Quickly creating limb length and bend position attributes for your arms and legs.
Sometimes I have found that you just can't get your character into the pose you want with the basic IK handle setup. It helps to have such attribues as limb length and bend position to get the ideal shape from time to time. Granted, you wont want to use these attributes frivolously as your character will appear to be growing, shrinking or just plain bending in strange ways, but if you ever need that little extra push, these attributes can become a lifesaver!
1. create new attribute in attribute editor:
limbLength
bendPosition
(always type your attributes this way when creating them as Maya will automatically put a space between the words by where you place your capitol letters)
2. Keep the default settings at float for the new attributes
I like to have a Min and Max setting, but its up to your preference really.
3. I set my Min and Max at 100 and -100 with a default of 0. Again, this can be any number you like but I prefer to use 100.
4. Now we will use simple set driven keys to connect the attributes to the joints we want to manipulate.
Pick your controller and set a key on both joints with your attributes at 0. Then proceed to set your attributes to 100 and -100 and scale your joints accordingly.
5. The only difference between Limb Length and Bend Position is when you create your limb length, both joints will scale in X to the same values. For example if your Limb Length attribute is set to 100, BOTH joints will scale to 2 if it is set at -100 BOTH joints will be set to .01 (never scale a joint to 0, as things can get wierd in maya) .
6. Bend Position set driven keys will be created the same way, but the joints will scale in OPPOSITE directions. For example if you Bend Position attribute is set to 100, your upper arm joint will be 2 while your lower arm joing will be .01. When you set your uattribute to -100 you will reverse the scales to be upper arm joint will be .01 while your lower arm joing will be 2.
7. This process can be used for both arm and leg joints to quickly get you these extra attributes.
