Rive Animation: State Machines, Inputs & More!

Learn how to create interactive animations using Rive’s state machine in this tutorial. Explore state machine inputs, transition properties, and more to enhance your designs.

Rive is a powerful tool for creating interactive animations that are scalable, fast, and lightweight, making them compatible with various platforms. This tutorial by The Motion Magic dives into Rive’s state machine, providing a comprehensive overview of its features and capabilities.

Video via The Motion Magic.

The video covers a range of topics, from basic interface elements to advanced interaction techniques, enabling designers and developers to collaborate more effectively and iterate deep into the development process. Understanding the power of state machines is crucial for building dynamic and engaging user experiences.

Key Features & Concepts

This tutorial explores the following key concepts in Rive:

  • Interface & Basic Interactions:
    • Interface Overview: Understanding the layout and tools available in Rive.
    • Basic Interaction: Implementing fundamental interactive elements.
  • State Management:
    • Active & Idle State: Defining different states for animations.
    • Transition Properties: Controlling how animations transition between states.
  • Inputs & Controls:
    • Trigger Input: Using triggers to initiate actions.
    • Boolean Input: Implementing binary controls for animations.
    • Number Input: Utilizing numerical inputs to drive animation properties.
  • Advanced Techniques:
    • Layers: Organizing animation elements using layers.
    • 1D Blend: Blending animations along a single axis.
    • Additive Blend: Combining animations additively for complex effects.
    • Hover: Creating interactive hover effects.
    • Click: Implementing click-based interactions.
    • Mouse Move: Using mouse movement to control animations.

By mastering these features, artists can create interactive motion graphics ready for implementation in products, apps, games, or websites. The use of state machines allows for a new level of collaboration between designers and developers, streamlining the handoff process and enabling deeper iteration.


This tutorial provides a solid foundation for understanding and utilizing Rive’s state machine capabilities. By exploring the various inputs, transitions, and blending techniques, designers can create sophisticated and engaging interactive animations.

Source:
The Motion Magic – Rive State Machine – Interactive Animation Tutorial

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