Character Set is very useful for animation.
I was looking at [1] and following it religiously to create
anna character set (selecting
master node).
However when referenced in the environment, Anna's various manipulators (pelvisManip, pelvisOverrideManip, handManip, clavicleManip) stop working after a key is set on the anna character set. Spent the whole afternoon stuck on this amidst time that is running out. After analyzing and trying various things, and on the verge of giving up, I looked at [2] and realized this important step:
Remove attributes that are already connected - these are being driven by constraints, therefore they are not needed in the character. So I selected anna character set from the outliner, and in the Channel Box, selected all the connected (colored blue) attributes and highlight them. Then did a
Character->Remove from Character Set.
Viola! It works! Hurray! :-) but there goes my animation time..... sigh... but still, I'm glad I learn something.
References
- Learning Autodesk Maya 2009, p. 472-474
- Learning Autodesk Maya 2008, p. 302-303
