[Bf-funboard] Empties in the bone hierarchy

[Jason van Gumster]

"David Bryant" <aceone at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> If the empties can be used without using them as a object shapes "in
> pose mode" you can directly use them. As a matter of fact, Lightwave
> has just put this empty into bone heirarchy functionality into their
> package in their new version 9.6. Maya and Max can do the same as
> well.It's not a new idea. Most high end packages have had this
> functionality for years.
> 
> You shouldn't have to have a bone "drawn" as an empty to use it in
> pose mode.Just be able to use an empty itself in pose mode if you
> want to use it in heirarcy.

Ah... but that's the rub, isn't it? An Empty has no notion of what
"pose mode" means. As far as what the other packages have done and can
do, who knows how that's implemented? From userland it may look like
you're adding a regular empty to the Armature hierarchy... but under
the hood it may just be a bone drawn to look like an empty. The user
just isn't told the difference.

Now, if this is the route you want to go, have a go and try. It'll
probably work fine since the changes are largely cosmetic. If you're
pushing Objects to bone-level, though... you may want to wait until the
animation system in 2.5 is fleshed out.

But... I'm no authority.

  -Fweeb