Baking Constraint Results - Path, HumanIK, Link, LookAt

Unlike iMotions, which can only be used for exchanging body motions between characters, MotionPlus format can include more data, such as Constraint Keys for exchanging. The Look At, Reach, Link and following Path animations can be passed to any standard or non-standard character by using a single MotionPlus file.

Constraint - Look At and Path

  1. In iClone, apply a character.
  2. Create body motion for the character.
  3. Have the character walk along a path.
  4. Make the character to Look at a target.

    This character's motion is composed of body motion (motion layer keys if necessary), path keys and look at features.

  5. Open the Collect Clip track of the character and make a range.
  6. Right click within the range the select the Add MotionPlus to Library from the menu.
  7. Activate the Motion and Bake Constraint Key boxes. Save these items into one single MotionPlus file.
  8. Apply another character into iClone. This character can be either in this project or another new one.
  9. Drag and drop the saved MotionPlus file onto the new character.
  10. You may see that the included motions, as well as the constraint results are applied to the new character, even though the looking target and the path are removed.

Constraint - HIK (HumanIK) Link and Reach

The iClone standard and non-standard characters use an identical bone structure, a structure that is HumanIK compatible; this feature allows the character's head and limbs to animate according to IK (inverse kinematic) standards.

  1. In iClone, apply a character and a prop then link the character to the prop.
  2. Apply an animation to the character.
  3. Use the Prop Puppeteering feature to animate the prop. The character will move along because of the linkage.
  4. Make the character to Reach both hands to targets (the targets can optionally be given individual animations).

    This character's motion is composed of body motion (motion layer keys if necessary), link and reach keys.

  5. Open the Collect Clip track of the character and select a range.
  6. Right click within the range then select the Add MotionPlus to Library from the menu.
  7. Activate the Motion and Bake Constraint Key boxes. Save these items into one single MotionPlus file.

  8. Apply another character into iClone. This character can be either in this project or another new one.
  9. Drag and drop the saved MotionPlus file onto the new character.
  10. You may see that the included motions, as well as the constraint results are applied to the new character, even though the reaching target and the linking target are removed.