OK I have just realized that after 10+years of fiddling with Poser that I have assumed knowledge but it just isn't true.

I am trying to set up an animation were multiple body parts move smoothly - and not a lot - in a controlled sort of way. 

I want for example have a hand posed resting on a knee move gracefully as if parented to the knee as the knee moves position in the animation. I don't seem to be able to parent a body part to another and then move the lead part and have the parented part follow.

Am I missing something (here's the concept of 10 years of stupidity and assumption as above)? Why can't I parent a body part to another or is there another way to skin this cat?

The body part (i.e., the hand) is already parented to the forearm and a child (the hand) can only have one parent.

A parent, however, may have many children, e.g., the hand (parent ) has 4 fingers (children) and a thumb (child).

cheers,
dr geep
;=]

geep I realize this but how do I get the hand and children to "stick"to say the thigh and then follow the thigh movement in an animation? 

I stopped playing with poser some time ago but I was mostly doing short movements animations.

There is no solution for that - turn IK on hand and make some key frames and try to make the movement as close to the thigh as possible. At first this approach may look easy but it's not - sooner or later the joints will get twisted beyond any repair:)

Better is to make it without IK but then you need some practice and remember to keep keyframes not too close to each other - this approach is much more difficult but it will give better results

Another way is to change the animation - completely remove that part from your project (since in most cases the results are bad).

No good news:)

You can parent the hand to the thigh.

First (for example) turn on IK for the right hand.  Then you can parent the right hand to the right thigh.

IK must be on to parent hands and feet to anything.

Bill

Quote - geep I realize this but how do I get the hand and children to "stick"to say the thigh and then follow the thigh movement in an animation? 

Sorry :sad: ... Try to do it manually* ... one frame at a time. :mellow:

• i.e., adjust to position of the hand

Quote - You can parent the hand to the thigh.

First (for example) turn on IK for the right hand.  Then you can parent the right hand to the right thigh.

IK must be on to parent hands and feet to anything.

Bill

yes, but the result (in animation) is a nightmare (of course it depends what kind of movement is involved) anyway if you want to parent then I would add another figure without IK on hand and make it invisible (whole figure) and then change between figures when necessary.

here you can se short animation with 2 figures showing alternately

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McLCBFB5o4M&list=UU8Ntneus8WUaFx2RaFDCOOQ&index=9

another reason for second figure: you cannot change between IK and "no" IK in animation. If you start with IK on hands it's gonna be very difficult to later on (belive me:))

If you are using P9 or 2012 you can use a constraint to do what you are trying to do.

You will have to get used to using them, they can be a tad confusing until you get used to how they work in Poser.

A few hints:

Scaling a constrait scales the child, so scaling of the constraint is not usually needed at all.

Turn the level of constraint down as far as possble, or it will do the same thing to the wireframe that IK can do. Constraints will work with IK on or off. While using the constraint, try not to key any bends or side to side on the limb. Use twists to keep it in the right spot.

There are a few youtube videos on constraints as well.