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BLBlender

Lattice Auto Weighting

by Beyond Studios·Workflow

Images © Beyond Studios. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place in the superhive library by adding auto-weighting for lattices, something vanilla Blender leaves out.

What is Lattice Auto Weighting?

Rigging lattice objects with armatures in Blender normally lacks automatic weighting, since vanilla Blender cannot auto weight lattices. Lattice Auto Weighting, an add-on from Beyond Studios, fills that gap by calculating weights for each lattice point based on its distance from the bones for smooth deformations.

The add-on exposes several controls over the result. You can set the maximum number of bone influences per lattice point, adjust the falloff value, and set the number of heat diffuse loops. A voxelization option offers voxelization-based weighting as an alternative to traditional heat diffuse weighting for improved performance on complex lattices, and mask skinning can limit weight assignment to selected lattice points. The auto-weighting operator is available through the vertex group and object context menus and via the Ctrl+P shortcut in both object and pose modes.

It supports Blender 2.93 and above and is released under the MIT license. A planned feature will automatically create an armature with a preserve volume modifier when a lattice has none.

Who is Lattice Auto Weighting best for?

Lattice Auto Weighting is best for character riggers, animators, and 3D artists setting up lattice deformations in Blender.

How much does Lattice Auto Weighting cost?

Lattice Auto Weighting is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Automatic weight assignment that calculates weights for each lattice point based on its distance from the bones for smooth deformations
  • Customizable influence to control the maximum number of bone influences per lattice point
  • Adjustable falloff value and number of heat diffuse loops
  • Voxelization option as an alternative to traditional heat diffuse weighting, for improved performance on complex lattices
  • Mask skinning to optionally limit weight assignment to selected lattice points
  • Operator accessible from the vertex group and object context menus and via the Ctrl+P shortcut in object and pose modes
  • Compatible with Blender 2.93 and above, released under the MIT license

Tags

#lattice#rigging#auto weighting#armature#skinning#weights#voxelization#Blender add-on

Frequently asked questions

What Blender versions does Lattice Auto Weighting support?

Lattice Auto Weighting supports Blender 2.93 and above, and the listing covers versions spanning 3.0 through 3.6 and 4.0 through 4.3. That range means it works across several major Blender releases rather than being tied to a single one. If you are running a build older than 2.93, the add-on will not apply. For the current supported range and any updates, check the developer's page before installing to confirm your specific Blender version is covered.

How do I access Lattice Auto Weighting inside Blender?

Lattice Auto Weighting places its auto-weighting operator in the vertex group and object context menus, so you can reach it from menus you already use for weighting. It also binds to the Ctrl+P shortcut, which works in both object mode and pose mode. That gives you a couple of routes to trigger weighting depending on where you are in the rigging process, rather than hunting through separate panels for the command each time.

What is the difference between the heat diffuse and voxelization weighting options?

Lattice Auto Weighting offers two weighting methods. It calculates weights for each lattice point based on distance from the bones, and you can choose between traditional heat diffuse weighting and voxelization-based weighting. The add-on notes that the voxelization option gives improved performance on complex lattices. You can also adjust the falloff value and the number of heat diffuse loops to shape the results. Which method suits you depends on the complexity of the lattice you are weighting and the performance you need.

Can Lattice Auto Weighting create an armature automatically?

Lattice Auto Weighting lists automatic armature creation as a planned feature rather than a current one. As described, when a lattice does not have an associated armature, the add-on will create one with a preserve volume modifier, using the selected armature object as the target. Since this is planned, check the developer's page to see whether it has shipped in the version you download before relying on it in your rigging setup.

Is Lattice Auto Weighting free to use?

Lattice Auto Weighting is listed as free here, and the add-on is distributed under the MIT license, which is permissive. Licensing terms can change over time, so it is worth opening Beyond Studios' page for this add-on to confirm the current license and any conditions before you rely on it in a project. For the most up-to-date details, refer to the developer's page rather than assuming the terms stay fixed.

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