Connect joints

User Guide > Rigging > Character Setup > Skeletons > Set-up joint chains >

Connect joints

NoteYou can connect joints to the skeleton of a character with a bound skin without having to detach its skin. However, for the newly connected joint to influence the skin, you need to add it to the skin as an influence ( Skin > Edit Smooth Skin > Add influence).

To connect joint chains by combining joints

Click the parent of the joint chain you want to connect to another joint chain.
In another joint chain or skeleton, + click on the joint that will replace the previously selected joint and become its joint chain’s parent.
NoteThe joint that you select can not be a root joint.
In the Animation menu set (press F2), select Skeleton > Connect Joint > .
The Connect Joint Options window appears.
Turn on Connect Joint.
Connect Joint connects joint chains by combining the two selected joints; where the first joint selected is combined with and replaced by the second joint.
Do one of the following:
- Click Connect to merge the selected joints.
The Connect Joint Options window closes.
- Click Apply to merge the selected joints.
The Connect Joint Options window remains open.
- Click Close to disregard the options window’s settings.
The Connect Joint Options window closes.

If you connected a joint to the skeleton of a bound character, the character’s bind pose automatically adjusts.

To connect joint chains by connecting selected joints with a bone

Click the parent of the joint chain you want to connect to another joint chain.
In another joint chain, + click on the joint that will be the previously selected joint chain’s parent.
NoteThe joint that you select can not be a root joint.
In the Animation menu set (press F2), select Skeleton > Connect Joint > .
The Connect Joint Options window appears.
Turn on Parent Joint.
Parent Joint connects joint chains by creating a new bone between two selected joints; where the first selected joint is the child joint and the second joint is its parent.
Do one of the following:
- Click Connect to connect the selected joints with a bone.
The Connect Joint Options window closes.
- Click Apply to connect the selected joints with a bone.
The Connect Joint Options window remains open.
- Click Close to disregard the options window’s settings.
The Connect Joint Options window closes.

If you connected a joint to the skeleton of a bound character, the character’s bind pose automatically adjusts.