Reply To: 3dioot’s polybook

[Jan-Willem van Dronkelaar]

@phoenix4690 

Thanks for the clarification! It helps a lot because I now have some reference to shoot for. I have already adjusted his stride and, while the knee’s still have their own issues, it feels better already. Turns out his stride (measured from toe to heel) was like half a foot; very short.

I also found a neat little “trick” to see the motion path for the knee. You can show FK leg bones on Stomp without having to switch over to FK. This means you can turn on the motion trail for the head of the shin for example and get a much better insight into what’s happening. You were spot on with your frames, its jerking back and forth over those three frames!

I also understand it much better conceptually now. Turns out its not so much about the knee locking out, its about smooth arcs! Locking the knee out makes it pop “back” compared to where it was, that messes with the arc (or spacing) and that is what you have to compensate. That does not look so bad when scrubbing (slowly) but does result in jitter at full speed!

Its funny, I’ve been watching lots of animation critiques lately by a professional animator (critiquing 11second club) and it reminds me of the comments on arms that come back again and again. Arcs, arcs, arcs! And no IK on the arms unless you have too! While its great to use IK on the legs it does mean you have to be super careful with the arc of the knee since its indirectly controlled by the IK target. Its very much the same thing! 🙂

So with that out of the way: congratulations! I totally understand the family expansion comes first! 😀 When you have the time/feel ready I look forward to your future plans.