Character Controls menu button

Skeleton

Reset

Resets the fields in the Skeleton setup area to their default values.

Delete

Deletes the current skeleton and its skeleton definition.

Save Edits

Saves the current position and rotation of the skeleton to the SkeletonGenerator node.

Mirror Left -> Right

As you adjust the position and rotation of joints in the scene view, click to mirror adjustments from the left side of the skeleton to the right side.

Note

Ensure that you only edit the left side of the skeleton before selecting Edit > Mirror Left -> Right. Mirroring is always applied from the left side of the skeleton to the right.

Export Template

Opens the Export Template window, letting you save an HIK skeleton template file. This saves the skeletal structure information and the joint translation information of the current skeleton as a text file. You can then reload that information to apply to other skeletons using the Import Template option. See Import or export a HumanIK skeleton template.

Import Template

Opens the Import Template window and load an HIK skeleton template file you exported earlier.

Definition

Lock Definition

Locks the current setup of the skeleton, as it is mapped in the Definition tab. The skeleton definition must be valid before it can be locked.

Rename

Lets you enter a new name for the HumanIK character.

Delete

Deletes the current HumanIK character.

HIK Definition

Opens the character node definition in the Attribute Editor.

Edit Properties

Selects the retargeting HIKProperties node and displays advanced retargeting attributes in the Attribute Editor. These settings are for advanced users who want to adjust specific HIK solver parameters.

Reset Properties

Resets any adjusted retargeting properties in the HIKPropertyState node to default values.

Mirror Matching

Enables mirror matching mode. When on, the Definition tab checks for a mirror match on the opposite side of the body for every bone that you map. For example, if you map a bone called L_upperLeg, the tool automatically checks the skeleton for an R_upperLeg bone, and automatically maps that bone if it exists.

By default, mirror matching mode supports the following pairs of sub­strings:

Left side	Right side
Left	Right
L (followed by a single space)	R (followed by a single space)
L_	R_
_L	_R

If you use a different substring in your bone naming conventions to indicate the left and right sides of the body, you can select Edit > Definition > Configure Mirror Matching to add your own strings.

Configure Mirror Matching

Opens the Configure Mirror Matching window, which lets you add new pairs of strings to the list that the Definition tab checks for mirror matching bone names. If you use a different substring in your bone naming conventions to indicate the left and right sides of the body, select this option to add your substrings. See Activate and configure mirror matching.

Load Skeleton Definition

Lets you map bones by applying a naming template of your own. Opens the Load Skeleton Definition window.

Save Skeleton Definition

Opens the Save Skeleton Definition window. See Save Skeleton Definition window.

Export Definition

Opens a dialog box that lets you export your bone mappings in an .hikc format.

Controls

Rig Look

Lets you select what style of Control rig effectors to work with.

Stance Pose

Resets the Control rig to its default T-stance pose.

Selecting this command in Full Body mode forces the entire character into a stance pose and the character's position is offset relative to its reference node. In Body Part mode, the selected body part(s) are forced into a stance pose. If the hips are part of the selection, the character will be offset relative to its reference node. Note that this feature does not apply to the Selection mode.

Delete

Deletes the Control rig of the current character.

Add to new animLayer or Add to animLayer: <layerName>

Adds all Control rig objects to a new animation layer, or to an existing animation layer selected in the Animation Layer Editor.

(This option updates dynamically depending on whether you have an existing animation layer selected in the Animation Layer Editor. )

Align Control Rig

When on, the IK and FK effectors of the Control rig always appear synchronized, even if they interpolate differently between keyframes. Disable this option if you want to view separate interpolation paths for the IK and FK solutions.

When using Full Body or Body Part modes, this feature gives you synchronization for manipulating and keying of the Control rig. Note that this feature does not apply to Selection mode.

TipUse the Selection mode icon in the Controls tab toolbar to temporarily toggle the rig align functionality on and off for your character.

Load UI Configuration

Opens the Import UI Configuration File dialog box, letting you select a custom configuration file to be used as the new default layout for the Controls tab. See Load a new layout.

Update UI Configuration

Refreshes the Controls tab layout. Use this option to view changes you make to your configuration file after it is loaded using the Load UI Configuration command.

Custom Rig

Map Translation

Toggles the Map Translation option in the Mapping Controls section of the Custom Rig tab on and off.

Map Rotation

Toggles the Map Rotation option in the Mapping Controls section of the Custom Rig tab on and off.

Delete

Deletes the Custom rig mapping for the current character.

Import Mapping

Click to open the Import Rig Mappings window and load a Custom rig mapping XML file you exported earlier.

Export Mapping

Opens the Save Rig Mappings window, letting you save a Custom rig mapping in an XML file.

Load UI Configuration

Opens the Import UI Configuration File dialog box, letting you select a custom configuration file to be used as the new default layout for the Custom Rig tab. See Load a new layout.

Update UI Configuration

Refreshes the Custom Rig layout. Use this option to view changes you make to your configuration file after it is loaded using the Load UI Configuration command.