Contents
MotionBuilder Help
About MotionBuilder
About the MotionBuilder Help
About the MotionBuilder SDK Help
MotionBuilder Learning Resources
Copyright
What's New
What's New in General
What's New in Animation
What's New in Basics
What's New in Character Controls
What's New in Rendering
What's New in SDK
What's New in Performance
What's New in File Management
What's New in Documentation
Tutorials
Introduction
MotionBuilder workflow
Loading and Characterizing Character Models
Prepare the scene
Complete the character map
Characterize the character model
Creating and Customizing a Control Rig
Prepare the scene
Create a Control rig
Adjust the foot floor contact markers
Adjust the hand floor contact markers
Add Auxiliary pivots
Creating a Character Extension
Prepare the scene
Connect the extra limb to the character
Create a Character Extension
Creating a Walk Cycle
Prepare the scene
Create poses
Create animation with poses
Mirror poses
Play the animation
Retargeting Character Animation
Prepare the scene
Save the character animation
Create a scene
Load character animation
Play the animation
Editing Character Animation
Prepare the scene
Modify the Character Extension animation
Modify the head animation
Play the resulting take
Creating a Loop
Prepare the scene
Create a Character track
Create poses
Match clips
Process the clips
Test the walk cycle
Manipulating Clips
Prepare the scene
Create a turn
Blend two clips
Add a clip
Match clips
Importing 3ds Max Files into MotionBuilder
Prepare for this tutorial
3ds Max skeletons
Export and characterize a 3ds Max skeleton in MotionBuilder
3ds Max Bipeds
Create and export a 3ds Max biped
Characterize a 3ds Max biped in MotionBuilder
3ds Max Characters
Export a 3ds Max character
Import and characterize a 3ds Max Character in MotionBuilder
Animating a 3ds Max Character in MotionBuilder
Animate a character using motion capture data
Modify character animation with keyframes and export it to 3ds Max
User Guide
MotionBuilder Interface
Color window
Using the Color window
Asset Selection list
Selecting assets using the Asset Selection list
MotionBuilder menu bar
File menu
Edit menu
Selecting objects or branches by their namespaces
Unsupported Undo functions
Animation menu
Window menu
Settings menu
Layout menu
Python Tools menu
Version Control menu
Help menu
Viewer window
Creating multiple views
Showing and hiding objects in the Viewer window
Changing the background and grid colors
Viewer menus
View menu
Display menu
Stereo Display menu
Camera View toolbar
Navigation buttons
Save reminder
Display options
Camera view
Viewer toolbar
Selection Mode Menu
Reference mode menu
Transformation buttons
Object Mode button
Object Selection icons
Status bar area
Viewer contextual menu
Viewer window properties
Asset browser
View Options
Layout options
Display options
Browser pane
Scripts directory
Templates directory
Adding shortcut paths to the Templates directory
Tutorials directory
Adding a favorite path
Navigator window
Scene browser
Creating Scene browser configurations
Scene browser Filters dialog box
Asset list
Scene browser View options
Asset Settings
Python Editor
About the Python Editor
Accessing Python Editor commands
Using the Python Editor Contextual Help
Python Editor keyboard shortcuts
Using the Python Editor interactive console
Using the Python Editor work area
About the Python Tool Manager
Accessing Python tools
About the Python Logger
Using the Python Logger
Setting the Python Editor preferences
Profiling Center window
Layouts
Creating, updating, renaming, and deleting a layout
Adding tabs to custom layouts
Rearrange the interface
Preferences
Animation preferences
Character preferences
Devices preferences
Serial Ports preferences
FCurves preferences
Fields and Values preferences
Filters preferences
Loading preferences
Memory preferences
OpenGL preferences
OpenGL Viewer Info window
Python preferences
Saving preferences
SDK preferences
Setting a plug-in path
Selective Redraw preferences
Shading preferences
SteeringWheels preferences
Undo preferences
ViewCube preferences
Viewer preferences
Setting a rotation increment
Help preferences
Viewing Assets and Navigating in 3D Space
SteeringWheels
SteeringWheels First Contact balloon
Using the SteeringWheels
Showing/hiding the SteeringWheels
Controlling the appearance of the SteeringWheels
Control Tooltips and messages for SteeringWheels
SteeringWheels contextual menu
Navigation wheels
View Object wheels
Tour Building wheels
ViewCube
Controlling the appearance of the ViewCube
Using the Compass
Changing the view of a scene with the ViewCube
Rolling a face view
ViewCube contextual menu
Showing/hiding the ViewCube
Managing Files
Opening and loading
Opening an .fbx file
Opening a file from another 3D package
Opening a motion (MoCap) file
Adding assets to a scene
Adding Script assets
Executing a script
