Can I edit shapes while using IK?

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ruibjr
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Can I edit shapes while using IK?

Post by ruibjr »

I woder if there is a way to edit a shape while keeping al shapes in the current position and rotation when I am rotating bones (using IK, that is).

It would be great if I could edit shapes at certain poses, that is, being able to pose my characters and making fine adjustments to shapes at certain poses.

I can get the same effect by moving layers and rotatig them, and overlaping them to mimic their appearance for specific poses, but I wonder if there is a more direct (in-IK) way to do it.

Thanks.
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Víctor Paredes
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Post by Víctor Paredes »

Have you tried it?
If I understand well, it can be made perfectly. Actually, it's one of the big features.
ruibjr
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Post by ruibjr »

It is hard to explain. I am not sure how to describe it, myself.
Here is one example:

I am designing a character, some kind of humanoid dude.
Now I just drew the upper arm and the lower arm.
I add the bones to them and position them accordingly.

Now, I can use IK and it works fine.

But... a couple of points in the elbow portion on the upper arm are just a little bit off to fit perfectly. I am using the wireframe display mode to have a better feeling of where exactly the points should be.

Remember: I am onframe 0.

Now, when I click on the MOVE POINT tool, all shapes move to their original positions and angles.

So, I am not able to edit the shape in that layer while keeping all the angle positions and rotations, which makes it a little bit more difficult to make those fine adjustements.
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mkelley
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Post by mkelley »

I do it on frame 1 and then copy the key changes back to frame 0.

It works for me.
ruibjr
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Post by ruibjr »

Very clever!
Thank you very much for this tip.
Cheers!
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dueyftw
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Post by dueyftw »

I'm not sure what your after, but I use control c control v and copy a shape then pull it off, out of the way. That way if I don't like my edits, I have a the copy to go back to.

Also try this. On making a setup, have only one shape per layer. Each shape right where you want it. Use a bone or group layer to keep track. Once your done, Make one new layer with copying and pasting each shape starting at the bottom or the back. Save that reference layer by just hiding it.

Why go to all the trouble. because now you can have 20 shapes all in the order that you added them right on top or each other with out having worry if might connect to another shape. Ya I now you can turn the auto connect on and off. So now to change one shape it not as hard if you didn't have the reference layer. Click on the shape edge, delete it, turn back on the one layer. Do you edit in that layer, copy paste it. Now you might have to label that shape if you need to send it back.

Dale
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