Object Properties Rollout (Bone Tools)

Controls on the Object Properties rollout for bones let you turn other objects into bones. They also control bone rigidity and alignment.

• Standard menu: Animation menu > Bone Tools > Bone Tools dialog > Object Properties rollout
• Enhanced menu: Animation menu > Create (Animation Set) > Bone Tools > Bone Tools dialog > Object Properties rollout

Note: You 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.

Note: Turning 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.

Warning: When 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.

Note: Changing 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.

Note: The 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.

• None No stretch takes place.
• Scale Lets the bone scale. The stretch happens along one axis.
• Squash 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.

• X/Y/Z Choose the axis for scaling or squashing.
• Flip Flips the stretch along the selected axis.