Adding Character assets
Adding Command assets
Adding Constraint assets
Adding Deck assets
Adding Device assets
Adding Element assets
Adding Primitive Element assets
Adding Physical Property assets
Adding PhysX Physical Property assets
Adding Shading Element assets
Adding Global Lighting Texture assets
Adding Shader assets
Adding Solver assets
Adding tutorial assets
Loading motion data
Loading custom local keying group data
Loading poses
Loading audio files
Loading video files
Loading assets from .fbx files
Dragging and dropping assets and files
Open Options dialog box
Merging
Merging assets from .fbx files
Merge Options dialog box
Saving
Saving an FBX file as ASCII/Binary
Saving a selection of assets
Saving an Actor and Marker set
Saving a Control rig
Saving a pose
Saving character animation
Saving assets to an .fbx file
Save Options dialog box
Save Reminder button
Importing
Importing Files
Import Options dialog box
Custom import options
Importing .bvh files into 3ds Max
Acclaim .asf and .amc file format limitations
Point Cache support
Exporting
Exporting motion files
Export Table
Content area
Existing Files area
Additional export options
Exporting options for scenes
Export BVH animation to Character Studio
Motion Analysis .htr format limitations
Acclaim .asf and .amc format limitations
Optimizing characters in 3ds Max for export to MotionBuilder
Optimizing 3ds Max skeletons for export to MotionBuilder
Optimizing 3ds Max skinning for export to MotionBuilder
Exporting 3ds Max bipeds to MotionBuilder
Exporting 3ds Max skeletons to MotionBuilder
Exporting 3ds Max characters to MotionBuilder
Optimizing Maya scenes for export to MotionBuilder
Exporting NURBS from Maya using FBX plug-in
Exporting FBIK rigs from Maya using FBX plug-in
Converting
Converting FBX Files to an Earlier Version of FBX
Batch processing
Batch loading motion files
Batch saving files
Batch conversion
Batch window
Batch errors
Rendering
Render window
Render Settings area
Statistics area
Rendering a scene
Render Preview window
Video Compression dialog box
Flash Render Options dialog box
Compression
Frame Rate
Key Color
Edge
Flash Renderer limitations
Multi-material Models
Textures
Shaders
Compression Settings dialog box
Rendering a .tga, .tif, .tiff, or .yuv file
Rendering an .avi or .mov file
Rendering scenes as .jpg files
Audio
Connecting to an audio device
Loading audio files
Playing audio files
Playing back audio channels
Recording audio
Audio waveform
Navigating the Audio waveform area
Creating an audio offset
Creating an audio delay
Caching audio
Accessing audio from disk or memory
Audio settings
Audio display in the Action Timeline
Peaks Cache dialog box
Global Audio settings
Audio Device settings
Video settings
Applying video to objects
Video settings
Version control
Activating Version Control
Accessing Version Control Menu
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe
VSS settings configuration
Configuring Drives with VSS
Adding Managed Paths in VSS
Avid Alienbrain
Alienbrain settings configuration
File Options with Alienbrain
Single-step interoperability
Send objects to Autodesk applications
Send to 3ds Max
Send as New Scene
Update Current Scene
Add to Current Scene
Select Previously Sent Objects
Send a new scene to 3ds Max
Updating, adding, or deleting objects
Send to Maya
Send as New Scene
Update Current Scene
Add to Current Scene
Select Previously Sent Objects
Setting up your Scene
Namespace
Creating hierarchy namespaces
Replacing namespaces in a hierarchy
Deleting namespaces in a hierarchy
Scenes
3D Space
Setting up the scene
Assets
Types of assets
Browsing assets
Selecting assets
Creating custom icons
Attaching and removing Notes
Hiding nulls
Note properties
Asset contextual menu
Nodes
Schematic view
Accessing the Schematic view
Selecting nodes in the Schematic view
Schematic view contextual menu
Schematic View keyboard shortcuts
Parenting and hierarchies
Organizing hierarchies
Creating parent-child relationships
Disconnecting parent-child objects
Parenting contextual menu
Groups
Creating a group
Selecting groups
Viewing the contents of a group
Adding and removing group objects
Adding and removing sub-groups
Groups window
Sets
Creating a set
Viewing the contents of a set
Adding and removing set objects
Creating and removing sub-sets
Sets window
Cameras
Adding Cameras to your scene
Making a camera current
Creating multiple camera views
Producer cameras
Producer camera types
Selecting a Producer camera
Custom cameras
Creating a custom camera
Showing the camera Near/Far plane
Setting up a tracking camera
Camera interest
Showing the camera interest
Selecting the camera interest
Stereo cameras
Creating a stereo camera
Stereo Display menu
Camera settings
Customizing the camera’s view
Animating Camera settings
Showing the camera Near/Far plane
Showing the camera label
Showing the Viewer window grid
