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In Place Mode Use In Place mode to keep the biped visible in the
viewports while the animation plays. Use this for biped key editing or adjusting
envelopes with Physique. It prevents XY movement of the biped center of
mass during animation playback; however, motion along the Z axis is
preserved. This is a three-button fly-out. In Place mode is stored with the 3ds
Max file.
In Place X Mode Lock center of mass X-axis motion. Use this for game
export where the character stays in place but the swinging motion of the hips
and upper body along the Y-axis is preserved.
In Place Y Mode Locks center of mass Y-axis motion. Use this for game
export where the character stays in place but the swinging motion of the hips
and upper body along the X-axis is preserved.
Biped keys for limbs, footsteps, and center of mass can be adjusted using In
Place mode. When the center of mass is moved on the XY-axes in this mode,
the footsteps move. View biped playback without requiring a follow camera.
In this viewing mode, visible footsteps “slide” under the biped.
For export to games, this feature is valuable since many game engines
intelligently move the character’s center of mass laterally according to game
play. In Place mode makes it easy to view, tune, and export animation in a
manner that is complimentary to game engine playback.
TIP Another way of following a moving character is to link a camera and camera
target to the center of mass shadow, which is the disc between the biped’s feet.
NOTE Trajectories do not display when In Place mode is active.
Display group
NOTE The Display group is hidden by default. To display it, click on the Modes
and Display expander in the Biped rollout.
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