Matching Forms

When drawing tools are used to create transitions of existing performers, you will need to identify (match) the new places made by the drawing tool with a selection of existing performers in the drill. This process is automatic in 3D and is shown by the matching lines extending from the new positions to the selected performers.

The matching order predicted by 3D is often correct, however you may need to occasionally adjust the order in which the forms are matched. Below we’ll explore the various options of matching performers to new transitions.

Flip

If the new transition was drawn in reverse order of the existing form, a simple Flip will do the trick.

Predict Next

However, sometimes the matching order is not obvious enough for 3D to predict it correctly. In some situations, 3D may just need a little input to get started. Other times you may need to enter each of the matching lines yourself. When 3D has not found the correct matching order, the first thing to do is try to give it some help.

Click the Clear button to clear all of the matching lines and a red bubble will appear on top of the first new place. The red bubble indicates the new place that you will match to an existing performer.

With Predict Next checked, click on the selected performer that you want moved into the new place marked with the red bubble. A match line will connect the performers with the new place.

The red bubble will move to the next new place. Again, click on the selected performer that you want moved into this new place. Depending on the location of the selected performer, this may be enough matches for 3D to correctly predict all or some of the matches. Sometimes it may take one or two more manual matches for 3D to attempt a prediction depending on the matching order you are entering.

If 3D does not predict the matching order you desire, you can use the Back button to back up one match at a time. Once you get accustomed to 3D’s prediction logic, you may find that combinations such as matching partly with Predict Next “on”, then partly with Predict Next “off”, will accomplish matching with the fewest steps.

Manual Matching

When the matching order follows no basic pattern that can be predicted by 3D, it is sometimes easier to just do the matching manually from scratch.

Turn off the Predict Next option.

Click the Clear button to clear all of the matching lines and a red bubble will appear on top of the first new place.

Click on the selected performer that identifies the new place marked with the red bubble. A match line will connect the performer with the new place.

The red bubble will move to the next place in the new shape. Matched Positions turn green to indicate they have been matched. Click on the selected performer that identifies this new place. Repeat this step for each new place.

If you make a mistake, click the Back button to back up one matched place. Another way to correct a mistake is to click on the matching line drawn over the incorrect performer and drag the line to the correct performer.

The [DOWN ARROW] key on the keyboard will advance the red bubble to the next new place. Likewise, the [UP ARROW] key will advance the red bubble to the previous new place. After pressing an arrow key, any matches done afterward will advance the red bubble in the same direction as the last arrow key press. Should the up/down arrow keys stop responding, click once in the Positions box.

Proximity Match

The Proximity Match option will assign performers to new positions in the form based on closest proximity. This means the Proximity Match analyzes the drill and assigns performers to travel to the closest position in the new form.

Proximity Match is particularly helpful when assigning performers to a scatter transition, or when used as a foundation to match into complex maneuvers, as the closest transition may not always be the cleanest, but is a great start.

Swap

Swap is the default selection when switching performers order by click + drag. Take the following example:

If two positions in the newly matched form need to be swapped, click and drag one performer to the other performer’s location.

Shift

Shift matching will adjust all performers over one spot in the new form. Take for example the following:

Notice that the leftmost performer in the new form is traveling to a position that is nonsensical. If we move him to the appropriate spot by swapping his positions to the correct one, everyone else would need to move over one position to accommodate the new hole in the matching.

To alleviate this, you can use the Shift matching function. Press Shift in the matching options, then click and drag the performer whom you wish to move to their new spot.