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1. How to Pose a Model Using Presets
Presets are pre-made poses for you to choose from that will automatically change the pose of the model with no further steps needed. They are the easiest, fastest, and most user-friendly way of posing a model in Magic Poser. The presets are broken up into simple subsections such as standing, crawling, and fighting that make finding the right pose an effortless task.
Different models have different presets—some have more than others—but all models can use presets. All you have to do is tap the model’s body in a neutral area (not a circle or square), tap Presets, and under Body Presets, you are presented with the subsections and various preset poses.
You can then decide how intense you want the pose to be by sliding the circle along the bar underneath the presets.
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2. How to Pose a Model by Duplicating Another Model
Another easy way to pose a model is by duplicating a pose from another model. You can do this with past models you have created, other models in the scene, or you can duplicate the pose of someone else’s model entirely.
For example, if you’re browsing the Community section and come across a pose you like, you can duplicate the model’s pose before tweaking the appearance. All you have to do is download the scene, save it to your files, open the scene under My Files, and then tap Duplicate when the model is highlighted.
You can then swap the model for a different one, alter the pose, and customize the model.
3. How to Pose a Model Manually
Manually posing a model can be a bit tricky, and it’s far more time-consuming than simply using presets or duplicating. But it’s worth the effort if you have a particular pose in mind that you can’t find in Presets or Community.
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Moving the Model on the XYZ Axis
If you want to move your model forward, backward, side to side, or up and down, you can use the Move function which will allow you to change your model’s location on the grid. To do this, tap the x, y, or z and drag the line bar underneath left or right until the model reaches the point you want.
You can also position the model by dragging the highlighted model to a different spot on the grid with your finger or smart pen, but this often leads to incorrect placement that can be difficult to fix without the help of Move.
Moving the Limbs and Larger Parts of the Body
If you want to move larger parts of the model, like taking the arm from beside the body to above the head, you can do this by holding down the circles closest to the extremities (the wrists and ankles) and positioning the limb where you want it. This won’t rotate the joints, so it might look odd at first, but you can tweak this later.
You then have the option to mirror the new position to the other limb, in this case, the other arm, but if you still have adjustments to make, it’s better to wait until after you have completed the look. You can also use the lowest square in the highlighted model (just below the navel) to adjust the center of gravity by moving it side to side or backward and forward.
Additionally, the middle square curves the spine inward and outward; it also lifts and lowers the hips, while the top square tilts the upper half of the body forward or backward, creating a bent-over effect. And if you want to position the head, the top circle in the crown of the head will tilt it in whichever direction you please.
Rotating the Joints
Rotating the joints can be slightly hard to navigate when you’re using all three axes, so take your time with this. You can either rotate it by dragging your smart pen or finger, or you can tap Rotate and drag along the green, red, or blue circles left or right, and up or down to pivot the joint.
Make sure you select the correct joint by checking which circle on the body is highlighted in orange. The ones you are not adjusting will remain blue.
Once you have moved one joint, you can move on to the next. Remember that the models emulate real people, so while they can certainly bend quite substantially, they can only move in the range of what is humanly possible.
Adjusting the Finer Details
The little details, like fingers and toes, can also be modified; the individual joints can rotate and curl. People often skip this step because it can become tedious and time-consuming, but adding in those finer details can really enhance the authenticity of the pose and bring the model to life.
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Strike a Pose
No one approach is better than the other. The important thing is to do what is best for you and your project. If presets are all you can manage, utilize them: that’s what they’re there for. If you’d rather experiment with manual adjustments, that’s great too.
The options are there for a reason, so don’t be afraid to test out all the different ways you can pose a model in Magic Poser.
