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Pencilrig

by BlenderGem·Workflow

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

Why we like it

PencilRig earns its place in the superhive library for targeting one specific step in Grease Pencil animation, the manual work of tying layers to armature bones, and handling it through name matching and one-click linking.

What is Pencilrig?

Manually linking Grease Pencil layers to Armature bones in Blender is a tedious task. PencilRig, an add-on from BlenderGem, removes that step by matching names: give your Grease Pencil layers and Armature bones identical names, and the add-on links them for you.

The workflow runs from a dedicated PencilRig panel. You select your Grease Pencil and Armature objects, then manage layers by selecting all of them or picking specific ones, using a search function to find layers quickly. Batch selection and one-click operations handle linking and unlinking. A naming flexibility feature ignores content inside parentheses, curly braces, or square brackets, so layers named head (fill), head {line}, and head [details] can all connect to a single head bone.

PencilRig is optimized for Blender 4.2 and above and is distributed under the GPL license. Purchases include free updates for compatibility with newer Blender versions, along with access to a dedicated support team.

Who is Pencilrig best for?

Pencilrig is best for blender animators who need to link Grease Pencil layers to Armature bones without doing it manually.

How much does Pencilrig cost?

Pencilrig is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Automatic linking of Grease Pencil layers to Armature bones by matching names
  • Dedicated panel for selecting Grease Pencil and Armature objects and managing layers
  • Batch selection and search functionality to find layers quickly
  • One-click linking and unlinking operations
  • Naming convention support that ignores content in parentheses, curly braces, and square brackets, letting multiple layers link to a single bone
  • Compatible with Blender 4.2 and above

Tags

#grease pencil#rigging#armature#animation#blender add-on#layer management#workflow

Frequently asked questions

Does PencilRig work with Blender 4.2 and older versions?

PencilRig is optimized for Blender 4.2 and above, and the listing shows support across Blender versions from 3.0 through 4.3. If you're running an older release and want to confirm whether it works, the developer suggests contacting support directly for queries about older versions. This makes it usable across a wide range of Blender installs, though 4.2 and up is where it's tuned to perform. For anything outside that range, reaching out to the support team is the recommended path.

How does PencilRig link Grease Pencil layers to Armature bones?

PencilRig works by matching names: you give your Grease Pencil layers and Armature bones identical names, then let the add-on connect them. You start by selecting your Grease Pencil and Armature objects in the dedicated PencilRig panel, then manage layers by selecting all of them or picking specific ones, with a search function to find layers quickly. A single click then links or unlinks the selected layers to their corresponding bones, replacing the manual linking process.

Can PencilRig link multiple layers to the same bone?

PencilRig supports linking several layers to one bone through its naming flexibility. The add-on intelligently ignores content inside parentheses, curly braces, or square brackets when matching names. For example, layers named head (fill), head {line}, and head [details] can all connect to a single head bone. This intelligent naming convention support gives you room to organize layers in different ways while still tying them to the correct bone, which is useful when a single element is split across several layers.

Is PencilRig free and what license does it use?

PencilRig is listed as free in this catalog and is distributed under the GPL license. For the most current licensing details, check the developer's page. The add-on also comes with free updates for compatibility with newer Blender versions, plus a dedicated support team you can reach out to if you run into any issues. The developer notes that feature suggestions for future versions are welcomed, so user feedback feeds into how the add-on develops over time.

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