Pose joints with spline IK curves
 
 
 

To manipulate the CVs of the spline IK NURBS curve

  1. Select the NURBS curve.
  2. Turn on Display > NURBS > CVs.
  3. Turn on Display > NURBS > Hulls.
  4. Select a CV on the NURBS curve.
    TipFor easier manipulation of the curve, cluster groups of the curve’s CVs. For more information on how to create a cluster, see Deformers.
  5. Do one of the following:
  6. Drag a CV.

    This moves the spline IK joint chain.

To create a cluster deformer for each CV on the spline IK NURBS curve

  1. Select the spline IK curve.
  2. In the Surfaces menu set, select Edit Curves > Selection > Cluster Curve.

A cluster deformer is created for each of the spline IK curve’s CVs.

To twist and roll the spline IK joint chain

  1. Select the spline IK handle.
  2. Select Modify > Transformation Tools > Show Manipulator Tool.

    The twist and roll circular manipulators appear at the start joint and end joints of the spline IK chain.

  3. Do the following:

To slide the joint chain along the curve

  1. Select the spline IK handle.
  2. In the Attribute Editor, select the ikHandle node’s tab.
  3. In the IK Solver Attributes section, turn on Root On Curve.

    This constrains the start joint of the spline IK handle to a position on the curve. It also provides an offset manipulator to slide the start joint along the curve.

  4. Select Modify > Transformation Tools > Show Manipulator Tool.

    The offset manipulator appears at the start joint.

  5. Do one of the following:

    If you drag the start joint to the end of the curve, the child joints move off the end of the curve in a straight line.

To translate, rotate, and scale the spline IK curve

  1. Select the spline IK curve.
  2. Do one of the following:

    The translation manipulators appear.

    The rotation manipulators appear.

    The scaling manipulators appear.

  3. Use the Move, Rotate, and Scale tools to translate, rotate, or scale the curve.
    NoteIf you created the spline IK handle with Root on Curve off in the tool options, translating, rotating, and scaling the curve does not translate the start joint.

Related topics