Copy the 📁Clib folder (either in the maya2024 or maya 2025 folders depending on the maya version you're using) to your
📁Documents/maya/scripts directory
After copying, your folder structure should look like this:
Documents/maya/scripts/CLib/
In Maya and drag and drop the clib_shelf_installer.py file to your maya viewport.
Enjoy
Note
If for some reason it doesnt run after this you may have to restart Maya after installing but I've tried to make it work without users having to do so.
My main objeective was to create a tool that could help streamline the control/curve creation process when rigging in Maya. I tried my best to tailor the UI design and functionality of the tool towards simplicity and ease of use.
Note
My underlying goal with this tool was to further learn and practice Python and UI design in PySide2 and QT, I'm quite certain not everything is perfect but I'm really happy with how its turned out, . I developed it primarily in Maya 2024 and PySide2 although I have tried to make a Maya 2025, Pyside6 version, I noticed a few of the visual elements dont appear as intended but the difference is negligible.
I've done my best to make sure the tool itself feels pretty intuitive but if anything is confusing please don't hesitate to refer to the explained features below:
- UI Overview
CLib comes with 18 preset Curves, these and all user created curves are displayed on the left hand side of the tool while the panel on the right has menus for curve customization. The panel on the right includes 2 menus, the first and default menu where most visuals of the stored curves can be customized before being created, and the second attribute menu where you can specify the name of the control before you create it and specify whether you'd like it to be created with an offset/NPO group above it.
.
- Menu Navigation Buttons
You can alternate between the two menus using the buttons at the top of the right Panel
.
- Storing and Deleting Controls
Select a control you want to save and click Store Control , to delete a stored Control simply right click on it and click Delete
.
- Recreating the Curve
Typically the curve is created at the location of a seected object. If no object is selected the Curve is created at world origin (0, 0 , 0)
.
- Primary Axis option
You may have cases where the primary axis of your joints for example is the X-axis and the control is being oriented in an undesirable direction you can try using this option to adjust it
.
more than just a Library I'd love this tool to be a Studio of some sorts, with ease of access to many control and curve creation/manipulation features while also keeping in mind UI real-estate. Currently my planned features are:
- Auto-generated icons for custom curves
Automatically create icons for shapes users save instead of simply resorting to a default icon
- Overall improvements to the UI
Polishing up the control layout, and overall improved scaling on different resolutions
- Control Filtering
Enable users to save and filter curves by tags
- Automatic/smart hierarchy parenting of control curves
More rig-aware control creation that will detect existing joint hierarchy and control relationships to parent created created controls under the appropriate existing controls(if any).
- Batch recolor of existing curves
Enable users to change color of an existing or multiple existing curves with the click of a button
- Mirror controls across axis
Enable users to mirror control shapes across a specified axis
A special thanks to you for reading this far down and giving this tool a go. IF you run into any issues or have any suggestion please dont hesitate to reach out to me on LinkedIn