Showing the camera axis
Showing the camera time code
Showing the camera center point
Showing the camera Safe area
Setting a camera Front or Back Plane
Emulating real-world cameras
Applying Real-Time effects
Camera Settings pane
Picture format area
View area
Back Plate pane
Image Preview area
Image Display area
Front Plate pane
Image Preview area
Image Display area
Matte Threshold slider
Render Options pane
Enable Real-Time Effects option
Anti-aliasing settings
Use Anti-aliasing option
Intensity field
Sample Count
Use Accumulation Buffer option
Camera Depth of Field settings
Advanced Settings pane
Film Settings area
2D Magnifier settings
Turn Table options
Stereo Settings pane
Using Anti-aliasing with cameras
About camera Depth of Field
Setting a default camera
Anti-aliasing and oversampling
Camera switcher
Creating camera switches
Playing camera switches
Selecting cameras in the Camera switcher
Editing camera switches
Switcher timeline
Navigating the Switcher timeline
Camera Colors area
Camera switches in the Story window
Lighting
Custom lights
Light types
Adding and removing lights
Intensifying a light
Adjusting light color
Defining a light’s Interest
Defining a light’s Up vector
Spot Lights
Defining Spot lights
Drawing lights that face front
Projecting images with lights
Previewing Alpha channels of projected images
Projecting light on the ground
Attaching a gobo to a light
Removing a gobo from a light
Showing the light beam
Adjusting fog in lights
Spot light options
Gobos in Spot lights
Saving light settings as defaults
Restoring the custom default light settings
Restoring original light settings
Light settings
Light settings area
Light Preview area
Global lights
Changing a scene’s ambient color
Adding fog to scenes
Setting fog color
Global Lighting settings
Surfaces
Materials
About materials
Material color and lighting
Materials and surface consistency
Materials working with shaders and textures
Material regions
Applying a material to a model
Applying a material to a region
Adjusting material color
Material settings
Material Proxy
Material Properties area
Basic material settings
Advanced material settings
Textures
About textures
UVW coordinates
Texture tiling
Mapping method types
Mipmapping
Layered texture
Choosing texture types
Adding a texture to the scene
Adding a texture to a material
Applying a video texture
Blending multiple textures
Detaching textures
Testing shaders, textures, and materials
Choosing a mapping method
Tiling your texture
Rotating your texture
Texture settings
Image Preview area
Media menu
Texture Appearance settings
Mapping area
Layered Texture settings
Layer Editor
Layered texture properties
Shaders
Shader basics
Shader effects
Map shaders
Live shaders
Applying a shader to a model
Testing shaders, textures, and materials
Default shader
Hiding the Default shader
Activating and disabling shaders
Changing the culling mode
Cartoon effects
Applying the Flat shader
Making an object transparent
Flat shader settings
Color Source menu
Adjust Luminosity option
Transparency Type menu
Transparency Factor slider
Flat Shader transparency types
Applying the Multilevel Cartoon shader
Multilevel Cartoon shader settings
Applying the Edge Cartoon shader
Edge Cartoon shader settings
Edge Display area
Edge Color area
Edge Width and Offset area
Environmental effects
Creating environmental effects with shaders
Increasing the size, quantity, and color of particles
Particle Physics pane settings
Particles area
Particle Shading pane settings
Global Controls pane settings
Reflection effects
Reflection types
Making objects reflective
Reflection shader settings
Surface effects
Creating transparent objects
Creating a Bump Map
Adding color to Bump textures
Bump Map shader settings
Drawing an object’s wireframe
Wire Frame shader settings
Displaying a model’s polygons
Faceted shader settings
Creating a 3D matte
Matte shader settings
Controlling a CgFX shader
CgFX shader settings
Shader properties
Shadows and lighting effects
Applying shadows to objects
Selective Lighting shader settings
Live Shadow shader settings
Lighted shader settings
Shader transparency types
Shadow Map shader settings
Shadow Map texture settings
Dynamic Lighting shader settings
Normal Map effect
Shader manager
Shader columns
Defining settings for a shader
Manipulating Objects
Transformation
Reference modes
Transforming objects
Setting a default manipulation mode for objects
Free Transform plane
Translation
Translating an object
Rotation
Activating Rotation mode
Rotating an object
Scaling
Activating Scaling mode
Scaling an object
Transformation Options properties
Creating pivot offsets
Transformation pivots
Viewing Transformation pivots
Transformation Pivots properties
Rotation Pivot properties
Scaling Pivot properties
Geometry Offset properties
Display Options properties
Handles
