This script creates a user interface to quickly and intuitively animate a big
number of attributes. It is intended mainly for facial setups but is designed
in a modular way, allowing it to be used with numeric attributes from any node
in Maya. This makes it possible to easily integrate it into existing
pipelines since attributes are the main interface between an animator and the
scene. The main features are:
Complete Integration
Attributes from any number of different objects can be controlled in
one UI. This even allows for integrating a Jason Osipa style
facial setup with multiple control objects for one face.
Two-Layered Control
The first is, of course, the direct control over every attribute with
a slider (and value field). The second is a very flexible preset
system.
Mix 'n Morph Presets
Presets can not only be "applied", they can be faded and
morphed in real time. Furthermore, you can quickly choose
which attributes you want to change. This means you can make the whole
face smile, then add a little surprise to the eyes, an "FF" expression
to the lips, add thought to the brows...
Auto Left-Right with Syncing and Mirroring
The script automatically recognizes left-right and top-bottom
attribute pairs and allows for several ways of mirroring and syncing.
When you don't use a compatible naming scheme, you can still take
advantage of the symmetry functions by manually defining left-right
and/or top-bottom attribute pairs.
Build-In Integration With the
BCS
allows bilateral weights to be handled automatically. This means that
you can make a weight bilateral and an existing setup for the UI will
show both sliders for it. Also, all presets created while the weight
wasn't bilateral will still work and simply set both sides to the same
value.
Preset/Section Library
Presets and section configurations can be exported and organized in an
external Library. This library is stored in a simple ".txt"
file and can contain any number of presets and sections for different
characters.
Here are screen shots of the animation UI on Windows and Linux:
Version History
2.1.8
Compatibility fixes for Maya 2011 on Windows and Linux
2.1.7
Added option to section list to select all attributes of the selected sections.
This is useful e.g. for showing only the keys of some sections in the timeline or the
Graph Editor.
Added a similar option "Sync with Scene-Selection" that selects the attrs every time
the list is clicked for faster workflow
Small bug fixes (renaming ctrl object after GUI has been re-opened works)
2.1.6
Fixed a problem of missing mel scripts
2.1.5
Made the GUI Linux compatible
The section list now has the "view" popup menu on CTRL+right-click
instead of middle-click for Linux compatibility
Since Linux doesn't support marking menus on sliders, alternative slider
menus were added above the preset slider and the attribute sliders (the
latter can be switched on and off in the Options)
Corrected some drawing issues when expanding/collapsing slider areas
Tiny change for x64 compatibility
Other minor bug fixes
2.1.4
Added option to defer the preset slider reset so that further tweaks to the mix are
possible
Added "Set To Zero" command for use in deferred mode of preset slider
Added "Undo Last Dragging" command for the preset slider when not in deferred mode
Added configurable preset slider ranges (for normal and relative modes)
Minor changes to the option layout
2.1.3
Added option to apply presets "relatively"
Fixed a small bug where the preset slider stopped to work in rare cases
2.1.2
Added option to lock/unlock and mute/unmute attributes of individual sections
Added option to the preset list to flip presets left/right
Added option to the preset list to set a keyframe on all attributes that "would"
be affected when applying the preset(s)
2.1.1
Added options for hiding the "Select" and "Key All" button
Minor GUI changes (annotations, corrected button label, etc.)
2.1.0
New Features:
The preset library can now import and export sections
Bug Fixes:
Importing a preset with attrs that don't exist now produces a warning instead of an error
When the animUI is started in window mode while it is currently opened in a panel, a valid
alternative panel is now left behind
Other minor bug fixes
Minor corrections in the manuals
2.0.3
Added an option that controls whether the numeric field resets its focus after a value is
entered (default is on). Disable this option when you have problems using the animUI in
panel mode.
When switching between different setups, sliders of attrs that were locked didn't wake
up correctly
The main UI didn't refresh when the Section Manager was closed and the animUI was used
as a panel
2.0.2
Added the option to hide the "Key" button next to each attr slider
2.0.1
The AnimUI can now be opened in a panel (see installation instructions)
Fixed a bug that occured when the script was sourced before the bcs plugin was loaded
2.0
This is a complete rewrite of the script. Here are some things that have changed:
Changed the name from DPK_animationInterface to DPK_animUI
Attributes of more than one object can now be part of one setup
Attributes can be excluded from presets
The preset slider uses just one slot in the undo queue
The left-right recognition is now configurable
Added top-bottom symmetry, syncing, and mirroring
Added a preset manager for creating preset libraries
The lists now have marking menus for reaching menu items faster
A script collection in DPK_animUISetup.mel allows you to query, edit and create animUI
setups. This should help in integrating the animUI into almost any pipeline.
Added "real" help docs
and more...
1.13
Added support for elements of multi attrs
This is the last version before the rewrite. In some rare cases, you might want to have
access to this version too. You can still download it here:
DPK_animationInterface
1.12
The attributes that store presets aren't locked anymore. This allows you to
add/remove/change presets of a referenced anim node. To make it work with existing anim
setups, you'd need to unlock the presets in the original scene. This can be done by
adding and removing a preset.
1.11
Presets can now be applied to either the left or right side
You can set keys for the selected sections through the context menu
