Custom Parameter Set for Controlling a Hand
This example shows you how to create a simple custom parameter set with a slider that controls the movement of a finger. Repeat the same steps for all fingers.
Make a custom parameter set
Create a custom parameter set with two parameters that you will use to animate a character's hands:
1. Create a simple skeleton hand using the following illustration as an example.
2. In the explorer, select the hand's node and choose Create > Parameter > New Parameter Set from the Animate toolbar. Name the set hand_custompset.
Add a custom parameter to the parameter set
3. To select the new custom parameter set you just created, select the character's node in the explorer and press E to isolate it, then select hand_custompset.
4. Choose Create > Parameter > New Parameter. In the property editor, name the new parameter r_pinky and set the Value Range Maximum value to 10. This creates a slider for this parameter that goes from 0 to 10.
You have now created a custom parameter set available under the hand's node - double-click it in the explorer to see the r_pinky slider in it.
Link the rotation Z parameter to a bone
5. On the hand, select the end bone on the pinky.
6. Press Ctrl+K to open the bone's Local Transform property editor.
7. In the property editor, right-click the Rotation Z animation icon (the green box) and choose Link With.
8. In the pop-up explorer, expand the hand_custompset node and pick the r_pinky parameter. This links the local Z rotation of the first bone with the r_pinky slider. The Rotation Z animation icon has an "L" to show that it is linked.
9. Right-click the animation icon for Rotation Z again and choose Set Relative Values. This ensures that the value of rotz will be the current value (such as 0) when the value of r_pinky is its current value 0.
10. In the property editor for the custom property set, change the value of the r_pinky slider to 10.
11. Change the value of Rotation Z to 90 and choose Set Relative Values again.
Now when r_pinky is at 0, Rotation Z is at 0, and as r_pinky goes up to 10, Rotation Z goes up to 90.
r_pinky slider at 0
r_pinky slider at 10
Now when you drag the r_pinky slider, the Rotation Z updates accordingly.
You can continue creating custom sliders for each of the finger bones of the hand in this manner.
