SS Virtual Bones (v1.1) - Create, Display & Render custom vector bones

[SimplSam]

SS Virtual Bones (v1.1) is a tool that allows you to create, display and render custom vector bones.

Virtual Bones are look-a-like and behave-a-like replicas of the built-in Moho bones, and they are bound to those bones - in such a way that they Move, Stretch and Rotate at the same time and in the same way as their real counterparts.

So ... Why do you need Virtual Bones?

Virtual Bones are primarily of use because they are styleable & customizable, and they are always visible during editing & render.



In summary they are:
- Render proof: Virtual Bones are rendered during export in high quality. Great for Reviews and Demonstrations or as part of your Animations
- Styleable: It is easy to create custom styled or custom colored virtual bones - during creation or after creation
- Editable: Virtual Bones are implemented as vectors, which means they are always editable and can be manipulated with any vector tool or process
- Templatable: Any existing vector layer can be used as a template for Virtual Bones, with each Virtual Bone modelled as a resized copy of that template. Useful for diagramming, abstract animation, motion graphics and custom control handles
- Multipliable: You can create multiple Virtual Bones for the same Bone layer - each representing different sets of bones or simply different styles
- Always visible (unless hidden by choice): During edit you can change layers away from the Bone layer group and the Virtual Bones will remain visible

Video Demo



Download:

• latest release: ss_virtual_bones

How do I get set up ?

• To install:
  
  • Use the Moho ‘Scripts’ > ‘Install Script …’ menu (after you Download for Install Script, and extract the zip files)
  – or –
  
  • Save the ‘ss_virtual_bones.lua’ and ‘ss_virtual_bones.png’ files to your computer into your <custom>/scripts/tool folder
  • Reload Moho scripts (or Restart Moho)
• To use:
  • Select a bone layer, and optionally one or more bones
  • Run the Virtual Bones tool from the Tools palette
  • A popup panel will appear allowing you to review and adjust the settings

Options & Features

• Template: optionally Select a Template that the virtual bones should be created from **
  * Scale compensation: is used to scale Stroke size to bone size during creation (default)
  * Disable Scale compensation: to maintain constant Stroke size. Most beneficial with thin stroke outlines
  If no Template is selected - look-a-like bones will be created (default)
• Selected Bones only will process only the currently selected bones
  Disable Selected Bones only to process all visible bones (default)
• Pin Bones will include Pin Bones in the processing (default)
  Disable Pin Bones to ignore Pin Bones
• Target Bone targets will display Target Bone target indicators (default)
  Disable Target Bone targets to not display Target Bone targets
• Inherit Current Style will apply the current style in the style panel to the newly created Virtual Bones (non-template only)
  Disable Inherit Current Style to mimic the look of the built-in bones, unless using a template (default)
• Use Reset to restore default settings. OK to Apply settings & changes. Cancel to Cancel

** Currently Template vector layers will only be listed and useable, if they are not empty and not in a group (i.e. they must be located at the root layer level of the document).

Notes

- The tool always ignores Hidden and Shy bones
- The last used settings are automatically saved
- Compatible with AS11+
- Optimized for MH13.5+

Changelog:

• 1.1 - Add: Ignore layer select. Support dynamic bone widths (Skinny Bones)

Special Thanks to:

* Stan (and the team): MOHO Scripting -- https://mohoscripting.com
* The friendly faces @ Lost Marble Moho forum -- https://www.lostmarble.com/forum/

[Víctor Paredes]

That's very cool! Thank you so much for creating and sharing it

[Greenlaw]

This looks awesome SimplSam! I can think of a few situations where this could have been useful.

Will give it a try soon.

[synthsin75]

Very nice.

I wouldn't call them vBones though, as many of us use that for vitruvian bones.

[SimplSam]

Very nice. I wouldn't call them vBones though, as many of us use that for vitruvian bones.

Yeah. I can see the confusion.

[Greenlaw]

Bone Skins?

Maybe not. Some people might call it 'BS' for short.

[Daxel]

Thanks, this is pretty cool! certainly not BS (:

[SimplSam]

The tool has been updated (v1.1) to work better with the new(ish) configurable width Skinny Bones.

[Hoptoad]

Thanks! Updated version works great.

[BigBoiiiJones]

This is super cool! Thanks for sharing.

I wonder though is there a way to do this exact thing but with vector points? It'd be cool if we can change how the vectors looked and be able to render all the vector points with the animation. I know right now you can disable fills and strokes it'd display all vector paths but it'd be cool to have them display with the strokes and fills as well and maybe have a option for fills to cover vector paths so if you have ugly shapes being covered underneath it could remain covered. Yes I know this would be useless or stupid but it would be a very cool effect like it is with the bones here.