Animations
Set fold angles for each panel to create step-by-step 3D folding animations on the storefront for Print CAD standards.
The Animations tab defines how the flat dieline folds into the finished 3D packaging shape. By setting fold angles on the dieline's crease lines, you create a step-by-step animation that customers see on the storefront — the packaging starts flat and folds into its final form. This gives customers a clear understanding of how the printed sheet becomes a three-dimensional product.
Access Animations
- Open any standard from the Custom Libraries list.
- Select the Animations tab in the edit form.
Interface
The Animations tab has two sub-views:
Design View
A split layout with an interactive SVG viewer on the left and a configuration grid on the right.
- SVG Viewer (3/4 width): Shows the flat dieline with fold lines. Use zoom in/out buttons to adjust the view.
- Grid (1/4 width): Lists all fold lines with their angle settings.
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Id | Internal identifier for the fold line, derived from the dieline geometry. |
| Line | Reference to the crease line in the dieline that this fold applies to. |
| Angle | The fold angle in degrees. Click to edit. Positive values fold inward, negative values fold outward. The animation interpolates from 0 (flat) to the specified angle. |
Code View
A Monaco code editor (dark theme) bound to the standard's animation script. This provides direct access to the animation definition for advanced configuration beyond what the Design View grid supports. The script defines the folding sequence, timing, and any custom animation behavior.
Associations
Print Store
| Area | Effect |
|---|---|
| 3D folding animation | The animation script is stored in ParametricFile.AnimationScript. The storefront's Three.js parametric widget on category pages uses this data to animate the packaging from flat to folded. Customers can play, pause, and scrub through the fold sequence. |
| 3D model generation | Fold angles feed into the ParametricSystem's 3D model generation. The system produces Wavefront .obj files at each fold state, which the storefront's WavefrontHandler and ModelService serve to the Three.js viewer. |
Print Editor
| Area | Effect |
|---|---|
| 3D preview | When customers are designing in the editor, the fold angle data enables the 3D product preview that shows their artwork applied to the folded packaging shape. The preview uses the same fold geometry to wrap the 2D canvas design onto the 3D surface. |
Related Pages
- Panels — Define the named surfaces that fold angles are applied to
- Sandbox — Preview the flat dieline and test parameter values before animating
- Constraints — Geometric relationships that determine where crease lines appear