The Biped user interface is split up into “modes” of operation. You activate these modes by selecting the appropriate button in the Biped rollout on the Motion panel, which is visible when a biped is selected.
Figure mode is used to change the biped skeletal structure and to align the biped to a mesh.
Footstep mode is used to create and edit footstep animation.
Motion Flow mode is used to create scripts that combine motion files into longer animations.
Mixer mode is used to view, save, and load animation created with the Motion Mixer.
As with other parts of 3ds Max, the rollouts change depending on the mode character studio is in. When no modes are active, the following rollouts are displayed:
The Assign Controller, Biped Apps, and Biped rollouts are displayed during all modes. The remaining rollouts depend on the mode.
In Figure mode, Structure is the only additional rollout.
In Footstep Mode, the rollouts displayed are: Footstep Creation, Footstep Operations, and Dynamics & Adaptation.
In Motion Flow mode, Motion Flow is the only additional rollout displayed.
In Mixer mode, Mixer is the only rollout displayed.
When no modes are active, you can edit tracks and keys, set IK constraints, work with layers, and work with motion capture data. You can also create freeform animation without any of the modes active simply by turning on the Auto Key button and moving or rotating any part of the biped.
Once you have created a biped, use the Biped controls on the Motion panel to animate the biped, load and save Biped files, and fit the biped to a mesh representing your character.
The parent object of the biped is its center of mass, which appears as a blue octahedron near the center of the biped’s pelvis. The name of this object is the same as the root name of the biped (Bip001 by default).
These topics describe the main Motion panel rollouts for Biped.
You can use Track View in Dope Sheet Introduction mode to create and adjust biped keyframes, edit biped footsteps, and specify freeform periods. Biped keys display as dots on the tracks. Footsteps display as squares that you can move in time.
Biped uses color coding for IK keys in three places: Track View, Track Bar, and when trajectories are displayed in the viewports. Also, depending on the types of keys, trajectories themselves can be color coded. The color coding helps you visualize when IK and FK are in use, and the transitions between them.
The table in this topic shows the default keyboard shortcuts for character studio.
