[Figure 3-29] Different body shapes

• Hand Controls. When hand objects are selected, the Parameters palette includes dials for actions such as clenching the hand into a fist, bending the thumbs, and spreading the fingers apart.

• Body Controls. When a figure is selected, the Parameters palette includes a set of Advanced Body Controls parameters. These parameters let you work with the upper body, arms, and legs. There are also custom parameters for controlling the size, thickness, and proportion of most named muscle groups.

• BodyBuilder, Emaciated, Heavy, Stocky, etc.. These morph parameters define the body shape and include multiple different body types. An Emaciated body shape is thin, a Heavy body shape is bulky, and the BodyBuilder body type is muscular, as shown in Figure 3-29.

[Figure 3-30] Custom parameter group

Creating Parameter Groups
Custom figures can have many parameters. For example, many animal figures include custom parameters for controlling the curve of their tails. To handle figures with a large number of parameters, you can create a parameter group using the pop-up menu located at the top of the Parameter/Properties palette. Selecting the Create New Group option from the pop-up menu opens a simple dialog box where you can name the new parameter group. This group name then appears in the Parameters palette.

To add parameters to the group, simply drag the parameter title and drop it on the new group name. Clicking the plus or minus icon to the left of the group name lets you expand and contract the parameter group. Figure 3-30 shows a new group named NewGroup added to the Parameters/Properties palette. You can delete selected groups by selecting the Delete Selected Group option in the pop-up menu.

The order of the parameters in the new group follows the order that they were dropped into the group, but parameters can be rearranged by dragging and dropping parameters above or below other parameters.

If you want to view the parameters without groups, you can select the Display as Ordered List option from the palette pop-up menu. This displays the entire list of parameters in the alphabetical order of the groups without the group titles.

[Figure 3-31] Pointed toe pose

The figure’s torso bends to the right and its left foot is pointed away from the body, as shown in Figure 3-31.

Use the Parameter Dials
1.       Open Poser with the Ryan figure visible.

2.       Select Window, Parameter Dials to make the Parameters/Properties palette visible, if necessary.

3.       Select the abdomen element in the Document Window and drag the Side-Side parameter dial to the right to 45 degrees.

4.       Select the left foot element and click the xTran parameter, and then type the value 1.790.

5.   Select File, Save As and save the file as Pointed toe.pz3.

Change Unique Parameters
1.       Open Poser with the Ryan figure visible.

2.       Select Window, Parameter Dials to make the Parameters/Properties palette visible, if necessary.

3.       Under the FBM/Full Body group, select the BodyBuilder dial and increase its value to 2.0.