Follow and Manipulate objects
Connecting a Handle to an object
Defining Handle Follow and Manipulate objects
Manipulating objects with Handles
Handle settings
Follow
Manipulate TR
Manipulate Translation
Manipulate Rotation
Manipulate Scaling
Handle Manipulation properties
Handle Viewer Options
2D Display properties
3D Display properties
Transparency
Auto Position 3D Model
Degrees of Freedom (DOF)
Viewing and modifying Degrees of Freedom
DOF Translation Properties
DOF Rotation Properties
DOF Scaling Properties
Rules for setting rotation DOF on a character
Basic Keyframe Animation
Animating an object
Animating with poses
Animating with constraints
Animation with devices
Changing properties
Selecting properties for animation
Modifying and animating properties
Creating a custom view of properties
Creating custom properties
Property references
Creating a property reference
Deleting a property reference
Properties window
Property options
Lock option
View menu
Group Properties menu
Editor button
Property list
Property settings
Property Editor
View Editor pane
Source area
View menu
View Options menu
View area
Add button
Remove button
Custom Properties pane
Property References pane
Keying Groups pane
Selecting time
Current time
Selecting the current time
Zooming in on the timeline
Selecting a time format
Resizing the Timeline indicator
Custom frame rates
Custom frame rates
Selecting takes
Selecting the current take
Resizing takes
Creating takes
Emptying takes
Deleting takes
Duplicating takes
Reordering takes
Inserting a take into the Story window
Transport Controls
Transport Controls contextual menu
Setting keyframes
Types of keyframes
Keyframe (K) and Animate (A) buttons
Setting keyframes
Setting many keyframes at once
Selecting and editing keyframes
Manipulating keyframe selections
Cutting, copying, and pasting keyframes
Copying and pasting values between keyframes on IK effectors
Deleting keyframes and keyframe regions
Clearing animation
Visual keyframe feedback
Showing and hiding visual keyframes
Keying groups
Keyframing shortcuts
Key Controls window
Animation menu (Key Controls)
Type menu
Layer menu
Keying Mode menu
Contextual keying modes
Keyframe buttons
Dopesheet window
Dopesheet timeline
Dopesheet contextual menu
Editing keyframes in the Dopesheet window
Animating on Layers
About layered animation
BaseAnimation layer
Animation layer stack
Locked layer
Muted layer
Soloed layer
Parent and child layers
Current layer
Animation layer weight
Result animation
Animation layer modes
Additive mode
Override mode
Override-Passthrough mode
Accumulation modes
Creating animation layers
Accessing the Animation Layer editor
Creating an animation layer
Setting the animation layer modes
Setting keyframes on layers
Selecting layers
Keyframing objects on animation layers
Setting Zero Keys
Muting, Soloing, and Locking animation layers
Muting the BaseAnimation
Keyframing the weight of animation layers
Organizing animation layers
Reordering animation layers
Parenting and unparenting animation layers
Viewing layered animation
Viewing non-layered animation
Viewing layer weight animation
Displaying trajectories for layered animation
Manipulating animation layers
Copying animation layers
Deleting or emptying animation layers
Merging animation layers
Saving and exporting animation layers
Layer animation workflows
Modifying animation
Comparing animation on different layers
Animation Layer editor
Animation Layer toolbar
Merge dialog box
Animation Layer pane
Animation Layer buttons
Weight slider
Animation Layer contextual menu
Animation Layer properties
Refining Animation
Interpolation
Auto interpolation
Creating Auto interpolation
Editing Auto interpolation
TCB interpolation
Creating TCB interpolation
Editing TCB interpolation
Stepped interpolation
Creating Stepped interpolation
Editing Stepped interpolation
Linear interpolation
Creating Linear interpolation
Editing Linear interpolation
Resetting interpolation
Dynamic Editor
Translation (T) and Rotation (R) options
Character Keying Mode options
Status indicator
Animation representation area
Interpolation Mode menu
Additive option
Reset menu
Interpolation settings area
Auto interpolation settings
TCB interpolation settings
Stepped interpolation settings
Linear interpolation settings
What the Dynamic Editor modifies
The Dynamic Editor asterisk
Function curves
Creating function curves
Viewing function curves
Navigating in the FCurves pane
Editing function curves
Scaling keys in the FCurves window
Negative FCurve scaling
Changing the color of function curves
Tangents
TimeWarp curves
Creating a TimeWarp curve
Applying a TimeWarp curve
Editing a TimeWarp curve
Detaching a TimeWarp curve
Merging a TimeWarp curve
Deleting a TimeWarp curve
FCurves window
FCurves Properties pane
FCurves pane
Ghost options
Tangent options
VK Ripple option
Animation Layers button
