After watching "Animator Friendly Rigging" by Jason Schleifer aka God , I tested the rig provided in the DVDs and realized that it's the best rig out there in terms of usability and animator freedom as well as being technically robust . I needed to implement that rigs on multiple characters , so I ended up automating it.

The automation follows the creation from joint orientation settings to match_Object creation (which was a pain to reverse engineer and automate) .

If you are a character TD / Rigger and you haven't watched the DVDs go buy them now !! I can't stress their importance enough

I added a GUI to use the functionalities in this rig : IK/FK matching to , pivot move, mirror , save pose . It should make a good pipe-line rig / animation package.

Installation:

>>> Download Jason's scripts from https://www.hollowearth.org/dl/JS_Scripts.zip or https://www.frayed-ends.com/JS_Scripts.zip or https://www.wajdyfarhan.com/JS_Scripts.zip

>>> You just need the scripts folder from the zip file (JS_Scripts\Scripts), copy its contents to \My Documents\maya\xxxx\scripts ... REPLACE the ones you have these are the newest (the ones on the DVD could be the old ones)

>>> Extract wf_autoAFR \My Documents\maya\xxxx\ make the scripts , icons , shelf are copied properly

>>> Start Maya , you should have a shelf named autoAFR .

>>> If for some reason the shelf doesn't load , type "wf.autoAFR" in the command line and drag it on any shelf

>>> Click on the icon

>>> You need to reset the move tool from the attribute editor for maya 2008 and above (make sure "soft select" and "reflection" are OFF )

Features:

>>> Rig can be created in relaxed A pose

>>> Dummies are mirrored automatically , you just have to move the left side,

>>> Hands driven keys are created automatically

>>> Match objects are created automatically (matching FK/IK including iterated attributes )

>>> Mirror-able (WIP on some issues)

>>> Saving poses, and transfer animations

>>> Stretchy FK / IK with knee and elbow locks

>>> Stretchy FK / IK torso and neck

>>> UI to toggle between IK/FK modes and matching objects

>>> UI detects multiple characters

>>> _anim set for animation controls (key scaling)

>>> _skin set for skin-able joints

>>> Watch the DVDs for the full features of the awesome rig :)

>>> Added "parent" selection for the IK arm controls

Work in progress:

>>> Supporting leg rotation before rig

>>> Finishing the mirror script

>>> Multi-rig creation in a single file (low priority)

>>> Double knee (low priority)

I need your feedback please try it and send me your comments either on https://www.wajdyfarhan.com or send to wajdyf@gmail.com

Please use the Bug System to report any bugs.
Please use the Feature Requests to give me ideas.
Please use the Support Forum if you have any questions or problems.
Please rate and review in the Review section.