tb Ik Fk Tools

v1.07Beta Supports Maya 2017-2023

tbIkFkTools lets you easily bake and match Ik/Fk limbs from any rig.

• Use a range of temporary ik setups to control fk and ik controls including:
  • Lock the elbow bend, offsetting the bend amount to a separate control.
  • Quickly create an ik/pole vector setup on any three controls.
• IK Setup can be done at any time, even mid animation, either in the rig file or in your animated scene.
• Easily mirror your setup for the opposite limb.
• Bake and match multiple characters with different ik attributes seamlessly at the same time.
• Tool options integrate directly into the main tbAnimTools option window.

Installation:

1. Download the zip file;
   tbIkFkTools_for_tbAnimTools_v_xx,from the product page
2. With Maya open, choose "Activate New Plugins" from the tbAnimTools menu.

   

3. Pick the zip file using the folder button. Press install.

   

4. Once prompted, enter your email used with your purchase and license key.
5. Restart Maya for all changes to take effect.

Getting started - Saving IK/FK information for your rig using the UI.

1. Open the Ik/Fk setup UI from the tbAnimTools menu. The UI will unlock when part of the rig is selected.

   

2. With a control selected, click 'Add' then choose the type of limb you are setting up.

   

3. Fill out the relevant attributes, controls and joints in the UI. Missing required information is highlighted in orange.

   

4. With the Ik blend attribute selected in the channel box, click this button to assign it to the limb. Be sure to set the correct values used for ik and fk.

   

5. Find your bind joints (or result joint chain) for the limb, add them to the UI.

   

6. With multiple controls selected, you can add them in one click. Select the objects in the order they appear in the UI and click 'Add from selection'. Alternatively, add them individually using the buttons within the text boxes.

   

7. Go to the character definition tool. Make sure you have set your mirror names, this will allow the tools to automatically populate the opposite limb. Once you have set the mirror names, go back to the ik setup window and click 'Mirror limb' to mirror the currently selected limb. Double check the entries after mirroring to verify that all of the objects/attributes have been found. In this instance the mirror names didn't correctly mirror the joints because my rig is bad.

   

8. With both the ik and fk in a relaxed (mid joint bent) pose. Click 'Cache Limb Offsets' to save the ik matching information. Use the test buttons 'Test set to FK' and 'Test set to IK' to try out the match.

   

9. Save your progress!

   

10. Using the tbAnimTools hotkey editor, have a look for all the available functions for matching/baking.

    

    
    

Options for the tool appear in the main option window in tbAnimTools