Best way to edit dials?

[dfaris]

Hi all,

Im trying to edit some dials, like a mouth on a center face switch layer but every time I go into the action panel, click on the dial, the time line is blue but as soon as I click on the transform points tool and select the mouth layer, it goes red and the points are hard to control even if I try.

How do you edit dial timelines?

[braj]

I am guessing this has something to do with nested layers. Do you have 'allow nested layer control' checked in your bone layers?

[dfaris]

I'll answer my problem.

It seems you can't edit dials if its rigged (face switch layer) to a head bone.You have to break the bone-layer connection for it to be editable.

So, with this information, is it best to only do the body rig after all dials are in place? or does this just happen only from layer-bone relationship?

[dfaris]

Yes Braj. Its on by default.

[braj]

I'll answer my problem.

It seems you can't edit dials if its rigged (face switch layer) to a head bone.You have to break the bone-layer connection for it to be editable.

So, with this information, is it best to only do the body rig after all dials are in place? or does this just happen only from layer-bone relationship?

So it seems that once you bind the switch to a head bone, you break the relationship with the higher-lever bone layer that is controlling the smartbone action. On the Switch folder properties, is 'Allow nested layer control' checked under the Bones tab? For me, once binding the switch layer folder to a head bone, the switch vector layers become pink (instead of blue) when I edit them within the higher lever smartbone action. But I am able to edit them regardless and they are working as expected. Could you post an anime file that shows your problem?

[synthsin75]

I'll answer my problem.

It seems you can't edit dials if its rigged (face switch layer) to a head bone.You have to break the bone-layer connection for it to be editable.

So, with this information, is it best to only do the body rig after all dials are in place? or does this just happen only from layer-bone relationship?

Any intermediate bones stop the ability for higher bones to reach lower nested layers. So don't bind any layers. Instead use the "Use selected bones for flexi-binding" bone menu command on each of the switches sublayers.

[funksmaname]

The original question made it sound like the action might not exist on some of the layers you are editing - this spits you out of action editing mode. Make sure when you create any action you are on the top most group parent, as that will ensure all children are linked with the action.

[dfaris]

I'll answer my problem.

It seems you can't edit dials if its rigged (face switch layer) to a head bone.You have to break the bone-layer connection for it to be editable.

So, with this information, is it best to only do the body rig after all dials are in place? or does this just happen only from layer-bone relationship?

Any intermediate bones stop the ability for higher bones to reach lower nested layers. So don't bind any layers. Instead use the "Use selected bones for flexi-binding" bone menu command on each of the switches sublayers.

Ah, this works good!
I usually point pick to my bones and dont use bone strength at all but for the head and all the switch layers, it works very well. All the head parts move and I can still edit the smart dials.
Thanks everyone for the great advice!