HIK Retargeting with HEAT

Easily use Maya's HIK system with HEAT animations!

The HEAT base character packaged with the HEAT Maya plug-in comes with a skeleton definition. This means that retargeting HEAT animations to any character that is characterized with Maya's HumanIK system is simple and seamless.

• Begin by importing a base character into your scene using the 'Add Base Character' button () and apply an animation to it by selecting one from your library and hitting the 'Import' button ().

• Open the HumanIK window by navigating to 'Windows -> Animation Editors -> HumanIK'

• In the HumanIK window you should see the character 'HEAT_char' definition.

HumanIK window of HEAT character

• With another HIK defined character in your scene simply select your target character (the character that you want to have the animation retargeted to) under the 'Character:' field of the HumanIK window. Choose 'HEAT_char' under the 'Source:' field of the HumanIK window. The animation will automatically be applied to the target character!

Retargeting a HEAT animation to the Maya Dummy Character

FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS TO THE HIK RETARGETING

Due to differences in character size and shape retargeting can sometimes need some adjustments to look perfect.

• In the HumanIK window make sure your target character is still selected in the 'Character:' drop down and that you are on the 'Definition' tab of the HumanIK Window.

• Click the HIK settings drop-down button () and select 'Edit Character Definition -> Edit HIK Properties'.

• There are many settings in this window that can be tweaked, but most often what will be necessary will be within the 'Retarget Specific' drop down.

HIK Retarget Specific Properties window

• If your target character seems to be floating off of or sinking through the ground try changing the 'Hips Level Mode' and 'Anke Height Comp Mode' to 'User'. Then you can tweak the 'Ankle Height Comensation' number up or down until you have proper floor contact.

Animation adjusted to meet the floor using HIK Retarget Parameters

For more uses and further descriptions of the HIK Properties please refer to the official Maya docs at https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-EB6801E1-1DA2-4E47-8C45-F7159AA452F1

BAKING ANIMATION TO TARGET CHARACTER

You may notice that if you are to now delete the source character (HEAT base character) that your target character will lose its animation data. This is because we need to finalize this whole process by baking the animation to your target character.

• In the HumanIK window make sure your target character is still selected in the 'Character:' drop down and that you are on the 'Definition' tab of the HumanIK Window.

• Click the HIK settings drop-down button () and select 'Bake -> Bake to Skeleton'.

• The animation will now be baked to your target character skeleton and you can now delete the HEAT base character from your scene without worry.

Final product of animation retargeted from HEAT to dummy character using HIK

When baking the animation you can also choose 'Bake To Control Rig' if you intend to hand animate on top of the existing animations.