Bone Nodes

The Bone node is one of the main nodes used to build a deformation rig. Each Bone node consists of a bone and an articulation. You can chain Bone nodes to create a skeleton chain for your character. The Rigging tool can be used to create and connect those nodes automatically—see About Creating Deformations.

Properties

Parameter

Descriptions

Enable/Disable

Allows you to enable or disable the node. When disabled, a node has no visible effect on the rendered image, nor on the preview in the Camera, Perspective, Side and Top views.

Colour Swatch

Sets the colour of the layer in the Timeline view and of the node in the Node view.

Name

The name of the node as it appears in the Node View and the Timeline view. Each node must have a name that is unique to its containing group.

Resting Parameters Rest Offset

(x) Axis

This is the bone x-axis (horizontal) coordinates for the resting position.

(y) Axis

This is the bone y-axis (vertical) coordinates for the resting position.

Rest Radius

This is the articulation's radius value (articulation size) for the resting position.

Rest Orientation

This is the bone's orientation angle for the resting position.

Rest Bias

This is the articulation's bias (roundness and smoothness) for the resting position.

Rest Length

This is the bone's length for the resting position.

Deform Parameters Offset

2D Path

When this option is enabled, the X and Y-axis parameters are controlled by the same 2D path function.

Separate

When this option is enabled, the X and Y-axis parameters are individual one from another.

Path

When using a 2D Path, this field displays the name of the function.

(x) Axis

This is the bone X-axis (horizontal) coordinates for the animation position. This parameter can be linked to a function to be animated over time.

(y) Axis

This is the bone y-axis (vertical) coordinates for the animation position. This parameter can be linked to a function to be animated over time.

Radius

This is the articulation's radius value (articulation size) for the animation position. This parameter can be linked to a function to be animated over time.

Orientation

This is the bone's orientation angle for the animation position. This parameter can be linked to a function to be animated over time.

Bias

This is the articulation's bias (roundness and smoothness) for the animation position. This parameter can be linked to a function to be animated over time.

Length

This is the bone's length for the animation position. This parameter can be linked to a function to be animated over time.

Region of Influence

Influence Fade Radius	This defines the size of the fade area around the actual region of influence's boundaries—see Bone Nodes.
Transversal Influence Radius Left	When the Symmetric Ellipse of Influence option is enabled, this field controls the Left and Right transversal radius values. When disabled, it controls the size of the left transversal radius. By default, this value is set to 2.
Transversal Influence Radius Right	When the Symmetric Ellipse of Influence option is enabled, this field becomes inactive. The Left Transversal radius value is automatically applied to the Right Transversal. When the Symmetric Ellipse of Influence option is disabled, it controls the size of the Right Transversal radius. By default, this value is set to 2.
Longitudinal Influence Radius Begin	When the Symmetric Ellipse of Influence option is enabled, this field becomes inactive. The End Longitudinal value is automatically applied to the Begin Longitudinal value. When the Symmetric Ellipse of Influence option is disabled, it controls the size of the Begin Longitudinal radius. By default, this value is set to 0.25.
Longitudinal Influence Radius End	When the Symmetric Ellipse of Influence option is enabled, this field controls both the Begin and End Longitudinal radius values. When this option is disabled, it controls the size of the End Longitudinal radius. By default, this value is set to 0.25.
Symmetric Ellipse Influence	Enabled by default. The shape of the ellipse will be symmetrical on both the transversal and longitudinal radii. In this case, use the Transversal Influence Radius Left field to set the transversal radius value and use the Longitudinal Influence Radius End field to set the longitudinal radius value. The two other fields will remain unused unless you disable the Symmetric Ellipse Influence option. In that case, you can set up different radius sizes for the four radii directions.