When you have a complex Control rig set up, it can be difficult to visualize how your manipulations create the final solving on the skeleton of the character. Because the FK and IK systems are solved differently and can interpolate in different directions between keyframes, the Control rig can appear disconnected even when there are no problems with the final animation on the bones.
It can also be difficult to keep track of prop objects parented to the FK or IK effectors (such as a weapon constrained to the wrist), and where they are positioned in your final animation. Because they can follow either the IK or the FK system depending on how you animate the Reach properties, prop objects can also appear disconnected from the character, even if they will appear normally in the final solving.
The Align Control rig option in the Properties window lets you visually merge the IK and FK systems together to show the final solving on the bones of the character clearly. This gives you a preview of your final animation, and shows you the final solving from which the position of child objects is calculated.
A character’s leg between keyframes A. Align Control Rig is disabled. B. Align Control rig is active.
Displaying the two systems forced together gives you a more intuitive way to manipulate the rig, as it replicates direct manipulation of the bones of the character. The IK and FK elements can still be manipulated individually, are solved differently, and have different function curves, but you can manipulate them and their children while previewing the final solving.
By default, the Align Control rig option is activated when you create a Control rig. If you need to view the solving of the IK and FK systems individually in order to fine-tune your animation, disable the Align Control rig option.
