2009

With this method, the position constraint is not automatically assigned

to the root bone, so it must be assigned manually.

6 Select the root bone. Choose Animation menu > Constraints > Path

Constraint, and then click the spline.

This moves the bone structure to the spline, if they're apart, and creates

a Position List controller for the bone with the Path Constraint as the

second (active) constraint.

NOTE This also animates the bones along the path. If you don't want this,

delete the second animation key.

Working with the Spline IK Solver

To use the Spline IK Solver, move the helpers to shape the spline. Do not move

the spline. The shape of the spline is determined by the positions of the

vertices, so moving the spline itself has no effect on the bone structure. If the

spline is moved, it will snap back to the helpers the next time a helper is

moved. However, it is recommended that you not move the spline at all.

Once you have finished setting up the spline IK solver, it can be helpful to

freeze the spline to avoid accidentally moving it.

Moving helpers changes the shape of the spline. To twist the spline, select the

spline IK chain object and go to the Motion panel to change twist angles in

the IK Solver Properties rollout.