Create a Custom rig mapping

You must create a Custom rig mapping for your character to source animation streaming from MotionBuilder or from a local HumanIK character within Maya.

To create a new Custom rig mapping

  1. In Maya, load or create a character with a Custom rig.
  2. Define your skeleton in the Definition tab. (See Define an existing skeleton.)
    Note: A valid skeleton definition is required to create a Custom rig mapping. If you attempt to map a Custom rig without a valid skeleton definition, a warning message appears.
  3. Do one of the following to create a new Custom rig mapping:
  4. Go from your Custom rig to the Custom Rig tab to map the structure of your rig: select one of your Custom rig controllers and -click the corresponding cell in the Custom Rig tab and select Assign Selected Effector from the menu that appears. Once you have defined a cell, it becomes green to indicate it has been mapped.

    By default, IK effectors map translations and rotations and FK effectors only map rotations.

  5. To map the up vector effectors (translation only) for knees and elbows, select the corresponding cell in the Character representation and complete the following steps:
    • Select Map Translations in the Mapping Controls.
    • Deselect Map Rotations in the Mapping Controls.
    • Set the Translation X, Translation Y, and Translation Z offsets to zero.
  6. Use the Mapping Controls to adjust the offsets between the Custom rig effectors and the skeleton joints.
  7. After you have created a Custom rig mapping, you can save it by selecting > Edit Custom Rig Mapping > Save UI Configuration .

    Your Custom rig mapping is stored in an XML file that can be loaded, using > Edit Custom Rig Mapping > Load UI Configuration , and re-used at a later date. Saving your Custom rig mapping lets you create templates for your Custom rigs.

To save a Custom rig mapping with a scene

  1. Save your scene.
  2. Restart Maya, or select File > New.
  3. Select File > Open and navigate to your saved scene.

    4. Your character loads with its custom rig mapping still properly applied.

Parent topic: Custom Rig tab