MorphDriverCF (LScript version 2.3)
written by faulknermano

BRIEF

MorphDriverCF (MDCF) is a Channel Filter LScript that reads converts angle measurements to percentages. As such, the script was originally intended for use with MorphMixer. This is also to replace the functionality of the native JointMorph displacement plug-in as an aid to joint-driven morphing.

USAGE

MDCF is typically loaded as a curve modifier of the Morph channel of MorphMixer. MDCF accepts rotational values and outputs percentages. Thus, the channel that MDCF is applied to must be one that uses percentages as its data type.

INTERFACE

The interface is non-modal. You can change any of the editable values in the panel and it will reflect automatically in the items affected. Control descriptions are as follows:

1.) Current: this is a non-modifiable field that denotes the current target item that this MDCF instance is looking at.

2.) Target: this is the pop-down menu of every item that can be targetted by MDCF. See special notes below for some of MDCF's behaviors regarding this menu.

3.) Channels: as of version 1.0, MDFC supports only Rotational channels of the target item.

4.) Enable Overshooting: overshooting is the 'uncapping' of the minimum and maximum limits specified by the user. When overshooting is enabled, the excess angle rotations by the target item will be proportionally added to the resulting percentage solution.

5.) Enable Mid Values: the user can use a value representing the halfway point from the minimum value percentage to the maximum value percentage.

6.) Min, Mid, Max: Min specifies the angle which will drive the channel to 0%. Max specifies the angle which will drive the channel to 100%. Mid specifies the angle which will drive the channel to 50%. Enabling Mid Values will allow you to fine tune your channel by simulating a pseudo-non-linear curve. See special notes for important guidelines regarding inputting values in these fields.

7.) Rec Item: this takes the current target's rotation at the current time index and loads it into their respective limit fields.

SPECIAL NOTES

Target Popdown Menu: this menu will default its selection to the all item types except bones (this is due to an LScript bug). If you select a mesh, light, or camera object in this menu and close the panel, you will see it once again selected when you reopen the panel. This does not happen with bones. However, just because the popdown menu does not show the currently targetted bone it does not mean that it is not actively being targetted. The Current field will always show you which item MDCF is targetting.

Min, Mid, Max Input Fields: one guideline must be to input a Mid value that is truly in between the Min and Max values. The script will not do a convenience check for you, so be wary of this. Also note that you can input negative angles and that Min values can be higher then Max values.

LIMITATIONS

There are no known limitations or bugs (except for the ones already cited above) since the completion of the script (version 1, 04.07.02). Please direct any bug reports to: faulknermano1@yahoo.com

It will be much appreciated.