Is it possible to lerp between to matrices?
Post: #1
I know this is a fairly fundamental question, but I'm curious if it's possible to lerp between two matrices. I know you can lerp two quaternions, so if worse comes to worst I can do that.
By lerp -- in case I'm using the wrong terminology, I mean:
Is there an analog for matrix math?
By lerp -- in case I'm using the wrong terminology, I mean:
Code:
float lerp( float amt, float a, float b )
{
return ( amt * a ) + ( ( 1-amt) * b );
}Is there an analog for matrix math?
Post: #4
Thinking about it for a bit, it seems like things would get pretty screwy with rotation. You'll probably get some, if not a lot, of distortion while interpolating. Give it a try, though, and let us know how it goes. If it's a problem, it seems like it could be solved without too much trouble.
Post: #5
Just thinking about the topic, you'll run into issues. Say you have an identity matrix and a matrix that swaps y and z values. Now if you find the middle ground you end up with the following matrix...
The problem here is that both of the original matrices define a unit coordinate system. This one in the middle is not unit, so you've ended up adding a scale to the operation which I assume will be undesirable.
It's doable but you'll have to overcome some issues I think.
Code:
{{1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0}
{0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0}
{0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0}
{0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0}}It's doable but you'll have to overcome some issues I think.
Post: #6
http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/..._id=313474 has some useful information- 30 second google search!
Post: #7
Short answer? No. 
Long answer: the two matrices are orthogonal, and should remain as such during the lerp. However, rotation is a non-linear operation and will not remain orthogonal. And, corollary to Zekaric: if you have two matrices that are just rotated 180° on the Z axis, how should the LERP interpret that? By rotation? Scaling? A massive shearing operation on three axes?
This is the reason that quaternions are so popular - they can be interpolated!
Long answer: the two matrices are orthogonal, and should remain as such during the lerp. However, rotation is a non-linear operation and will not remain orthogonal. And, corollary to Zekaric: if you have two matrices that are just rotated 180° on the Z axis, how should the LERP interpret that? By rotation? Scaling? A massive shearing operation on three axes?
This is the reason that quaternions are so popular - they can be interpolated!
Post: #9Fenris Wrote:Short answer? No.
I challenge this. As soon as I get home, I'm going to do my darnedest to prove you wrong.
Post: #10
Yes, you can lerp matrices. No, it's not very helpful, for the reasons pointed out (rotations in particular don't remain rotations during a lerp).
For most applications, storing Quaternion orientation; Vector position; Scalar scale; gives you all the representative power you need, and that representation is both easy to interpolate and easy to convert to a matrix.
For most applications, storing Quaternion orientation; Vector position; Scalar scale; gives you all the representative power you need, and that representation is both easy to interpolate and easy to convert to a matrix.
Post: #11
I was thinking along those lines originally -- I was just wondering if there were a shortcut. So it goes!
Post: #12
I would say 'it depends'.... If your matrices are close together, it could very well work (it's quite common when skinning). If they are more than a bit apart, it's gonna blow.
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