What is IK/FK

What is IK

IK, Inverse Kinematics, refers to a process utilized in 3D computer graphic animation. In this process, the parameters of each articulation, in a jointed flexible object (a kinematic chain), will be automatically calculated to achieve a desired pose, especially when the end point moves.

Basically speaking, IK is how the child node, as it moves, affects all the parents' position and orientation values.

With child node selected.	Offsets of all nodes in the chain gets affected.

What is FK

FK, Forward Kinematics, is how the positions of particular parts of a model at a specified time are calculated from the position and orientation, together with any transformation of an articulated model.

To sum up, FK refers to the effect on the child nodes as the parent moves or rotates.

With the parent node selected.	Only parent's offset is affected.