Limber is the new shape-layer IK system for After Effects character animation.

Limber is an IK system for After Effects that uses shape layers to make customizable limbs for character animation. Limber has controls for styling the shape and colors, dynamically preventing animation ‘pops’, smoothly blending between IK and FK, foreshortening one half of a limb, and swapping limbs for different types.

You animate using controller layers for the hip and ankle points of your limb. If you want to use FK, simply generate an FK controller, re-parent your hand or foot layer to the new controller, and dial in the FK rotation values you need – perfect for swinging arms in a walk cycle.

You can customize the limb shape layer in any way you like: add extra shapes, alter the existing shape, add extra properties like strokes or gradient fills, remove parts of the limb to get separate layers for each part, and much more.

We ship the script with a ‘Limb Library’, giving you access to a growing range of more advanced custom limbs – many of them sophisticated rigs in their own right, with controls for extra properties and behaviors.

Features

• Fast ‘bones’ based on a single expression (CC2018 and newer only)
• The only After Effects IK tool with seamless IK-FK blending
• Highly customizable tapered limb shapes and styles
• Built in controls for anti-pop and stretchy or fixed length limbs
• All vector workflow – infinitely scalable
• Quick and simple – make a limb in two clicks