Best Way of Capturing Upper Body Motions

When you want to capture a character's upper body motions via the Multi-layer Capturing method, then you need to use either the Full Body or the Upper Body modes in the Motion LIVE panel. However, the Full Body mode can be used to capture the motions of the entire body; while the Upper Body mode is the best mode for capturing upper body motions.

Capturing Upper Body Motions in Different Modes
The Full Body mode.	The Upper Body mode.

The benefit of the Upper Body mode is that you are able to sit before your computer with your body mocap device on, instead of moving back and forth between your computer and the ideal position for capturing when the computer is beyond your reach.

Capturing with the Default Pose

1. Select a character with a default pose.
   
2. Open the Motion LIVE panel. Select only the upper body part of the dummy.
3. Preview or record the upper body motions.
   • If you select the upper body of the dummy in the Full Body mode, when you lean or rotate your upper body, then the motion-applied character may exhibit "floating-feet" issues as demonstrated below:

     The pelvis rotates along with the angle of the upper body, which causes the feet to float in the air.

   • It is highly recommended that you switch to the Upper Body mode, which is also the best mode for only capturing your upper body motions.

     The angle of the pelvis is constrained so that the feet remain where they are without being moved.

Capturing with a Custom Pose

If you've set a pose for the character, and you want to restrict the captured upper body motions only to the upper body without altering the pose of other body parts, then you must use the Upper Body mode of the Motion LIVE panel.

1. Select a character and apply a motion clip or set a pose to it.
   
2. Open the Motion LIVE panel. Switch to the Upper Body mode and select the upper body part of the dummy.
3. Preview or record your upper body motions. You may see the difference when you select the upper body parts in either the Full Body or Upper Body modes.

   The legs are driven to move in the Full Body mode when the upper body rotates.	The legs are not driven to move in the Upper Body mode when the upper body rotates.