Rigging & Animation

Corrective Shapes

Blend shapes that fix joint deformation

Also known as: Corrective blend shapes · Pose space deformation · Corrective shape keys · Joint corrective · Muscle bulge shape

Character Rigging Animation

Definition

Corrective shapes are blend shapes that fix the deformation of a skinned mesh in extreme poses. When weights alone cannot give a good shape, such as a collapsed elbow, a flat shoulder or a muscle that should bulge, a corrective shape is sculpted for that pose and activated automatically as the joint rotates. They are driven by joint angles through set driven keys, drivers or pose-space systems, and are common in high-quality character rigs and film.

In production

Use them where they matter most, such as shoulders, hips, elbows and knees, and keep their number small, since each has a cost. Game engines support morph targets and animation-driven curves, so correctives can run in the engine, though cheaper characters rely on helper joints instead. Sculpt them on the final topology and keep names clear so animators and engineers can find them.