Mirror Bones

#1

Hey everyone. I’ve been trying to figure out how to perfectly make a symmetry of my bones WITHOUT using TSM (the setup machine). Other/most 3d packages support this and I’ve been trying to find a way to do this on A:M. There was this guy who was selling this plugin for $20, I think www.st45.com or something… but now he doesn’t sell it anymore. Any input would be really appreciated.

#2

Okay, if you have only one side of your model boned and want to mirror the bones onto the other side here’s a VERY quick explanation of how to do it, if you need more detail ask again :slight_smile:

Make a root bone for your model, copy this model, rename it and bring it back into your project. Go to this model’s bones mode window and make sure ‘show manipulator properties’ is on. Click the model’s name in the PWS so that it’s black default bone becomes visible and press ‘S’ on the keyboard. Enter -100 in the X-Scale of the manipulator properties and this will flip all the bones to the other side of the model.
Then in the PWS simply drag the root bone of this model to your original model and you will have your bones mirrored.

#3

Sweet! Thanks pequod! One thing though… when I do this method on the leg of my character, I noticed when the bones are tilted, I get weird results. Hmmm. Maybe I should give it a root bone that is oriented on the default world coordinates. I will try again. Thanks a bunch.

By the way, the avatar you’re using… are you part of that production? Coz if you are, man, you guys rock! I love the way you use A:M on your productions. Keep it up :wink:

#4

… hmmmmm… I think I figured it out. Thanks for giving me an idea and mentioning the ‘root bone’. What I basically did, say the thigh is a little rotated along the x axis, at the top of the heirarchy, I made a root bone… this is the one i use to edit its transtation and size (-100)

  Rootbone | thigh bone | calf | foot

… so take the highest bone on the leg heirarchy (Rootbone), give it a negative translate coordinate (-x) then a negative size to flip it (-100)

I kept the Rootbone untouched (or make the rotation angles the same as the world) on its rotation. It should be facing the z axis perfectly (like an “L” shape).

  I used the same setup for the arm section:
  
  Rootbone | bicep | forearm | hand
  
  - again select the rootbone, translate and size to negative X axis.

After symmetry I deleted the rootbones. There’s no need for them after I mirrored the other side. I’m amazed that even the colors followed the symmetry! Works like a dream!

  [img]http://www.ice2big.com/images/bones.gif[/img]
#5

I’m glad you worked it out Shadowfork.

Here’s a very useful plugin (quite cheap) that might help the process along, PC only:

http://www.geocities.jp/masashi_wolf_watanabe/amplugins/MirrorSplines/MirrorSplinesIntro.html

Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not part of any production, apart from my own small projects. The avatar is one of my characters… Gordon Bellows.

#6

Thanks Pequod. Man i love your work!!! I bought a book by anzovin with some image of briar rose and gordon bellows. I am truly honored.

#7

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.