Command entry:Animation menu
Bone Tools
Bone Tools floater
Object Properties rollout
Controls on the Object Properties rollout for bones let you turn other objects into bones. They also control bone rigidity
and alignment.
NoteYou can reset the scale of bones with the Reset Scale option.
Interface
- Bone On/Off
-
When turned on, the selected bone or object behaves as a bone. Turning this option off causes the object to stop behaving
like a bone: there is no auto alignment or stretching. Default=on for bone objects, off for other kinds of objects.
NoteTurning this option on doesn't immediately cause objects to align or stretch. However, future transforms of children can cause
rotation and stretching.
- Freeze Length
-
When turned on, the bone maintains its length. When turned off, the bone's length is based on the translation of its child
bone. This option is available only if Bone On is on. Default=on.
WarningWhen you turn on Freeze Length, this has no visible effect unless you transform the
child
of the object to which Freeze Length is applied.
- Auto-Align
-
When turned off, the bone's pivot point doesn't align to its child object. The translation of a child bone will not be converted
into rotation of the parent. Instead, the child is allowed to move away from the parent's X axis. This option is available
only if Bone On is on. Default=on.
NoteChanging the Auto-Align state does not have an immediate visual effect on the skeleton. It affects future behavior when bones
are moved.
- Correct Negative Stretch
-
When turned on, any stretching of the bone that results in a negative scale factor will be corrected to a positive number.
This option is available only if Bone On is on. Default=on.
- Realign
-
Causes the bone's X axis to realign and point at the child bone (or the average pivot of multiple children). Normally this
alignment is maintained, and there is no need to use this option. However, it is possible for the bones to come out of alignment
by turning off Auto-Align and moving a child bone. Use Realign to align the bone back to its child. This option is available
only if Bone On is on.
- Reset Stretch
-
Stretches the bone to reach its child object if the child has been moved away from the bone. This option is available only
if Bone On is on.
- Reset Scale
-
Resets a stretched bone's internally calculated scale to 100% on each axis. Using this option avoids unexpected behavior due
to objects which are both linked and scaled. This option has no visual effect on the bone. This option is available only if
Bone On is on.
Stretch Factor Information
Under the Correct Negative Stretch options is a text display giving information about the number of bones selected and the
respective stretch factor for all three axes. If more than one bone is selected, the Stretch Factor text displays undefined.
NoteThe Stretch Factor text only updates when you are in
Bone Edit Mode.
Stretch and Axis Options
- Stretch
-
Determines what kind of stretch takes place when the child bone is transformed and Freeze Length is off. Default=Scale.
- No stretch takes place.
- Lets the bone scale. The stretch happens along one axis.
- Lets the bone squash. The bone gets fatter as it gets shorter, and thinner as it gets longer.
- Axis
-
Determines the axis used for the stretch.
- Choose the axis for scaling or squashing.
- Flips the stretch along the selected axis.
