THE KNEE BONE’S CONNECTED TO the...well, you get the idea. Here’s a super cool extension that provides Flash CS3 users with Inverse Kinematics (iK). The iK’motion toolset utilizes Flash’s powerful extensibility layer to deliver dynamic inverse kinematics animation capabilities directly to the designer! These tools and commands give you the ability to create parented IK chains, manipulate movements and automatically generate tweens on the timeline, all within the standard flash IDE.
If you haven’t upgraded to CS4 and can’t take advantage of the new Bones tool, then the iK’motion extension is your answer.
This awesome extension can be found on www.flashextensions.net, where you will find a cool collection of extensions, components, tools, vector artwork, sounds and other add-ons for the Flash authoring tool.
After installing the iK’motion plug-in, go to Window > Other Panels and click on “iK’motion” to launch the iK’motion panel. The interface is clean and easy to navigate.
Go to Edit > Customize Tools Panel. Here you can add and remove various tools to and from your Tools panel. From the table of tool icons on the left side of the dialog, select the tool that you would like to have the iK’motion picker tool appear underneath. A good choice might be the white arrow (Subselection Tool). After clicking the icon, scroll to the bottom of Available Tools and select the “iK’motion Picker Tool”. Click the “>> Add >>“button. You should now see the iK’motion Picker Tool in the list under “Current selection”.
Hot Tip
In order to make a Flash symbol usable by iK’motion it must be a movie clip. Graphics, Buttons, Shapes and other symbol types cannot be used. If your instance is not set as a movie clip, you can change it by selecting the instance on the stage and then selecting “Movie Clip” in the type drop-down box inside the Properties panel. This extension comes with its own online tutorial that goes beyond what you see here. So be sure to check out all the features that this tool offers on flashextensions.net.
