Pushers

Pushers drives correctives from the orientation of a Driver relative to a Reference. Captured poses feed a quaternion RBF, then each output turns the result into displacement.

Open the tool

In the weSkel shelf, click the Pushers icon.

From Python

from weSkel.src.ui import pushers

pushers.show_dockable(floating=True)  # Floating on first opening; Maya may restore a saved dock.
# pushers.show()                      # Alternative: standalone floating window.

Overview

weSkel Pushers · Poseidon theme.

Guide	Function
1 · Modules	Scene Pushers. The filter narrows the list; + New module… creates a module.
2 · Active module	Base Name, L / C / R side, reader, outputs, poses and settings for the selected module.
3 · Presets	The preset library. Use the arrow to collapse the panel.

Create a corrective

Step	Action
1 · Module	Click + New module…, choose a Base Name and sides, then Create Module.
2 · Reader	In Reader Matrices, use Select… to connect the Reference and Driver matrix plugs. The reader measures their relative orientation.
3 · Outputs	+ Add outputs… adds the required local ±X, ±Y, ±Z directions. Select an output.
4 · Rest	Put the rig at rest, then Capture Rest: this Reference/Driver relationship becomes the pose origin.
5 · Pose	Pose the rig, click + Capture Pose and name the capture. Then adjust each output value through Pose Value.
6 · Response	Test intermediate poses and adjust the output ranges, remap and orientation.

Scope	Effect
L / C / R	Chooses the active side.
Mirror L/R edits	Extends compatible edits to the opposite side. Each side reads its own live pose during capture: pose both sides before capturing.
Edit all outputs	On by default: applies Pose Value, ranges, remap and orientation to all affected outputs. Disable it to adjust a single output.

Capture and adjust poses

Poses Output Values · Poseidon theme.

Guide	Function
1 · Rest	Capture Rest defines the rest pose. Recapture Rest replaces it and deletes named poses on affected sides, after confirmation; outputs and reader connections remain.
2 · Poses	One row per pose, one column per output. rest is locked. Selecting a row displays the stored capture; it does not pose the rig.
3 · Value	Pose Value edits the pose value for the selected output, or all outputs when Edit all outputs is enabled.
4 · Actions	+ Capture Pose adds a pose. Recapture Pose replaces the selected pose orientation from the scene. Delete Pose removes it.

The X / Y / Z angles below the table describe the stored orientation relative to Reference and Rest. They are not the Driver’s local rotation channels. Identical or nearly identical pose orientations are rejected.

Adjust an output

Selected Output · Poseidon theme.

Guide	Function
1 · Ranges	Input Min / Max defines the RBF result range; Output Min / Max, the displacement range after remapping.
2 · Remap	Edit Remap Curve shapes the response between these ranges.
3 · Orientation	0% follows Reference orientation; 100% follows Driver orientation. The base position stays at the Driver.
4 · Output	Published Matrix names the output matrix. Create Output Transform and Create Skin Joint add its consumers. Capture Default supplies fallback values when adding captures or outputs; it does not replace values already captured.

Directions remain local. Side R reflects the X axis even when Mirror L/R edits is disabled. Published Matrix remains specific to the selected output.

RBF settings

Setting	Role
Radius	Controls the kernel response range around poses; must be positive.
Regularization	Stabilizes the solve; higher values can move the response away from captured values.
Conditioning	Numerical stability diagnostic for the pose system.
Kernel / Normalize	Fixed inverse_quadratic kernel and enabled normalization.

Adjust the remap

The editor stays open while you test the rig. Changes are previewed in the scene.

Compare Original displays the opening curve; Return to Edited restores the edits.

Action	Effect
Points	Drag a point, click-drag a segment to add one, or use + Add Point. Position, Value and Interpolation provide precise input; Delete Point removes the active point.
Reset Linear	Replaces the current curve with a straight line.
Compare Original	Temporarily displays the opening curves. Return to Edited restores the edits.
Apply	Keeps the edited curves.
Cancel / close	Restores the opening curves on still-valid targets, including when closing the Manager.

The edit scope is fixed when the editor opens. At least two points are required, with distinct, ordered positions between 0 and 1.

Convert a sculpt into weights

Pusher Sculpt Baker finds Pusher influence weights that reproduce a sculpt in the current pose.

Pusher Sculpt Baker · Poseidon theme.

Guide	Function
1 · Meshes	Source mesh receives the weights. Sculpt target is a duplicate sculpted in the same pose, with identical indexed topology. Fill each field with Use Selected.
2 · Destination	Pusher system and Side choose the influences. With ngSkinTools, Layer name names the new correction; Separate layer per influence splits it into child layers.
3 · Accuracy	Bake tolerance controls the difference between the predicted result and the evaluated bake. Allow approximate bake allows sculpts that cannot be reproduced exactly. Limit influences per vertex enforces a total maximum, potentially sacrificing fidelity.
4 · Actions	Analyze computes a proposal without writing weights. Read the diagnostic, then Bake Sculpt to Weights to apply it. Select approximated vertices lets you inspect the deviations.

Source skin	Result
ngSkinTools attached	Creates a correction layer; existing layers are preserved. An existing layer name blocks the bake.
Native skinCluster	Writes weights directly. No separate layer: other influence proportions are preserved in the remaining weight budget.
Undo / Redo	A successful bake is one undoable and redoable Maya command for either output.

Requirements and diagnostics

The Baker requires Classic Linear skinning, Interactive normalization and Envelope at 1. Pusher influences must already belong to the skin. The source must not contain unsupported additional deformation after the skin.

A stale proposal requires Analyze again. If source tweaks are detected, cleanup requires an explicit action; it is never performed silently. Bake tolerance does not change the sculpt’s exact/approximate classification.

Presets

Action	Content
Save as preset…	Stores sides, poses, outputs, remaps, orientations and RBF settings.
Build selected preset…	Validates the preset, then builds the module. Reconnect Reference / Driver in the target scene: their external connections are not portable preset data.
Root Path / …	Chooses the library. Default location: user_data/pushers/presets.
Delete Preset	Deletes the selected library preset; it does not delete the scene module.

Maintain a module

Action	Effect
Rebuild	Opens diagnostics and preflight checks, then explicitly rebuilds the runtime. It is not needed after every ordinary edit.
Duplicate	Copies settings, poses and reader into a new module with new joints. Source skins, weights and consumers are not transferred.
Delete	Deletes the entire module regardless of active side. The detached skin skeleton and Reference/Driver sources remain; incompatible dependencies can block the action.
Manager Undo	Manager scene edits do not create an Undo entry. Save your scene before significant changes. Sculpt Baker has its own Undo/Redo command.