Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 10.6 The 3D view with Custom Properties showing.
panel. By showing the Custom Properties panel of the armature object, you don't have to click on indi-
vidual shape keys just to get their Value slider to display. All of the different drivers' properties you create
are there for you to play with, shown at once. This suggests another advantage, and explains why we chose
to add the custom control properties to the armature object, as opposed to any particular bone or the
armature data itself. When you're animating, you will often show only the 3D view and the timeline. This
would make it difficult to access the controls without a Properties window showing, which would take
up valuable screen space. Figure 10.6 shows the 3D view maximized to fill the screen. The armature is
selected in the same way it would be during animation. Note the bottom panel of the N-key properties
panel: Custom Properties. With the armature selected, your controls are right there in the N-key panel,
ready to be shown or hidden with a single keystroke.
The last big advantage of using drivers and properties for control is the ability to drive several shape keys
with a single custom control. In the example file, the left and right eyes each have their own shape key
for closing. Adding a Driver/Custom Properties combination to one of them, then using Copy/Paste Driver
on the other, allows both eyes to be driven by a single controller.
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