# Pose Library Design Idea: Use the Asset Browser design and workflow to establish a fast and powerful pose library system. ## TL;DR The basic workflow is: * Create pose assets in the Outliner. * Group them using *Asset Catalogs*. * "Mount" their .blend(s) or root directory as asset library in the Preferences. * Apply them in other files using the Asset Browser. * Share them as regular .blends. ![](https://i.imgur.com/Sp4d44R.png) ## Creating Pose Libraries * Create a pose asset through the Outliner. *Right-click the Pose (requires being in Pose Mode) -> "Make Asset".* > [name=JulianEisel] This design was just to keep it consistent with how other asset types where created back then. It could just as well be dragging a pose to the Asset Browser, calling "Create Pose Asset" from the 3D View or any other design. * A preview image can be set in the Asset Browser sidebar. * Poses can be grouped together using **Asset Catalogs**. * Catalogs are a general Asset Browser feature (former name: smart-filters). * A catalog is just a filter preset. * Hence, a catalog can be dynamic, e.g. all assets starting with "CHR_sintel_". * To "statically" link an asset to a catalog, it can be given a *catalog tag*. * This design avoids multiple grouping/filtering systems. It's a single system based on tags and filters. * Assets can be part of multiple catalogs. * How to assign poses to a catalog? Three options: 1. Select assets before creating a new catalog. Automatically adds the catalog tag. 2. Manually add the catalog tag to assets. 3. Operator *Add Assets to Catalog*, which automates setting the tags. * Catalogs are important for other asset types as well. E.g. brushes: Sculptors want to split their 100s of brushes into small groups. ## Pose Asset Storage * The poses and catalogs are stored in the .blend file they were created in, including all meta-data (previews, tags, ...). Having previews as separate files caused major synchronisation issues in the old system. * A file has to be saved for new/changed assets to show up (exception: the *Current File* library). * A pose library has to be part of an asset library installed in the Preferences for re-use in other .blends or projects. * So: Pose libraries are stored and installed just like any other asset library. * Technically a pose is an action data-block with asset meta-data. Single frame only for the start. ## Using Pose Assets * If a pose is part of a library that is "mounted" in the Preferences, Asset Browsers in different sessions can display it. * The Asset Browser has an "Animation" category, if selected the catalogs and poses of the current library are shown. * Double click a pose to apply it (or drag it onto a character, or press "Apply Asset"). * If a pose can not be applied, an error is shown. ![](https://i.imgur.com/24LzUHK.png) ## Sharing Pose Libraries * Both pose assets and the catalogs are local to the file they were created in. * Hence, sharing pose assets or an entire catalog is just regular sharing of .blends. ## Pipeline Integration * Blender is **not** responsible for managing assets. * In a professional environment, there is an asset management system in place to manage access rights, publishing process, versioning, etc. * Part of this would be a Blender bridge Add-on, to integrate such a system with Blender. * If no such system exists: **The user is the asset manager.** ## Additional Features Animators would probably want some additions for a good workflow. * Pose blending Where you usually select between Append and Link, when showing poses, the Asset Browser gives Override and Blend as an option. The blending factor is an operator property. * Animated Poses Poses could also have multiple frames. Q: How would you set the frame range? Popup after "Make Asset"? * Option to show & apply poses "flipped". A toggle in the lower execution-bar, horizontally flips previews and swapps L/R channel names when applying. * Option to show only poses for the active object. The Asset Browser could follow the active object and show applicable poses only. There's a technical question of how a pose could be mapped to characters, but there are some possible solutions. Relevant general asset browser features: * Blender Projects In the future we'd like to have a concept of *Blender projects*, which would also act as asset library (select *Current Project* library in Asset Browser). Important for poses because they are project specific. * Show directories in Asset Browser. If we allow directories of .blends as asset libraries, the Asset Browser could have the option to navigate these directories more like a regular File Browser. * Mini-Asset-Browser in the 3D View sidebar. Animators asked for a simple panel in the sidebar to get quick access to all the important bits for pose library usage. Could be an Add-on too. This was also requested for Brush management.