Create poses

In the following procedures, you create several full body poses on your character, including the Character Extension, to create a walk cycle.

To position the character:

See Prepare the scene.

1. In the Character Controls toolbar ( ), click the Full Body keying mode ( ).

   In the Full Body keying mode, pasted poses are placed onto the character’s entire body, and keyframes are placed on all effectors.

2. In the Character Controls window, click the plus sign (+) next to each ankle effector ( ) to access the auxiliary pivots.

   

   Mia's ankles are pinned in Translation (T) and Rotation (R).

3. In the Character Controls window, Ctrl-click to select the wrist and ankle effectors.

   

   The selected effectors are displayed with a blue ( ) contour.

4. In the Character Controls toolbar, disable the Pin in Translation ( ) and Pin in Rotation ( ) options.

   Note:

   You may have to toggle R (Rotation pinning) on and off once more to ensure that rotation is disabled.

   The pinning is disabled for all four effectors as shown in the Character Controls window.

   

5. In the Character Controls window, select the Left Shoulder effector.

6. In the Viewer window toolbar, click the Rotate tool ( ) (or click the Viewer window and press R) and rotate the effector until Mia’s left arm is in a more natural position at her side.

   

7. Do the same for the Right Shoulder effector.

   • In the Character Controls window, select the Right Shoulder effector.
   • In the Viewer window, rotate the effector until Mia’s right arm is in a more natural position at her side.

8. In the Character Controls window, deselect the Right Shoulder effector and then Ctrl-click both wrist effectors.

9. In the Viewer window Camera View Navigation toolbar ( ), drag the Orbit tool ( ) to see a side view of the character.

   Note:

   You can switch the camera view at any time during the tutorial to get a better view.

10. Click the Translate tool ( ) (or press T) to translate both wrist effectors upward on the Y-axis to give the elbows a natural bend.

    

    Wrists translated upward in Y-axis using the wrist effectors

11. Double-click on an empty area of the Viewer window to deselect the wrist effectors.

12. In the Viewer window, change view to Orthographic > Producer Right. In the Viewer window, click the View menu.

    

    View menu options

    • Choose Orthographic Producer Right (or click the Viewer window and press Ctrl-R).

      

To create the first pose for the walk cycle:

1. In the Character Controls window, select the right ankle effector.

2. In the Viewer window, move the foot forward (on the Z-axis) and upward slightly, so that the knee bends.

3. In the Character Controls window, select the left ankle effector.

4. In the Viewer window, move the foot backward until Mia's feet are apart and then slightly upward to bend the knee as if she is walking.

   Note:

   You can select the Ankle effector pivots to flex her foot.

5. In the Character Controls window, select the Right Shoulder effector.

6. In the Viewer window toolbar, click the Rotate tool ( ) (or click the Viewer window and press R) and rotate the right arm slightly backward.

7. Rotate the left arm forward as if Mia is naturally swinging her arms.

   • In the Character Controls window, select the Left Shoulder effector.
   • In the Viewer window, Rotate the left arm slightly forward.

8. In the Character Controls window, select the Hips effector.

9. Translate Mia's body up or down so that she appears to be in mid-stride.

   • In the Viewer window toolbar, click the Translate tool ( ) (or click the Viewer window and press T).
     • Translate Mia's body up or down and then double-click the Viewer window to deselect the Translate tool.

   The default floor contact makes Mia’s feet interact naturally with the default floor.

   This first pose should have Mia with her right leg beginning the forward motion of a step, as shown in the following figure.

   

10. In the Resources window, click the Pose Controls tab.

    

11. In the Pose Controls, click the Create option ( ).

    The pose is added to the Poses group in the Pose browser.

12. In the Pose browser, expand Poses.

    

    Mia Pose added to the Pose browser

    The position of the Character Extension is included with the position of Mia’s body in this pose.

13. In the Pose browser, right-click Mia Pose.

    A context menu displays.

    

14. Click Rename and name Mia Pose "Walk 01".

To create the second pose for the walk cycle:

1. Position Mia’s legs and arms so that she looks similar to the following figure.

   

   • In the Character Controls window, select the right ankle effector, and in the Viewer window, click the Translate tool ( ) and slide the right foot back and down until the foot is flat on the ground.
   • Select the left ankle effector, and slide the foot back until it is behind Mia, to provide momentum.
   • Select the hips effector and translate in the Y-axis to bend her knees believably.
   • Select the right shoulder effector, click the Rotate tool ( ) and bring the right arm slightly back.
   • Select the left shoulder effector bring the left arm slightly forward.

2. Translate the Servo Control effector in front of Mia as shown in the following figure.

   

3. Open the pincers of the Servo arm about half-way.

   • In the Resources window, click the Properties tab.

     The Mia:ServoControl effector properties are displayed.

     

   • Under the ServoControl properties, drag the slider of the Close_Open property about half-way.

     

     

4. In the Viewer window double-click in an empty area to deselect the Translate mode.

5. Create a pose and name the pose “Walk 02”.

   • In the Resources window, click the Pose Controls tab.

     

   • In the Pose Controls, click the Create option ( ).

     The pose is added to the Poses group in the Pose browser.

     Name this new pose "Walk 02".

   

To create the third and final pose for the walk cycle:

1. Position Mia’s legs and arms so that her step appears similar to the following figure, extend the Servo arm further in front of Mia and open the pincers as shown.

   

   In this pose, the left leg goes back, and the Servo arm goes forward, completing one step for the first half of the walk cycle.

2. Double-click the Viewer window to deselect your last selection.

3. In the Pose Controls, click the Create option ( ).

   The pose is added to the Poses group in the Pose browser.

4. Name this pose “Walk 03”.