Pymel: Squash and Stretch Rigging Tool

Before

Stationary-Front-converted.gif
Stationary-Side-converted.gif 
I also modeled and rigged this lovely trout

After

Stationary-Stretch-Front-convert.gif
Stationary-Stretch-Side-converte.gif
 

How to Use:

  1. Drag script onto rigging toolbar.

  2. Select all bones you want to / already control with an IK spline/nurb curve.

  3. Click on the custom script button you placed on the toolbar to run. If you want to use an existing curve uncheck the “make IK spline box”

    1. Doing this will prompt the user to select a curve

  4. The “Length Modifier” attribute on the curb controller can be used to manually squash and stretch. The script sets up code in the node editor to automatically run in the background when the arc length of the curve changes IE: when you move it.

Issue Solved

Allows animators to get free squash and stretch on rigged models if they connect it up with existing splines. Alternatively it can be set up manually with any other curve. The rigger can set up additional tertiary animation by utilizing key driven animations to squash and stretch when certain values change. This allows for the end product to have more character and bounciness to it at minimal cost.