These
commands are some of LightWave??™s most important features.
Inside LightWave v9 76
Figure 2.43
The Tools
category is
home to the IK
Boost Tool, as
well as Move
TCB and others.
Chapter 2 LightWave v9 Layout 77
IK BoostTool
The ???IK??? in IK Boost Tool stands for inverse kinematics. It is a powerful new system primarily
used for, but not limited to, character animation.What is inverse kinematics? In the simplest
explanation, it is a system for determining how characters move based on the positions
of their limbs and joints, much like a marionette on strings: When you move the string
attached to a puppet??™s hand, its arm follows, moving in a specific way based on the length
of the forearm and upper arm and position of its wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints. That??™s
it! You??™ll be setting up your own IK in the upcoming character animation chapters.
The IK Boost Tool applies IK to a hierarchy of joined objects or bones, and allows you to
instantly set parameters, limits, and controls for every aspect of your hierarchy.
IKB Calculate
After you??™ve set up inverse kinematics and bone options with the IK Boost Tool, you can
simply click the IKB Calculate button to ???capture???movements generated through inverse
kinematics in the form of animation keyframes.
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