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Real-Time Toyrig

by Frank Li·Workflow

Images © Frank Li. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Real-Time Toyrig earns its place for a hands-on take on posing: you move the model directly across FK, IK, Fix and Lock modes and drive the whole process with hotkeys. Version 1.1.0 added the Bake Keyframe function, and a demo video is available.

What is Real-Time Toyrig?

Real-Time Toyrig is a Blender addon from Frank Li for posing models in real time. Instead of working through a traditional rigging setup, you grab the model and move it directly, treating the pose like playing with a toy.

The tool runs on four modes. FK mode lets you rotate controllers and set an FK chain from a fixed controller; IK mode lets you set and move IK, including reverse FK by fixing two ends of a chain; Fix mode blocks selection of controllers inside a fixed chain; and Lock mode blocks all controller selection so you can view and edit the animation with tools like the Graph Editor. A set of hotkeys drives the workflow, covering mode switches, keyframing and custom controller setup.

Cleaning off the tool leaves only the deformed bones and the animation, so the result exports to a game engine or another 3D software. The addon is listed for Blender 2.79 and released under the GPL license.

Who is Real-Time Toyrig best for?

Real-Time Toyrig is best for blender artists who want to pose and animate models by moving them directly, rather than building a traditional rig first.

How much does Real-Time Toyrig cost?

Real-Time Toyrig is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Four posing modes — FK, IK, Fix and Lock — that control how controllers can be selected and moved
  • Real-time posing by grabbing and moving the model directly, without a traditional rigging setup
  • Bake Keyframe function that generates keyframes for all deform bones between two controller keyframes (added in 1.1.0)
  • Set Visual LocRotScale keyframes across all deform bones and custom controllers with the K hotkey
  • Custom controller support — install your own controller and the tool leaves it in place
  • Cleaning off the tool leaves only deformed bones and animation for export to a game engine or other 3D software

Tags

#Blender#rigging#animation#posing#IK/FK#keyframing#addon

Frequently asked questions

Does Real-Time Toyrig work with Blender 2.79?

Real-Time Toyrig is listed for Blender 2.79. If you're on a newer Blender release, check the developer's page before installing, since compatibility with later versions isn't confirmed. The developer noted a hope that the tool would be integrated into Blender 2.8, though that reflects intent rather than a stated compatibility guarantee. To be safe on the version you run, confirm the details on the developer's page before relying on the addon in a project.

How do I switch between FK and IK modes in Real-Time Toyrig?

Real-Time Toyrig uses hotkeys to move between its modes. Press X to switch between FK and IK. Pressing R rotates and switches to FK mode when you're in IK, while G moves and switches to IK mode when you're in FK. F cycles into Fix mode, and Q brings up Lock mode, where you can view and edit the animation you set using tools like the Graph Editor. The default selection is a mouse click that grabs the closest controller, and the mouse button can be changed in the panel.

Can I export animations from Real-Time Toyrig to a game engine?

Real-Time Toyrig is built so that cleaning off the tool leaves only the deformed bones and the animation behind. Because of that, the developer states the result exports without problems to a game engine or another 3D software. You keep the posing convenience during the work, and the extra controllers the tool installs don't need to travel with the final rig. If exporting to a specific engine matters for your pipeline, it's still worth a test run to confirm the animation transfers the way you expect.

How do I install Real-Time Toyrig?

Real-Time Toyrig installs like any other Blender addon, with no special steps called out. When updating, the developer advises removing the old version first before installing the new one. Once installed, the tool works through a panel and a set of hotkeys. You can register your own controllers by selecting them and clicking install controller in the panel, after which the tool leaves those controllers in place rather than adding its own over them.

Is Real-Time Toyrig free?

Real-Time Toyrig is listed as free in this catalog, and it's released under the GPL license. The developer also stated that once more than 3000 people buy it, the tool would be made free for everyone using Blender. Licensing and pricing can shift over time, so check the developer's page for the current terms before you download. The GPL license governs how you may use and modify the addon, and you can review those conditions on the developer's page.

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