Horizontal and vertical axes
FCurves toolbar
FCurves Options pane
Value and Time settings
Tangent area
Angle settings
Auto settings
Weight settings
TimeWarp pane
FCurves contextual menu
Display menu options
Keys menu options
Snap menu options
Audio menu options
Filters window
Properties menu
Filters menu
Filter options
Preview, Reset, Accept, and Cancel buttons
Filtering
Defining filter parameters
Butterworth filter
Constant Key Reducer filter
Cut filter
Gimbal Killer filter
Key Reducing filter
Key Sync filter
Keys on Frame filter
Peak Removal filter
Reinterpolate filter
Resample filter
Smooth filter
Smooth Translation filter
Time Shift and Scale filter
Transformation filter
Unroll Rotations filter
Animating with Constraints
Constraints basics
Constraint types
Adding a constraint asset
Activating a constraint
Setting basic constraint commands in the Root folder
Grouping constraints
Changing constraint priority
Duplicating constraints
Creating and removing constraint offsets
Locking the position of a constrained object
Weighting constraints
Blending constraints
Common constraint settings
3 Points constraint
Constraining an object’s rotation with another object
3 Points constraint settings
Aim constraint
Making objects point at other objects
Constraining individual axes (Aim constraint)
Setting the rotation offset for an Aim constraint
Aim constraint settings
World Up type settings
Chain IK constraint
Simple IK constraint conversion
Using Chain IK to constrain a chain of bones
Creating Pole offsets for the Chain IK constraint
Chain IK constraint settings
Properties settings
Multiple Pole Vector objects
Chain IK properties
Expressions constraints
Creating an Expressions constraint
Navigating the Expressions pane
Expressions pane
Expressions constraints settings
Data cells in Expressions constraints
Expressions reference
Mapping constraint
Mapping Parent/Child constraints to one another
Mapping constraint settings
Multi-Referential constraint
Creating a Multi-Referential constraint
Creating offsets in a Multi-referential constraint
Multi-Referential constraint settings
Parent-child constraint
Creating a parent-child relationship between objects
Creating an offset with multiple parents
Constraining individual axes (parent-child constraint)
Parent-child constraint settings
Path constraint
Creating an animated path with a 3D Curve
Offsetting Path constraint objects
Path constraint settings
Properties settings
Creating a 3D curve
Editing a 3D Curve
Viewing the trajectory of an object
Motion trajectories settings
Position constraint
Constraining an object’s translation with another’s translation
Constraining a single axis (Position constraint)
Position constraint settings
Properties settings
Range constraint
Limiting an object’s range with the Range constraint
Using the Range constraint for keyframe animation
Range constraint settings
Relations constraints
About the Relations pane
Conversion relations
Creating a Relations constraint
Navigating the Relations pane
Copying and pasting Relations constraints
Connecting Senders, Operators, and Receivers
Creating Macro relations
Editing Macro relations
Deleting Macro relations
Refreshing Macro relations
Renaming Macro relations
Setting values for Senders and Receivers
Macro relations
Relations constraint Object browser
Types of objects used in Relations constraints
Relations reference
Rigid Body constraint
Using a constraint to create a Rigid Body
Damping the speed of Rigid Body transformation
Rigid Body constraint settings
Rigid Body Setup pane
Rotation constraint
Transferring rotation between objects
Constraining a single axis (Rotation constraint)
Rotation constraint settings
Properties window settings
Scale constraint
Scaling a constrained object
Constraining individual axes (Scale constraint)
Scale constraint settings
Animating with Devices
Device assets
Viewing device settings
Adding a device
Device Settings
Record and Play Options
Device Statistics pane
Device Statistics Columns
MotionBuilder devices
Decks
Deck Settings
Settings area
Status Area
Timing
Deck Control Area
Edit Area
Deck Statistics pane
Decks Limitations
JLCooper MCS-3800
Joystick Device
Keyboard Device
LTC device
MIDI device
MIDI device settings
Instruments pane
Monitor pane
Mouse Device
Network Client device
Network Server device
Sound device
SpaceBall Device
SpaceBall Recording Limitations
SpaceBall Settings
Trigger device
Trigger device settings
Wacom Tablet
Animating Characters
Motion sources
Selecting a motion source
Character keyframing workflow
Keyframing a Control rig
Retargeting animation character-to-character
Retargeting a control rig
Retargeting animation between characters in the same scene
Retargeting saved animation onto a character
Character motion capture workflow
Refining character animation
Loading character animation
Troubleshoot loading character animation
