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Physique Sub-Objects

The Physique modifier has five different sub-object levels. Each kind of sub-object has various controls.

  • Select an object that has the Physique modifier applied to it. > Modify panel > In the modifier stack display, expand the Physique sub-object hierarchy.
  • Envelope

    Envelopes define a link's area of influence on mesh vertices.

  • Link

    Links are the segments of the Physique deformation spline. Link sub-object controls adjust the way link movement affects the mesh.

  • Bulge

    Bulge controls are for creating flexing muscles.

  • Tendons

    Tendons provide a way for multiple links to affect an area of the mesh.

  • Vertex

    For Physique, Vertex controls let you fine-tune the influence of envelopes.

Physique Selection Status Rollout

This rollout appears for all of the Physique sub-object levels. For all levels except Vertex, it shows the name of the hierarchy object associated with the active link. For the Vertex sub-object level, it prompts you to “Select Vertices” unless Select By Link or Assign To Link is active, in which case it displays the name of the hierarchy object associated with the active link, as it does at other sub-object levels.

Topics in this section
  • Envelope Sub-Object
    Use Envelope sub-objects to adjust the way skin behaves. Each link has an envelope, and the shape of the envelope determines which vertices are affected by the link's movement. An envelope has an inner and an outer bound: outside these bounds, vertices are not effected. Inside these bounds, the envelope's influence is strongest at the inner bound. A Falloff setting lets you control how quickly influence falls as it approaches the outer bound.
  • Link Sub-Object
    Use parameters at the Link sub-object level to change how deformation around joints occurs. When a joint in the skeleton bends or rotates, Physique, by default, deforms vertices uniformly on either side of a joint. You can change these defaults by using the tools at the Link sub-object level. For example, you can adjust the amount of skin sliding that occurs along a limb as the limb bends, or change the angle of the crease between the upper arm and chest.
  • Bulge Sub-Object
    After you have edited envelope sub-objects for good overall mesh deformation, you can create bulges to simulate muscle contraction and expansion when a character’s joint rotates.
  • Tendons Sub-Object
    While envelopes provide smooth skin deformations, tendons provide additional stretching in much the same way that actual human tendons do. For example, you might create pulling in the wrist (several joints away) when the fingers are moved. After adjusting the envelope sub-objects for good mesh deformation, you can use tendons to control the amount of skin stretching across multiple links.
  • Vertex Sub-Object (Physique)
    Most often, you will want to use envelopes to correct the way skin behaves as the biped moves. However, you can override envelopes by manually assigning vertex properties. For example, you can remove the influence of inappropriate links from selected vertices. You can also change the weight distribution between links for a single vertex by using type-in weights.
Parent topic: Physique User Interface

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