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Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins

by Animates·Workflow

Images © Animates. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place for rebuilding Blender's motion paths and onion skinning into an editable 3D system that works across bones, objects, empties and cameras with keyframed location data.

What is Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins?

Part of the Animates Suite, this add-on rebuilds Blender's motion path from a graphic overlay into a transformable 3D system that can be sculpted directly in the viewport. Animators can insert, delete, move and smooth keys and handles, with instant feedback across multiple keys from multiple objects or bones, using native Blender gizmos.

A lattice deformation tool, an integrated sculpt brush and polish sliders let you clean arcs, refine spacing, reshape entire sequences and handle mocap cleanup. The tools work on single or multiple bones, objects, empties or cameras, and on any object with keyframed location data, not just armatures. Multiple paths can be edited simultaneously, and the lattice and sculpt brush behave the same regardless of object type, with no mode-switching or special setup.

The onion skinning shows ghosted poses before and after the current frame to judge spacing, arcs and timing, with per-bone skins in the newer version. You can toggle between meshes, bones and empties, show skins up to 200 frames in either direction, stagger them with a stepped option, switch between wireframe and solid mesh modes, apply a progressive fade and editable opacity, and toggle silhouettes to check posing strength.

Who is Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins best for?

Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins is best for animators cleaning up arcs, spacing and timing, and performing mocap cleanup in Blender.

How much does Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins cost?

Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Editable 3D motion path sculpted directly in the viewport, with insert, delete, move and smooth on keys and handles using native Blender gizmos
  • Lattice deformation tool for reshaping selected keys or whole path sections across any axis
  • Integrated sculpt brush plus smoothing sliders for keys, handles, spacing, easing and bias
  • Multi-object support to edit multiple paths simultaneously on bones, objects, empties or cameras with keyframed location data
  • Onion skinning showing ghosted poses before and after the current frame, with per-bone skins in the newer version
  • Onion skin controls: toggle mesh, bones or empties, skins up to 200 frames each direction, stepped staggering, wireframe or solid mesh, progressive fade and editable opacity
  • Silhouette toggle to check posing strength

Tags

#Blender#motion paths#onion skinning#character animation#keyframe editing#mocap cleanup#animation polish

Frequently asked questions

Does Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins support Blender 4.2 and newer?

Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins is listed as compatible with Blender versions 4.2 through 5.0 and ships as a Blender extension. The tools rebuild the motion path into a transformable 3D system you can sculpt directly in the viewport, using native Blender gizmos for keyframe manipulation. If you are running a version inside that 4.2 to 5.0 range you should be able to install and use it. For any release outside that window or newer versions, check the developer's page for the current compatibility details before installing.

Does it only work on rigged armatures, or other object types too?

Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins works on any object with keyframed location data, not just armatures, so bones, objects, empties and cameras are all supported. You can edit multiple paths simultaneously, and the lattice deformation and sculpt brush tools behave the same regardless of object type, with no mode-switching or special setup needed. The onion skinning side lets you toggle between meshes, bones and empties as well, so the workflow stays consistent whether you are polishing a full rig or a single moving object.

How many frames can the onion skins show, and can they focus on one bone?

Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins can show ghosted poses up to 200 frames in either direction from the current frame, and the newer version supports per-bone onion skins so you can focus on the controller you are working on rather than ghosting the entire rig. You can toggle visibility of past and future skins, stagger them with a stepped option, switch meshes between wireframe and solid mode, apply a progressive fade with editable opacity, change bone colour, and toggle silhouettes to check posing strength.

Is Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins free to use?

Animates Motion Paths And 3D Onion Skins is listed as free in this catalog, though pricing and licensing can change over time. For the current terms, and to confirm what is included, head to the developer's page. It is offered as a Blender extension compatible with versions 4.2 through 5.0, covering both the editable 3D motion path tools and the onion skinning features. A demo video is also available if you want to see the tools before installing.

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