Before we dive into the workflow, let’s get the script installed. 

1. Download & Extract: Click the link below to get the script - Download Script. Download the archive and unzip its contents into a dedicated empty folder on your drive.

2. Add to Cyclone 3DR: Open Leica Cyclone 3DR and go to the Script Toolbar. Click on Settings, then select 'Favorite Script'.

3. Link the File: In the pop-up window, choose 'Add favorite from disk' and navigate to the folder you just created. Select the main.js file.

4. Rename it: Double-click the name of the new tool in the list and type '3DR Studio'.

5. Add an Icon: Double-click the default icon to change it. Navigate back to your script folder and select the 3DRStudio.png file.

And that’s it! If you check your Script Menu now, you’ll see the new tool is ready to use.

The entire animation process is divided into five manageable steps:

1. 📁 Project Manager

2. 📍 Define Poses

3. 📈 Calculate Trajectory

4. ▶️ Play Animation

5. 🎞️ 3DR Studio

Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps.

Step 1: 📁 Project Manager

The first step is Project Creation. It’s a straightforward process where you define the folder for all the temporary files the script needs to run.

To start, simply run the process and select 'Create New Project'. The script will prompt you to choose a save location—just create a new folder with any name you like and select it.

If you have already worked on projects before, the script will allow you to select an existing one from the list. By default, the script works with the last active project, which you can always see in the main menu when you launch the script.

Step 2: 📍Define Poses

This is one of the most critical stages of the process. During this step, you define the positions of your scans at different points in time—creating what we call 'Poses'.

The script offers two ways to do this:

1. Manual Placement (🎯 Custom Object): Manually moving the scan to key locations.

2. Trajectory Generation (🚗 Vehicle Trajectory): Creating a predefined path for the object.

The Manual method is highly flexible because you have full control over every keyframe. However, it can be time-consuming if you need to simulate complex vehicle movement with many positions. In those cases, the Trajectory method is more efficient.

The Workflow:

Once the first pose is saved, close the script. Use the standard Leica Cyclone 3DR tools to move your point cloud to its next position. Open the script again and save the new pose using the same tool.

As you progress, you’ll notice helper files being generated. These give you a visual preview of the estimated trajectory, while copies of each pose are automatically saved into the project folder.

📝 Update Existing Pose

If you notice that some poses need adjustment after they’ve been created, you don’t need to start over. The script includes a built-in 'Update Pose Position' tool for quick corrections.

1. Use the standard Leica Cyclone 3DR translation and rotation tools to move the specific point cloud pose to the desired location or orientation.

2. Run the Update Tool: Within the 📍 Define Poses dialog, select the '📝 Update Existing Pose' option.

3. Select and Sync: Click the 'Update Pose' button and then select the point cloud in the scene that you just moved.

The script will instantly re-write the position data for that specific pose in your project files, ensuring your trajectory remains accurate without extra effort.

Method 2: 🚗 Vehicle Trajectory

The second method is ideal for simulating vehicle movement. Before running the script, you need to prepare two key elements in your scene:

1. The Trajectory: This is a polyline representing the object's path (either a centerline or two lines for the left and right sides). You can create this using the CAD Curve tool—simply click to define key positions and use the red bubbles to adjust the curve. Once finished, convert it to a polyline using the 'Polyline From CAD Curve or Wire' tool.

2. The Surface Mesh (Optional Step): You need a mesh representing the ground or road for accurate movement. High detail isn't necessary; a triangle size of 1 meter is usually sufficient. You can generate this in the Surface Modeling tab using '3D Mesh' or 'Extract DTM'.

4. Path Configuration

The script will then ask how you want to define the path:

• Single Polyline (Center trajectory)

• Two Polylines (Left and right sides)

Select your preferred method and then click on the trajectory polyline in the scene.

5. Alignment and Projection

Surface Projection: The script will ask if you want to project the trajectory onto a surface. Enable this checkbox and select your reference mesh from the list.

6. Orientation Check: You will see two generated lines (Red (Left) and Green (Right)). It is crucial to verify that the Green line is on the right side. Click 'Verify' and select the polyline that represents the right side of the trajectory.

7. Finalizing

Finally, set the 'Distance Step' between poses (a standard 3m step usually works well) and enable the 'Export Animation XML' option to save data for each pose.

The script will then automatically generate multiple poses in your project folder, spaced out according to your specified step.

Step 3: 📈 Calculate Trajectory

Now that we have our key poses, it’s time for a very important step: Calculating the Trajectory.

This process is fully automated. The script calculates extra positions (interpolation) between your defined poses to ensure all movements and transitions look perfectly smooth.

