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ShapeKey Assist - Streamline Your ShapeKey Workflow in Blender
Effortlessly Generate and Debug Apple ARKit ShapeKeys with ShapeKey Assist
ShapeKey Assist is an add-on that streamlines the generating and debugging process for all 52 Apple ARKit shape keys. Whether you're rigging characters for vtubing or simple facial mocap, this add-on transforms a once tedious process into an intuitive, guided workflow!
⭐ Key Features
🔹 Visual Shape Key Reference & Workflow Assistance
✔ The “Import ShapeKey Reference Plane” button imports a custom image guide at the cursor's current position that streamlines the ARKIT creation process.
✔ The image guide dynamically updates throughout the timeline, providing instant visual feedback for which shape key(s) will be generated at any given frame.
🔹 Automated Shape Key Generation and Symmetry Restriction
✔ Flexible Rigging Approach —simply pose your character on the timeline following the visual guide using any method (armatures, lattices, shape keys, etc.).
✔ The “Create Apple ShapeKeys” button converts all timeline poses into shape keys with proper naming conventions. The process is non-destructive, creating a new model with all baked shape keys called baseCompleted, leaving your original model untouched.
Supports multiple object selection to create one baked object.
Note! Make sure to bake textures to the same UVMap layout to prevent the above texture breakage.
✔ Assisted Left/Right Symmetry: ShapeKey Assist uses ASK-face.L and ASK-face.R vertex groups to properly restrict symmetrical movements.
🔹 Debugging Tools for Real-Time Shape Key Adjustments & Shape Key Reset
✔ The “Set Reference Plane” button generates an origin point for debugger tools.
✔ The “Create Debugging Bars” function spawns interactive shape key driver bars, which update in real-time to reflect shape key influence.
✔ The “Start Debugging” button activates a double-click monitoring tool, allowing users to enter sculpt mode instantly to refine specific shape keys while testing facial motion capture data from addons like iFacialMocap or FaceMotion3D.
*If editing a symmetrical-base key shape, the other facial side key shape will be updated as well to preserve symmetry.
✔ One-Click Shape Key Reset: The “Reset ShapeKeys” button instantly sets all shape key values back to zero for quick testing and iteration.
🛠️ Why Choose ShapeKey Assist?
✔ Save hours of manual work—generate all 52 Apple ARKit shape keys with a guided workflow.
✔ Eliminate guesswork with real-time shape key debugging tools.
✔ Non-destructive workflow—your original character remains untouched.
✔ Seamlessly integrates with Blender’s timeline and third-party motion capture software.