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Weight Map Direct Editing

Summary

Paint Brush

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings
Shortcut : [Shift + P]

Function : Allows the user to custom paint weight map values to the active map. It is affected by the settings of Use Symmetry and Brush Falloff.

Modes :

  • Additive is the default painting mode.
  • Subtractive mode is activated by holding down the ALT key.
  • Smoothing mode is activated by holding down the CTRL key.

Inner/Outer Radius : Controls the size of the weight brush.

Options :

  • Inner Radius : controls the inner, maximum strength, falloff radius of the brush.
  • Outer Radius : controls the external, minimum strength, falloff edge of the brush.

Shortcuts Keys :

  • Radius : changes with the mouse wheel and the CTRL key held down.
  • Inner Radius : changes with the mouse wheel and the SHIFT key held down.
  • Outer Radius : changes with mouse wheel and the ALT key held down.

Sensitivity : Controls the strength of the brush effect on the map.

Smooth Brush

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings
Shortcut : [Shift + S]

Function : Allows the user to smooth existing weight map values in the active map. It is affected by the settings of Use Symmetry and Brush Falloff.

Modes :

  • Smoothing mode is the default painting mode.
  • Subtractive mode is activated by holding down the ALT key.
  • Additive mode is activated by holding down the CTRL key.

Brush Falloff

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > Options Menu > Brush Falloff
Viewport : right-click menu > Brush Falloff

Function : Controls the shape of the falloff effect between the brushes inner and outer radius edge. Options :

  • Linear : a linear value shift.
  • Ease-In : a dome shaped value shift.
  • Ease-Out : a peak shaped value shift.
  • Ease-In / Ease-Out : a bell shaped value shift.

Directional Gradient

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings
Shortcut : [Shift + G]

Function : Uses a pair or more of circular handles to produce a range with which to apply a value gradient to the active map. The blue circle is the edge extent of 0% value, while the red circle is the edge extent of 100% value. The number of handles is determined by the Directional Gradient Handles setting.

Options :

  • Align to Bone : Aligns the circles to the orientation of the active bone and moves to circle position to either end.
  • Flip Gradient : Reverses the direction of the gradient value.
  • Apply Gradient : Applies the result of the tools current position to the active map, replacing any existing values.
  • Translation : Each handle can be left-click dragged in the viewport for positioning. Holding down the ALT key while dragging will constrain the movement along the tool's axis.

Steps :

  1. Position the circular handles so that they align to the mesh with the desired falloff.
  2. Click Apply Gradient to commit the value the weight map.

Directional Gradient Handles

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > Options Menu > Directional Gradient Handles

Function : Uses a pair or more of circular handles to produce a value gradient between them.

Options :

  • 2 Handles : This is the default setting. The tool operates with handles which represent 0% and 100%.
  • 3 Handles : Adds an extra handle to the 100% end of the tool which provides a point beyond which the maximum effect will stop.
  • 4 Handles : Adds a two handles to the 100% end of the tool, shifting the strength of the gradient effect to be centered between two 0% handles.

Spherical Gradient

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings
Shortcut : [Shift + H]

Function : Uses a pair of spheres to define an inner and and outer falloff region with which to apply a value gradient to the active map. The blue sphere is the edge extent of 0% value; everything beyond that edge will not be affected. The red sphere is the edge extent of 100% value; everything contained within that sphere will be given 100% value. A gradient is created between the two edges.

Options :

  • Snap To Bone : Moves both gradient defining spheres to a position centered around the active bone selection, and re-sizes them to the bone's length.
  • Apply Gradient : Applies the result of the sphere's current position to the active map, replacing any existing values.
  • Translation : The gradient defining spheres can be positioned using the axis arrows at the center of each sphere.
  • Scale : Each gradient defining sphere can be scaled individually. Universal scale is achieved by left-click dragging the square at their center and each axis direction individually by left-click dragging the squares on their edge.

Steps :

  1. Position and scale the spheres so that they surround the mesh with the desired falloff.
  2. Click Apply Gradient to commit the value the weight map.

Gradient Falloff

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > Options Menu > Gradient Falloff

Function : Controls the shape of the falloff effect between the gradient tools inner and outer point.

Options :

  • Linear : a linear value shift.
  • Ease-In : a dome shaped value shift.
  • Ease-Out : a peak shaped value shift.
  • Ease-In / Ease-Out : a bell shaped value shift.

Use Symmetry

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings

Function : Allows the real-time mirroring of editing tool effects across a chosen axis. It requires that the model topology be symmetrical across that same axis. If the rig skeleton is symmetrical and the internal names and the labels of bones are prefixed with Right(R) and Left(L), activating symmetry will simultaneously effect the weight map for opposing bones (eg. Left and right shoulder). The default setting of X axis is appropriate for most cases. The axis default is the most frequently used “X” axis. Y and Z axes can also be selected as needed.

Note : Symmetry is dependent on the memorized base state of joints and not temporary states. Joints are in a temporary state until they have been memorized. This only applies to new figures which have not already had their base joint state memorized. Joints can be memorized by choosing Edit > Figure > Memorize > Memorize Figure Rigging from the Main Menu Bar.

Options :

  • Use Symmetry : Check this to activate real-time symmetry.
  • Axis : Specifies an axis across which to mirror.
  • Mask : Masks off halves of the model from being edited while Use Symmetry is active. Options are None, Positive, and Negative.
  • Mask center line : Prevents the center line vertices of the model from being edited while Use Symmetry is active.