Description
KineFlex is our revolutionary on-the-fly skeletal system, introduced for the first time in EDAPT v.4.0 in 2018.
KineFlex uses Smart Magnet Rig metadata to allow an animator-friendly implementation of Forward and Inverse Kinematics, with bones that exist only during the current transformation and do not impose any rigidity or structural changes to the Classic Tween approach.
Essentially it is an instantly generated skeleton which takes the current location and position of the elements as initial state (on MouseDown) and disappears after the end of the transformation (on MouseRelease).
Functionality
An extremely powerful tool which allows precise quick posing, utilizing the available hierarchical structure of a Smart Magnet Rig.
KineFlex icon 
appears in the tools palette next to or below Free Transform (Q) tool.
In Animate 2020 and newer, click on the … at the bottom of the toolbar, find the tool’s icon in the pool of tools and drag it to a desired location in toolbar. (Click for details…
)
KineFlex can be chosen directly by clicking on its icon in the tools palette or by using KineFlex (SMR Tool) command — EDAPT shortcut G — which makes KineFlex the currently active tool.
KineFlex creates on-the-fly temporary bone chains according to a Forward or Inverse Kinematics model. These chains exist only during the posing operation, while the character retains all flexibility. Symbol and Layer structure, typical for the Classic Tween workflow remain unchanged.
Essentially, this is virtual Bones implemented well and animator friendly.
Modes of operation after choosing the KineFlex tool G
Forward Kinematics (FK)
- mousedrag: Soft FK rotation – rotates the clicked element while moving all its children relatively to its transformations, retaining children’s directions unchanged.
- Alt+mousedrag: Hard FK rotation – rotates the clicked element and all its children keeping them ‘firmly’ attached to their relative positions
- Shift+mousedrag: Move chain – moves the clicked element and all its children
- Ctrl-down: Holding down [ Ctrl ] key while working with KineFlex will temporarily switch to Selection Tool (V‑tool).
Inverse Kinematics (IK) interactions with SMR Effectors
- mousedrag: IK transformation of the controlled IK Chain. Elements beyond the Effector move in Soft Rotation.
- Alt+mousedrag: IK transformation of the controlled IK Chain. Elements beyond the Effector move in Hard Rotation.
- Shift+mousedrag-and-drop: Attaching a Detached SMR Controller or detaching an Attached SMR Controller.
- Alt+Shift+click on an Attached SMR Effector: Switches the Effector state between RIK Active and RIK Inactive.
Element Welder for KineFlex
Elements can be welded to their parent, using the 
Element Welder button in SMR Helpers panel. Pressing it welds the selected element of a Smart Magnet Rig to its parent. Welded elements move in Hard Rotation. Read more…
Suggested use
Posing; Advanced character animation
Where does it work?
Stage, Current frame – preexisting key(s)
EDAP Tools shortcut
G (KineFlex becomes the active tool); Shift+G (KineFlex Quick Settings)Modifier keys: Alt+ (hard rotation); Shift+ (move); Alt+Shift-click on Effector (Switch RIK State)
Notes
KineFlex can be disabled via the EDAPT Contol Panel > Manage Commands > uncheck KineFlex checkbox
Important! KineFlex only works with Smart Magnet Rigs
Due to severe bugs in Animate, in EDAP Tools v.6.6 Layer Parenting integration has been disabled by default. Read more…
Error messages
Duplicated elements on layers:
“AAAA” — “BBBB”.
SMR ID: X
Read how to resolve duplicate elements ID conflicts here…
Known issues
Plugin tool script error in method mouseUp: If you see this message in Output, that means that the JSFL engine has crashed KineFlex. You need to restart Flash / Animate to be able to continue using it.
Parented Layers: Shrinking and drifting of rigged elements after multiple KineFlex transformations when Layer Parenting Shell is on, due to a long-standing bug in Animate. Read more…
Video demonstration
