Master Absolute Control of Anchors in Biped
Are your Planted Keys in Biped behaving unpredictably? Discover the professional protocol to diagnose, fix, and prevent these frustrating anchor issues in your character animations.
"An animator who controls their Planted Keys is like a sculptor who masters their clay - every ground contact must be intentional"
Precise Diagnosis of the Problem
Common Symptoms:
- The foot appears anchored but slips
- Planted Key icon active without visible key
- Inconsistent behavior when playing
- Sudden changes when switching modes
Professional Step-by-Step Solution
1. Complete State Reset:
- Select the problematic foot
- In the Motion Panel:
- Switch to Free Key
- Then to Sliding Key
- Finally to Planted Key
- Press Set Key to confirm
2. Cleanup in Track View:
- Open Track View - Dope Sheet
- Navigate to Biped > Footsteps
- Delete any duplicate/corrupted keys
- Verify key influence range
Preventing Errors
Best Practices:
- Avoid editing in Figure Mode during animation
- Check anchors after Copy/Paste Posture
- Use Animation Layers for non-destructive changes
- Save incremental versions of the file
Biped Key Modes Table
| Mode | Function | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Planted Key | Full anchor (position+rotation) | Firm ground contact |
| Sliding Key | Controlled sliding | Long steps or drags |
| Free Key | Totally free movement | Jumps or aerial movements |
Correction Checklist
- ✅ Visible State: Icons match actual behavior
- ✅ Valid Keys: Exist in Track View
- ✅ Clean Transitions: No jumps between modes
- ✅ Consistency: Same behavior when playing
On foro3d you'll find example files with correct Planted Keys setups. Because we've all struggled against those feet that seemed to have a mind of their own. 👣
Advanced Troubleshooting
- IK/FK Issues: Check IK chains and targets
- Footsteps Influence: Temporarily disable for testing
- Control Conflicts: Review selection hierarchy
- Full Reset: Use Biped > Convert in extreme cases
As veteran animators say: "Control starts at the feet - if you master the anchors, you master the animation". Now go and regain absolute control over your Planted Keys. 🎬