Figure Mode
 
 
 
Command entry:Select a biped. Motion Panel Biped rollout (Figure Mode)

While Figure mode is active, you can change biped structure and fit that structure to a character mesh. Figure mode is useful for a variety of other purposes as well:

Moving the Head

In Figure mode you can move the head relative to the body. This is another way to help fit the biped into a character’s skin.

Moving a biped’s head in Figure mode

Fitting the Biped to a Mesh in Figure Mode

Following are quick notes designed to give you a general sense of the issues involved when fitting a biped to a character mesh:

Move the first link on each finger to position the fingers relative to the mesh; use local and world coordinate systems for this. Scale the finger links to position the joints. After positioning the thumb, rotate the first thumb link around the local X-axis until the local Z-axis creates a natural rotation for the thumb (refer to the image). A User view and toggling back and forth between a shaded and wireframe display is helpful when fingers are positioned.

  • Structure Rollout

    When Figure mode is active, the Structure rollout becomes available. This rollout includes parameters for changing the biped’s skeletal structure to match your character mesh (dinosaur, robot, human, and so on). You can also add up to three props to represent tools or weapons.