Creating realistic human movement
Character setup
Setting up a character
Character assets
Adding a Character asset
Viewing Character settings
Character mapping
Spine mapping behavior
Defining toe behavior
Characterizing
Characterizing a 3ds Max biped
Characterizing a character model
Automatically mapping and characterizing a character
Manually mapping and characterizing a character
Troubleshoot characterizing a character
Defining a spine
Resetting character properties
Character properties
Customizing the 3ds Max Biped template
Models
Bipeds and quadrupeds
Guidelines for creating a character model
Stance
Models settings
Model properties
Skin
Adjusting the weighting of vertices
Selecting and preselecting vertices
Selecting vertices for immediate weighting
Preselecting vertices for future weighting
Skins window
Weighting Options Pane
Skeletons
Skeleton types
Skeleton node and Skeleton root assets
Creating a skeleton
Adding bones to a skeleton
Attaching more than one bone to the same joint on a skeleton
Inserting a limb between two joints
Changing the size of a skeleton
Bone naming conventions
Creating a bone-naming template
Applying a bone naming template
Skeleton Node Settings
Floor contact
Defining the floor for characters
Floor Contact properties
Defining foot floor contact for a character
Resetting Floor Contacts
Feet Floor Contact Setup properties
Defining hand floor contact for a character
Hands Floor Contact Setup properties
Finger and toe tips
Viewing finger and toe tips
Defining toe floor contact for a character
Toes Floor Contact Setup properties
Defining finger floor contact for a character
Fingers Floor Contact Setup properties
Character Extensions
Creating a Character Extension
Copying Character Extension animation
Attaching a Character Extension to a character
Detaching a Character Extension from a character
Character Extension properties
Properties for Character Extension objects
Actor assets
Creating an Actor
Renaming an Actor
Changing the look of an Actor
Manipulating Actors
Connecting an Actor to a character
Adjusting a character connected to an Actor
Activating all markers on an Actor
Creating motion using a glove device
Actor settings
Actor Finger Settings and Properties
Actor properties
Actor Controls window
Marker sets
Creating a Marker set
Creating and defining a Marker set with optical data
Establishing a Zero Point
Creating and defining a Marker set with magnetic data
Importing a Marker set
Renaming a Marker set
Deleting a marker from a Marker set
Deleting a Marker set
Exporting a Marker set
Optical motion data
Optical systems and data
Optical terminology
Problems with Optical data
Reconstructing optical data
Optical asset
Segments and Labelling
Labelling markers
Rigid bodies
Creating a Rigid body
Removing a Rigid body
Correcting Rigid body quality
Monitoring Rigid body quality
Swapping
Eliminating Swapping
Filling Gaps with Unlabeled Segments
Searching for a marker’s missing segments
Occlusion
Partial Occlusion
Removing Peaks and Noise
Filling Gaps with Interpolation
Optical Settings
Optical Editor
Optical Options pane
Label tab
Search Mode
Match Area
Insert Menu
Enable Label Helper
Auto-Play
Accept, Skip, and Play To Next
Marker List
Add, Remove, and Automatic Labelling buttons
Rigid Bodies tab
Settings tab
Segment and Gap Options
Segment Options
Split Segment
Remove Segment
Reset Segment
Swap with Marker
Gap Options
Gap Interpolation
Insert Gap Key
Paste From Marker
Swap From Marker
Magnetic motion data
Magnetic capture and calibration
Creating a capture area
Control rigs
Types of Control rigs
Kinematics
Creating a Control rig
Attaching a Control rig to a character
Detaching a Control rig from a character
Deleting a Control rig
Selecting Control rig effectors
Manipulating spines, fingers, and tails
Aligning Control rigs
Viewing final solving on a Control rig
Control rig properties
Updating a Control rig to remain compatible with older versions
Customizing Control rig appearance
Control rig effector properties
IK Properties
Reach IK Effector/Auxiliary
IK Pivot
Show Reach
Marker Settings
Pinning
Pinning a Control rig effector
Unpinning a Control rig effector
Visual feedback on Control rigs
Reach feedback on FK effectors
Controlling visual feedback on Control rigs
Viewing currently keyed elements on a Control rig
Changing the opacity of Control rig effectors
Auxiliary objects
Auxiliary effectors
Auxiliary pivots
Creating Auxiliary effectors and pivots
Selecting Auxiliary effectors and pivots
Deleting Auxiliary effectors and pivots
Manipulating Auxiliary pivots
Setting a master Auxiliary pivot
Customizing Control rigs
The Control rig hierarchy
Customizing the Control rig hierarchy
Changing the appearance of Control rigs
Changing the look of FK effectors
Changing the look of IK effectors
Poses
Creating a pose
Renaming a pose
Pasting a pose
