In this example, we build a rig for the Electra test geometry and change the look of Electra’s controls using an APEX Configure Controls SOP (see rigging a character for another example of adjusting a character’s controls):

1. On the Electra SOP, set Output to Skin Surface. This outputs Electra’s shape as its 1st output and Electra’s skeleton as its 2nd output.

2. The APEX Pack Character SOP adds Electra’s shape and skeleton to a character folder structure. Turn on Add FK and Bone Deform Components to create a rig for Electra that has FK and bone deform functionality. See pack characters for more information.

3. We use the Autorig Builder to build a rig for Electra that includes components for the root, spine, arms, and legs:

   

4. Enter the animate state on the APEX Configure Controls SOP - select the APEX Configure Controls SOP, turn on its display flag, and click Animate on the left toolbar.

5. On the APEX Configure Controls SOP, add a configuration for the root controls:

   • In the General tab, click beside Control Configs.

   • Expand the Control Config multiparm entry.

   • Set the Control Group parameter to the root controls - select the root controls in the viewport and click beside Control Group. The Control Group parameter will be automatically populated with the selected controls. You can also choose from the drop-down menu or use the APEX path pattern syntax to specify groups of controls.

6. To change the size and shape of the root controls:

   • To choose a different shape for the controls, turn on Use Shape Override and set Shape Override to the desired shape. In our example, we set Shape Override to plane_wires.

   • To change the size of the controls, turn on Use Shape Offset and change the Scale parameter.

   • To change the color of the controls, turn on Use Color and click the color chip to pick a color.

   

In this example, we use the same setup as the previous example and replace Electra’s left hand control with an image control:

1. Enter the animate state on the APEX Configure Controls SOP - select the APEX Configure Controls SOP, turn on its display flag, and click Animate on the left toolbar.

2. On the APEX Configure Controls SOP, go the General tab.

3. Click beside Control Configs to add a configuration for the left hand control.

4. Expand the Control Config multiparm entry. Set the Control Group parameter to the hand control - select the left hand control in the viewport and click beside Control Group.

5. Turn on Use Image.

6. Set Path to the image. In our example, we set Path to \$HFS/packages/apex/pics/circle_ring1.png.

   Note

   It is recommended to use relative paths for the image paths, otherwise a machine-dependent absolute path may get baked into the control. For example, to ensure that the relative path is stored, use \$HFS/.../<image>.png instead of $HFS/.../<image>.png.

7. Set the image’s pixel size and position:

   • Turn on Use Pixel Size Min/Max.

   • Set the Pixel Size Min/Max values.

   • Set the Pixel Offset to change the position of the image.

A main picker control provides a compact, artist-friendly interface for displaying groups of controls and their configuration options without having to search for individual controls in the viewport:

In this example, we create a main picker control for Electra using the same setup as the previous example.

1. Enter the animate state on the APEX Configure Controls SOP - select the APEX Configure Controls SOP, turn on its display flag, and click Animate on the left toolbar.

2. On the APEX Configure Controls SOP, go to the Config Manager tab and turn on Enable. This creates a main picker control at the origin. By default, this control is drawn as a image.

   Note

   If the character already has an existing control at the origin, it may be difficult to see the main picker control. Zoom in to see the added main picker control.

3. To change the image for the main picker control, set the Image parameter.

4. Change the position of the main picker control using the Position parameter.

5. In the Level of Detail section, the image controls (LOD1 Image, LOD2 Image, LOD3 Image) are populated by default. These image controls toggle the visibility of Electra’s controls by level of detail. The level of detail is a tag on each character control that ranks the control by importance.

6. Add an image control within the main picker control for the spine, arms, and legs. We start with the spine:

   • Click beside Config Controls to add a configuration.

   • From the drop-down menu beside the Config Control parameter, select the configuration control for the spine. In the viewport, the spine’s control will disappear. (It will be replaced with an image button within the main picker control once you set the Img Path parameter below.)

   • Set Img Path to a .png image you want to use as the image button for the spine. In our example, we set Img Path to \$HFS/packages/apex/pics/female_body_head.png.

   • (Optional) Set Title Img Path to a .png image with a title or label. This is displayed above the spine’s configuration options. In our example, we set Title Img Path to \$HFS/packages/apex/pics/spine_font.png.

   • Click the color chip to set the color for the spine’s configuration options. In our example, we set the color to yellow.

   

7. For the left arm:

   • Click beside Config Controls to add a configuration.

   • From the drop-down menu beside Config Control, select L_claviclearm_config.

   • Set Img Path to \$HFS/packages/apex/pics/female_arm_l.png.

   • Set Title Img Path to \$HFS/packages/apex/pics/arm_font.png.

   • Set the color chip to blue.

8. Repeat the above steps for the right arm, left leg, and right leg:

   • Replace the image paths with the appropriate left, right, arm, and leg counterparts.

   • Set the left side components to blue and the right side components to red.

You can use the APEX Configure Controls SOP to organize the character’s controls into selection sets. In this example, we add a selection set for the lower body controls:

1. Enter the animate state on the APEX Configure Controls SOP - select the APEX Configure Controls SOP, turn on its display flag, and click Animate on the left toolbar.

2. On the APEX Configure Controls SOP, turn on Preview Selection Sets.

3. In the General tab, click beside Control Configs to add a configuration for the lower body controls.

4. Expand the Control Config multiparm entry.

5. Set the Control Group parameter to the lower body controls - select the lower body controls in the viewport and click beside Control Group. The Control Group parameter will be automatically populated with the selected controls.

6. Turn on Use Selection Sets.

7. Set the name of the selection set to add the controls to - in our example, we set Set Path to lower_body.