Animation-Constraint blending

User Guide > Rigging > Character Setup > Constraints > Types of constraints >

When both keyframe animation and constraints are applied to the same object, a pairBlend node is automatically generated. See pairBlend. All the object’s animation and constraint channels are linked to the object through this pairBlend node.

You can modify the weight of the animation-constraint blend to generate various effects. This Weight attribute is on the pairBlend node. See Blend Weights in the Channel Box.

Note

Since animation-constraint blending lets you transform the constrained channels of a driven object, you must lock the constrained channels that you want strictly influenced by the target objects.
After transforming a constrained object, you can retain its new translation, rotation, and/or scaling by reapplying Maintain Offset from the Modify Constrained Axis Options window. This prevents the constrained object from snapping back to its original translation, rotation, and/or scaling when its target objects are transformed.

Animation-Constraint blending

examples

A man runs to a parked convertible car, jumps over the door and into the driver’s seat, and then drives away. In this example, both the character and car models are animated, and various parts of the man are point constrained to the car’s door, seat, and steering wheel.
A basketball player dribbles the ball, picks it up, and throws it to another player. The player that catches the ball pauses and then shoots for the hoop. In this example, the ball and all the players hands are animated, and the ball is parent constrained to the various player’s hands.