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Weight Map Management

Summary

An overview of the various utility functions for weight maps.

Weight Map Selection

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings 1)
Viewport : right-click menu > Weight Map 2)

Function : Selection of a weight map can be done in the Tool Settings tab by clicking a map in the list, or by right-clicking in the viewport, choosing Weight Map, and then selecting the desired map from the options there.

Copy/Paste Weight Map

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > right-click menu 3)

Function : Copies values from one weight map and pastes to another.

Steps :

  1. Right-click the map you want to copy from.
  2. Choose Copy Selected.
  3. Right click the map you want to paste to.
  4. Choose Paste Selected.

Node Locking

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > Locking 4)

Function : The Locking button is located next to Weight Maps at the top of the weight map list. Selecting this displays a list of nodes for the current figure. Clicking on the lock button beside a node locks/unlocks that node, preventing/enabling the weight maps on that node from being edited.

Options : 5)

  • Expand All : Expands the entire node hierarchy.
  • Collapse All : Collapses the entire node hierarchy.
  • Lock Selected : Locks the currently selected nodes.
  • Unlock Selected : Unlocks the currently selected nodes.
  • Lock Selected and Children : Locks the currently selected node, and all its children.
  • Unlock Selected and Children : Unlocks the currently selected node, and all its children.

Weight Map Symmetry

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > Options Menu > Weight Map Symmetry 6)
Viewport : right-click menu > Weight Map Symmetry 7)

Function : Mirrors weight maps values across a chosen axis. It requires that the model topology and the rig skeleton be symmetrical across that same axis, and that the internal names and the labels of bones are prefixed with Right(R) and Left(L). Make sure that bones which align along the central axis of the model have center points which equal 0 position on the axis to be made symmetrical. 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 :

  • Mode Entire Figure : Will mirror the weight values of all maps for the entire figure.
  • Mode Selected Bone : Will mirror the weight values of all maps for the currently selected bone.
  • Mode Selected Map : Will mirror the weight values of the active maps for the currently selected bone.
  • Axis : Defines the world axis (X,Y,Z) across which to mirror the values.
  • Side to mirror : Determines the side, right or left, which will have its values mirrored.
  • Create maps if they do not exist : Will create matching weight maps for symmetrical bones, if those maps do not already exist.

Normalize Weights

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > Options Menu > Normalize Weights 8)

Function : Ensures that all mesh vertices equal up to 100% total combined weight map influence for bone rotation and scaling. The use of Normalize Weights is not needed in most cases as weight map normalization happens in real-time during weight map editing.

Filter Weights

Main Menu Bar : Window > Tabs > Tool Settings > Options Menu > Filter Weights 9)
Viewport : right-click menu > Filter Weights 10)

Function : Zeros the values from the currently selected map which are below a user specified value.

1) , 2) , 3) , 4) , 6) , 7) , 8) , 9) , 10)
With the Weight Map Brush active.
5)
Accessible via right-click menu