Picker Builder:

In a brief way, how the PB works:

1. PB recognizes only visible controls, so first PB looks for attributes that will switch their visibility (fkik, blend visibility, etc.).

You can specify these attributes manually.

2. Then PB analyzes the hierarchy of all the controls and groups them into patterns (eyes, mouth) that are grouped into partitions (face, body).

Each partition has its own camera.

The patterns are defined by an initial list, which is defined in the file init_template.json . You can create your own templates of patterns.

Some patterns are defined algorithmically (main, fingers), but you can edit them later.

Unrecognized controls fall into the Rest pattern.

The pattern can be split into other patterns by the Splitter tool.

3.  Then press Build, see the result, edit partitions, their order, size, and then press Build again.

In the new version (1.445) there is a Live mode - when you edit patterns, the picker automatically rebuilds .

4. If you are satisfied with the overall appearance of the picker, close the PB window and manually edit the controls in Picker Viewer (edit mode) .

You can move, rotate, scale (W E R ), change color, shape, align in line, create selection sets, add script buttons.

 As for color - there are three modes -  individual color (actually maya controls color), pattern color (changes color of all controls in this pattern) and hierarchy weight 

In edit mode hierarchy weight color  is disabled.

At the end press save. The picker is saved in the folder  “...User_name\[Documents]\maya\scripts\PickerBuilder\assets_pickers”.  

 Further it will be loaded into the scene automatically, if the character is loaded into the scene.

—---------------- Now in more detail: —--------------------------------------------------

To start with, you must load the asset as a reference with namespace.

The namespace itself does not matter. The PB is linked to the filename.

All asset information is saved in “...User_name\[Documents]\maya\scripts\PickerBuilder\assets_pickers”.

 You can change this folder in the menu Settings.

Assets should be in default position ( T-pose)  at the beginning of coordinates.

Run PB  , select asset in the list and press

------------------------------ SWITCH ATTRIBUTES --------------------------------

Firstly  PB looks for all visible controls and attributes responsible for switching between forward and inverse kinematics.

If the  PB  does not find these attributes, you can specify them manually.

To do this, select an attribute in the Channel Box  and click .

Then specify its type from the drop-down list .

• FKIK type - if it is direct kinematics at minimum value,
• IKFK - vice versa.
• VIS type - just switch attribute visibility (for example, Bend Visibility in Advanced Skeleton) .

The picker recognizes only  visible controls  or

 controls that become visible when the above attributes are switched.

Recognizable type of controls:  nurbsCurve, nurbsSurface, mesh.

You can save these attributes and load them next time .

Then we press .

------------------------------ PARTITIONS--------------------------------

The PB analyzes the hierarchy of the asset and groups the controls by patterns.

The patterns are grouped in partitions. By default it is Body and Face.

To create your own partition  press.

To rename the partition  double click on name in table.

Each partition  has.

• Its own camera  (Front / Top) . You may choose camera orientation or correct it manually in viewport  right .

For convenience, the “Rotate X Y Z” buttons rotate the camera 180 degrees.

• “MIn cltr size” is the minimum size of controls in pixels.
• “Max ctrl size” is the maximum size of controls in pixels.
• “Is render siluet” - whether the silhouette will be rendered .

Skin cluster nodes are disabled  during hierarchy scanning by default. To activate it- set on (it useful if hierarchy relationship controls depends on skinCluster (on face))

------------------------------ PATTERNS --------------------------------

The order of patterns determines the order of adding controls to the picker when building (except main and fingers - it will be added after all).

The patterns are defined by an initial list in the file init_template.json .

Most patterns defined by mask (*eye*, *mouth*).

Some patterns are defined algorithmically (main, fingers), but you can edit them later.

Unrecognized controls fall into the Rest pattern.

The pattern can be split into other patterns by the Splitter (described below)

By default patterns are sorted by hierarchy  weight (sum of all children, subchildren ).

To customize order you need uncheck  button (else it needed when you move patterns between partitions).

Most of the patterns are searched by name mask.

To select objects in pattern  - Hold Alt Double Click on name.

Patterns can be added, removed, and moved between blocks.

To add  pattern :

• Set place (select pattern) where you want to add partition in patterns tree
• Enter pattern`s name

• Pattern name can be extracted from selected controls

• Choose mode - from selection (S), by mask of  controls  (N) or attributes (A)
• Enter mask with * by sides (ex. *lowlid*)  (only for N and A mode)

• Mask can be extracted from selected controls

• Press

You can move patterns in other partitions by drag n drop .

When you delete a pattern, all its controls are moved to the “Rest” pattern.

Some patterns need to be considered separately.

• “Fingers” - these controls are displayed in the picker in a special way.

  PB searches for them by rule when a control has 3 or more children.

You can change this number here  and then press   again.

 If this rule does not work, PB  tries to find them by template names ( index, mid, pink ...) .

 If this does not work either then try to check “ use Rest” .

• “Main” - controls which are in zero coordinates.

For each pattern, you can specify align mode,  type of display ( shape), minimum and maximum size of controls (in pixels) and color.

Column type sets align mode (Horiz., vertic. inline).

Colors in n objs columns show hierarchy  weight).

The color of the pattern is visible when the checkbox  is enabled (in Picker Viewer).

You can save partitions with patterns and load next time.

Next time for the same rig partitions can be loaded immediately (without pressing Find switches and Analyze hierarchy) .

Patterns can be saved in templates and loaded for similar rigs (like initial_template). Works only for patterns by masks. .

Before it needed unhide empty patterns (H-button)

------------------------------ OBJECTS--------------------------------

The controls in the patterns

• can be set manually
• moved to other patterns by drag n drop,
• changed the hierarchical dependence by drag n drop,

All controls that do not belong to other patterns fall into the “Rest” pattern.

Color - toggle show hierarchy weight

Splitter - open splitter window

 set patterns from selections controls

  add to patterns selected controls

  remove from pattern selected controls

 - move selected controls to Rest pattern

 - include childs for the above-mentioned operations

------------------------------ SPLITTER-------------------------------

For complex rigs, it is often necessary to break a pattern (especially Rest) into several patterns.

Select pattern and press Split in Object section

There are 3 ways to split up - by names, hierarchy and position

• By names - use the common root of control names. You can set the minimum length of the root.
• By hierarchy - there are 3 options -
• By position - you can choose world axes - X, Y, Z

Also you can merge patterns - select several and click the Merge button.

Splitter uses only checked patterns.

------------------------------ POSE--------------------------------

You can set the character in any position. You can save the pose for convenience and load it next time.

You can also set all controls to the FK or IK position.

------------------------------ BUILD --------------------------------

After all the adjustments we press .

If you are satisfied with the overall picture of the picker,  we can move to Picker Viewer.

If not - make changes and press Build picker again.

There is a Live mode - when you edit patterns, the picker automatically rebuilds .