Is AdvancedSkeleton free?
You can download any try out a fully working version of AdvancedSkeleton from the Downloads page. However, if you wish to use Advanced Skeleton on any commercial projects (anything other than private home use) then please ask the Studio where you work, to obtain a commercial license.
What if our Studio purchases the AdvancedSkeleton license?
To purchase a license, use the Payment option on this website, or you can email support@animationstudios.com.au, and request a Quote form made out to your company, which also includes other payment options such as Bank wire transfer. Once the payments have been made, a "Welcome AdvancedSkeleton customer" email will be sent to you. This email will have the invoice for the purchase made out to your company. It also includes links for downloading the latest version of Advanced Skeleton. As a license holder, you get access to the Beta versions. Also, it has the contact detail for the priority support, where you can email us, and send us any files, should you be encountering any problems?
The commercial license has no expiration, meaning no need for renewals, all future version are covered.
Can the templates (biped, quadruped, etc) be changed?
Yes, AdvancedSkeleton can build rigs, based upon any joint structure. The templates are there only to be a frequently used starting points, but you can add or remove any joints from this. Or even build any joint structure from `scratch`.
The only basic structure limitation applies:
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Y axis is up (Maya default)
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Mirroring will be from right to left (although you can turn off mirroring for any limb, with the "noMirror" attribute
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X axis is down the bone (except some feature such as the Unreal GameSkeleton, which matches their export platform)
Does AdvancedSkeleton have tool for switching between IK and FK?
Yes, these tools, along with many others, are found in the "Selector" UI tool. By right clicking on any of the FKIK controllers (blue crosses), a popup menu will appear, with various options for switching. These functions are in the "Selector" tool instead of the main rigging tools because this feature is mostly used animators more than the character setup person.
Where is the help documentation?
As for documentation, this was changed as of version 4.x The previous version had online documentation, which is still available here:
https://sites.google.com/a/animationstudios.com.au/animationstudios-com-au/advancedskeleton/help
However, as of version 4x, this was replaced by the pop-up images, that opens with the "?" (question-mark) buttons, next to each of the main functions.
These images, along with the tutorial videos available here: