Key Groups

Key Groups

What it does : Force's keyframes for a group of bones via an ON/OFF pose.

How it works: Takes advantage of the new V13 IK/FK auto constraint keying feature. Using dummy constraints and Null to define what bones to key and what type of key frames to set.

Characteristics

Speed : Can turn a ten step process into a one step process. E.g. setting keys for all the F.A.C.E nulls or blocking out an animation quickly. Ect.

Efficiency : Could possibly save setting thousands of extra keys. Especially if filters are not used correctly. Key Groups only sets keys that are needed for the bone. E.g. A control bone that can only be rotated will only be set with rotation keys. This helps keep the curve editor cleaner and easier to use..

Simplicity : It’s easy to set up new bone groups and modify existing groups. You don’t have to worry about what filters or bone modes to use. It doesn’t matter how many groups or what kind of groups you make. The actions will work on another model with different groups or without key groups. So you can customize to your liking. Easy to transfer groups to other models.

How to use: In an action or choreography open pose slider window select Key Groups tab. You will see some bone groups. Every time you turn the pose ON or Off it will set predefined keys for the Group. If you are using the timeline tack the bones folder in the action or choreography.

How to set up a new group.

1. Make a new ON/OFF pose 2. Select a control bone 3. If the bone can only be rotated add a “orient like” constraint and constrain to “key Groups Null” then set the enforcement to 0% 4. If the bone can be translated also. add a “translate to” constraint the same way. 5. Rename the pose and in the properties panel drag pose into the Key Groups folder.