Copying a pose
Updating a pose
Deleting a pose
Pose Controls window
Pose thumbnail
Match options
Translation (T)
Rotation (R)
Mirror
Gravity
Mirror Plane options
Pose browser
Pose contextual menus
Send control rigs to Maya
Selecting character data
Send a new scene to Maya
Updating, adding, and deleting objects
Character settings
Character Definition pane
Characterize option
Clear Mapping List button
Mapping List
Extract Naming Template button
Template Names column
Control Rig area
Character Settings pane
Character Retargeting properties
Pull properties
Stiffness properties
Modifiers
Kill Pitch
Roll Extraction
Solvers
Character Solving properties
Character Solver selector
Physics solver
Solver pane
Properties pane
Physics area
Autodisable area
Overwriting animation data
HumanIK (HIK) character solving
Switching to HIK solving
In Place
Retargeting - Actor properties
Human Limits
Motion Reduction
Feet Stabilization
Damping
HIK character
HIK in MotionBuilder
HIK character structure
Set up an HIK character
Create an HIK character definition
Prepare a skeleton for HIK
Define a skeleton for HIK
Activate and configure mirror matching
Create a Control rig
Add auxiliary pivots and auxiliary effectors
Retarget animation from one character to another
Characterization Tool
Characterization Tool overview
Characterization Tool menu button
Characterization Tool toolbar
Current character menu
Characterization Tool Figure and Name Match view
Apply Template and Save Template windows
Character Controls
Character Controls menu button
File menu
Source menu
Character menu
Control Rig menu
Bake(plot) menu
Select menu
Show/Hide menu
Character Controls toolbar
Current Character menu
Character Controls Figure representation
Manipulation and keying modes
Reach and Pull area
Extra Effectors
Marker Looks
Load Character Animation Options dialog box
Save Character Animation Options dialog box
Animating Faces
Facial keyframing workflow
Facial motion capture workflow
Audio-driven facial animation workflow
Expression
Channels
Connecting an Actor Face to a Character Face
Defining a custom expression
Head models
Submodels
Shapes
Facial rest pose
Generic shapes
Phoneme shapes
Custom shapes
Choosing shapes to create
Creating shapes
Clusters and cluster shapes
Creating cluster shapes
Changing the rest pose for cluster shapes
Renaming cluster shapes
Actor Face asset
Adding an Actor Face to the scene
Attaching an Actor Face to a head model
Connecting an Actor Face to motion capture data
Creating a face reference
Creating a facial Marker set
Clearing all markers in a facial Marker set
Editing facial motion capture data
Removing animation from a channel
Animating generic channels
Actor Face settings
Channels pane
MoCap pane
Regions area
Rest Pose area
Preview pane
Character Face asset
Adding a Character Face
Adding shapes to a Character Face
Defining expressions workflow
Defining a custom expression
Removing a custom expression
Defining a generic expression
Character Face settings
Character Face Definition pane
Active option
Expressions area
Target Models area
Shapes Mapping pane
Cluster Shapes Creation pane
Preview pane
Character Face Animation pane
Voice device
Adding a Voice device to a scene
Linking a Character Face to a Voice device
Selecting live or recorded audio in the Voice device
Tracking two channels
Specifying gender in the Voice device
Refining a model’s face movements
Saving and Loading a Voice device setup
Adding sound parameters
Removing sound parameters
Activating and disabling sound parameters
Default phoneme
Smoothing phoneme transitions
Threshold level
Setting an audio threshold
Filtering noise in audio files
Activating phonemes and instruments
Voice device settings
Voice Parameter Selection dialog box
Animating with Physical Properties
Joint Physical property
Creating a Joint reaction
Creating a Joint chain reaction
Joint types
Joint settings
Setup
Joint Objects
Limit & Motor properties
Joint object parenting
Creating a Joint object hierarchy
Ragdoll Physical property
Creating a character collapse with Ragdoll
Creating a ragdoll solve with poses
Ragdoll settings
Setup pane
Approximation area
Ragdoll properties area
Solve pane
Animation pane
Pose list
Pose settings
Custom Weight
Match and Guide poses
Rigid Body Physical property
Creating collision effects
Creating multiple object collisions
Rigid Body settings
Setup pane
Solve pane
Animating within the Story Window
Storyboarding
Creating a storyboard
Framing Story window clips
Zooming in on Story window clips
Story window time range
Changing the length of a Story take
Disabling the Story window
Story controls
Story contextual menu
Editing Story data in the FCurves and Dopesheet windows
Story tracks
Track priority
Creating Story tracks
Selecting track content
Renaming tracks
Action Track list
Action Track controls
Track settings
