title: How to create a User Generated Animation in SceneKit with .dae (COLLADA) file from Blender
body: <p>I’m trying to animate specific parts of a SCNScene object in SceneKit (in my case I want to animate fingers of a hand). I import the .dae (COLLADA) file easily from Blender with the respective bones to generate articulation on the model. </p>
  
  <pre><code>override func viewDidLoad() {
      super.viewDidLoad()
  
      var scene = SCNScene(named: "hand.dae")!
      sceneView.scene = scene
      sceneView.allowsCameraControl = true
      sceneView.autoenablesDefaultLighting = true
      sceneView.backgroundColor = UIColor.lightGrayColor()
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>My goal is to animate those bones on iOS with user generated values between 0 and 1. Imagine a UISlider where you scroll back and forth and see the specific finger move depending on the value of the slider. </p>
  
  <p>This is needed animation screenshot</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://i.stack.imgur.com/VxMUt.png" rel="nofollow">Image with the animation pretended</a></p>
  
  <p>I’ve tried animate the model by calling an animation file like the Apple’s Fox example: </p>
  
  <pre><code>private var indexFingerAnimation: CAAnimation!
  indexFingerAnimation = CAAnimation.animationWithSceneNamed(“move_index_finger.dae”)
  indexFingerAnimation = false
  indexFingerAnimation = 0.3
  indexFingerAnimation = 0.3
  indexFingerAnimation = Float.infinity
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The problem is that’s a Global animation instead of just the index finger. Besides it’s always a ‘pre-defined’ animation instead of an animation controlled by user input. Ultimately I want to mix animations (e.g. move index finger and thumb at the same time revealing gestures)</p>
  
  <p>Is this possible? I’m struggling because I can’t figure out how to manipulate specific parts of the mesh. I’m starting to study MetalKit but it’s not clear to me that’s the solution.</p>
  
  <p>Any help would be really appreciated. </p>