1. Open the 📈 Calculate Trajectory menu.

2. In the dialog window, you will see a list of all available point clouds ready for calculation.

3. The most important setting here is the Transition Time. Please note: This is NOT the total animation time. This is the duration of the movement between two adjacent positions.

• For Method 1 (🎯Custom Object): Since your poses are likely further apart, I recommend setting this to 2–3 seconds.

• For Method 2 (🚗 Vehicle Trajectory): Since the poses were generated automatically with a small step (e.g., 3m), use a much shorter time, like 0.3–0.5 seconds.

Once you’ve set the time, click OK. The script will then generate all the necessary files to bridge the gaps between your poses.

Step 4: ▶️ Play Animation

Now that the trajectory has been calculated, we can finally see the first results! This step allows you to preview the animation for a specific object before moving to the full scene.

Setting Up the Preview:

1. Go to the ▶️ Play Animation menu.

2. In the mode selection, choose the Single Animation Mode. That allows us to play animation for a single object. The Multiple object animation mode will be available after Step 5.

3. In the dialog window, select the object you want to animate from the list.

• Loop Animation: Enable this checkbox if you want the movement to repeat continuously during your review.

• Choosing Your Camera View:

To get the best perspective, the script offers three camera modes:

• Free Camera: This gives you full control. Use your mouse and standard Leica Cyclone 3DR navigation to move around while the animation plays.

• Auto Follow: The camera will automatically track the object, keeping it centered in your view as it moves.

• Top View: The camera stays directly above the object and follows its path. When using this mode, you can specify a Height value in meters to set how high the camera should be.

Press Ok button to play the animation. This tool is specifically designed for animating and fine-tuning a single object at a time to ensure its individual movement is perfect.

Step 5: 🎞️ 3DR Studio

The final step is 3DR Studio—a powerful visual timeline editor designed specifically for Leica Cyclone 3DR. Think of it as Video Editing Software: DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro, but for your point clouds. It allows you to merge, arrange, and preview all your scan animations in one place.

Getting Started

When you launch 3DR Studio, it automatically loads your project settings and all generated animation files onto the timeline. If you’ve worked on this project before, it will even restore your previous layout.

Interface at a Glance

1. Essential Editing Tools

To make your animation look professional, use these core features:

• 🧲 Smart Snapping: Toggle this on to perfectly align blocks to each other’s edges or specific pose keypoints.

• ✂️ Cut Tool (Shortcut: C): Need to split a movement? Activate Cut mode and click anywhere on a block to divide it into independent parts.

• ↔️ Extending Blocks: Hover over the start or end of a block and drag. This creates a 'ghost zone' that freezes the point cloud in its last position—perfect for keeping objects visible after their movement ends.

• 🔗 Grouping: Select multiple tracks and hit Group to move them together, maintaining their relative timing.

Transport & Preview

• Scrubbing: Click and drag the red playhead along the top ruler to jump to any frame.

• Use the Spacebar to Play or Pause the animation.

• Reverse (R): Great for checking transitions backwards.

• Speed Slider: Speed up playback to preview long sequences quickly, then return to 1x for the final check.

2. Left Panel (Objects): Your 'library' of scans. You can toggle visibility (👁️) or lock tracks (🔒) to prevent accidental changes.

3. Center (Timeline): This is where the magic happens. Each block represents an animation. You’ll see diamond markers (◆) representing your saved poses. You can move them left and right to adjust the order of your animation.

4. Right Panel: Displays detailed coordinates and properties for whatever you have selected.

5. Footer — Zoom slider and status information

Once your blocks are arranged on the timeline, it’s time to see everything in action. 

• Click the Play button (or simply hit the Spacebar) to start the animation of all objects simultaneously. 

• Press Space again to pause the playback at any moment. 

• Use the Speed Slider to fast-forward through your sequence for a quick review—it’s a great way to verify long trajectories in seconds.

Final Export & Playback

When you are satisfied with the timeline and the transitions, 3DR Studio automatically generates a merged animation file. To see the final high-quality result, head back into the script menu in Leica Cyclone 3DR. Select the ▶️ Play Animation and then select the Multiple Object Animation mode. This will load your edited timeline and play back the complete simulation exactly as you designed it in the 3DR Studio.

Pro Tips for Success:

• Use Snap to align animations precisely.

• Extend blocks so your equipment doesn't 'disappear' once it stops moving.

• Save often! A yellow dot 🟡 on the File button reminds you if you have unsaved changes.

And that’s it! With these five steps, you can transform static point clouds into dynamic, professional simulations—whether you're checking for collisions on a construction site or visualizing a complex production line.

If you have any questions about the workflow or specific features, feel free to reach out or check the documentation. I can’t wait to see the simulations you create with this tool.

Thanks for watching, and happy animating!