Contextual menu for selected tracks
Story clips
Animation clips
Character clips
Camera animation clips
Command clips
Constraint clips
Audio clips
Video clips
Shot clips
Creating animation clips
Creating character clips
Creating camera animation clips
Creating command clips
Creating constraints clips
Creating audio clips
Creating video clips
Contextual menu for selected clips
Saving animation clips
Reusing animation clips
Manipulating clips
Selecting clips
Cutting, copying, and pasting clips
Moving clips
Cross-blending Story clips
Fading clip animation
Holding clip animation
Looping clips
Reversing clips
Scaling clips
Razoring clips
Trimming clips
Matching clips
Match options dialog box
Auto Match option
Match Object field
Changing the color of a clip in the Story window
Manipulating ghosts
Showing Story ghosts
Selecting Story ghosts
Ghosts options
Travelling nodes
Changing the position of a travelling node
Story clips in the Asset Settings window
Common clip settings
Additional clip settings
Custom TimeWarp interpolation
Tr. Node Function
Editing with shot clips
Creating shot clips
Creating a cross-fade effect with camera shots
Time discontinuity
Changing the order of events in a scene with Time Discontinuity
Looping clips with the Time Discontinuity option
Edit Track list
Shot track controls
Shot settings
Edit track contextual menus
Reusing camera clips
Blending Takes
Cuts
Result track
Creating a blending object
Changing the speed of a track
Producing an exact translation
Match Selection
Resizing the Result take
Edits Pane
Track list
Take Box
Cut area
Result track
Motion Blend Options pane
Track options
Pose options
Blend options
General options
Blend Editor
Motion Blend keyboard shortcuts
Plotting Animation
The plotting process
Plotting character animation
Plot for export from the Story window
Plotting animation to a character’s skeleton
Plotting animation to a Control rig
Plotting facial animation
Plotting in the Story window
Plot Properties window
Plot On Frame option
Plot All Takes option
Plot Rate area
Filters to Apply area
Rotation Filter menu options
Smart Plot area
Additional plot options
Plot and Cancel buttons
Dynamic baking
Playing Animation
Jogging animation
Changing the play speed
Selecting a frame rate
Using marks
Triggering Animation
Planning and creating motion clips
Trigger groups
Setting up a device as a trigger
Recording triggered animation
Trigger trees
Creating a trigger tree
Animation Trigger window
Groups pane
Links pane
Triggering Options area
Keyboard Shortcuts
Activating keyboard shortcuts
MotionBuilder keyboard shortcuts
General keyboard shortcuts
Transport Controls keyboard shortcuts
Keyframing keyboard shortcuts
FCurves keyboard shortcuts
Motion blend keyboard shortcuts
Layout keyboard shortcuts
Character keyboard shortcuts
Pose keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window manipulation keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window selection keyboard shortcuts
Optical keyboard shortcuts
Story window keyboard shortcuts
MotionBuilder Classic keyboard shortcuts
General keyboard shortcuts
Transport Controls keyboard shortcuts
Keyframing keyboard shortcuts
FCurves keyboard shortcuts
Motion blend keyboard shortcuts
Layout keyboard shortcuts
Character keyboard shortcuts
Pose keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window manipulation keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window selection keyboard shortcuts
Optical keyboard shortcuts
Story window keyboard shortcuts
3ds Max keyboard shortcuts
General keyboard shortcuts
Transport Controls keyboard shortcuts
Keyframing keyboard shortcuts
FCurves keyboard shortcuts
Motion Blend keyboard shortcuts
Character keyboard shortcuts
Pose keyboard shortcuts
Viewer keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window model display keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window selection keyboard shortcuts
Optical keyboard shortcuts
Story window keyboard shortcuts
Maya keyboard shortcuts
General keyboard shortcuts
Transport controls keyboard shortcuts
Keyframing keyboard shortcuts
FCurves keyboard shortcuts
Motion Blend keyboard shortcuts
Layout shortcuts
Character keyboard shortcuts
Pose keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window manipulation keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window selection keyboard shortcuts
Optical keyboard shortcuts
Softimage keyboard shortcuts
General keyboard shortcuts
Transport controls keyboard shortcuts
Keyframing keyboard shortcuts
FCurves keyboard shortcuts
Motion Blend keyboard shortcuts
Pose keyboard shortcuts
Viewer keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window manipulation keyboard shortcuts
Viewer window selection keyboard shortcuts
Optical keyboard shortcuts
Glossary
Acronyms
Terms
0-9
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z