Magnet Rig panel, i.e. all MTs and Symbols have been assigned metadata IDs via the panel. In this case a clear hierarchy of Symbols has been established and the command can be applied to multiple Symbols. Upon execution ` each child Symbol will snap to its parent MT.Alternatively, upon pressing Ctrl+` the command works in inverse mode and snaps intermediate and parent elements in a chain downward to the lowest ranking child instead of upward to the parent. This mode requires the selected elements to belong to one chain only.
- Elements that have not been rigged
MTs are present, but Symbols have not been tagged using Smart Magnet Rig panel, i.e. they are missing ID metadata and hierarchy has not been established. In this case child Symbols can be magnetically snapped one at a time. The Reg point of the child will snap to the nearest Magnet Target inside a parent Symbol. The magnet range for this scenario can be set in EDAPT Control Panel. Default value is 50 pixels. For non-SMR elements, the command will not work outside of this range. - Welded elements
Smart Magnet Joint detects welded elements and can also adjust their rotation to match that of the parent.
If the welded element is in position over the Magnet Target, pressing the ` key will restore rotation in relation to the parent at the time of welding.
If the welded element is moved away from the Magnet Target, pressing ` will snap it into position. A second press of ` will restore rotation in relation to the parent at the time of welding.
2. MT Mode
If the selected object is a Magnet Target, upon execution ` the command snaps it over the nearest existing Center Marker of another Symbol.
3. SMR Controller Mode
When SMR Effectors and Braces are selected, upon pressing ` they will all snap to their respective controlled elements.
When one SMR Effector is selected, upon pressing Ctrl+` the whole rig will snap back to it.
Suggested use
Animation / Symbol Mode
Any time a joint is 'dislocated' and a rig is broken due to an error or a classic tween and we need to have the elements back in their places.
MT Mode
For quick and precise positioning of Magnet Targets over the Registration Points of child Symbols. The Reg Points must be indicated by a Center Marker (CM).
SMR Controller Mode
Snapping Controllers or the rig when needed while posing and animating.
Where does it work?
Stage, Selected Symbol(s), Selected Magnet Target, Selected SMR Controller(s)
EDAP Tools shortcut
Notes
Smart Magnet Range for the second scenario (Elements that have not been rigged) can be customized in EDAPT Control Panel or Quick Settings F12.
Known issues
Parented Layers: Shrinking and drifting after magnet snapping of rigged elements when Layer Parenting Shell is on, due to a long-standing bug in Animate. Read more…
Performance of Smart Magnet Joint is slightly slower in CS versions of Flash when document type is set to AS3. If you do not need AS3 for any specific reason, switch to AS2 for better performance of Flash and EDAPT Tools across the board.
Mac OS Mojave only: If [ Command+` ] is not working on your mac, please change this shortcut to any combination involving Command, for example [ Command+2 ]
Video demonstration
All our videos are 1080p. If for some reason full HD is not available here, try watching them on YouTube.
I have a MAC desktop with Catalina OS V10.15.7
The tutorials talk about using the TILDA key to snap magnetic objects, on my keyboards under the esc key I have the ± and§ symbols and no matter what combination of keys I try I cannot get a TILDA symbol, is there any other way to connect two components?