# Scenario Maya Deformation

Use when skinning a character in Maya ("bind skin", "fix the weights", weight painting...

- Repository: https://github.com/scenario-labs/skills (1448 stars)
- Category: Testing
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add scenario-labs/skills --skill scenario-maya-deformation -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add scenario-labs/skills --skill scenario-maya-deformation -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add scenario-labs/skills --skill scenario-maya-deformation -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add scenario-labs/skills --skill scenario-maya-deformation -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add scenario-labs/skills`

## Description

Use when skinning a character in Maya ("bind skin", "fix the weights", weight painting, Skin Tools or ngSkinTools layers), when deformation looks wrong (pinching, candy-wrapper wrist, collapsing elbow or shoulder, volume loss, clothes poking through), when mirroring, copying or capping skin weights for Unreal or Unity, building blend shapes, corrective shapes or pose space deformation (Pose Editor on IK-driven joints), a face rig with shapes or joints, multiple skinClusters, Delta Mush or the ML Deformer, or running a range-of-motion deformation test.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Maya deformation (character TD)

Expert deformation is decided before the first weight: joint pivots and edge loops set what skinning
can do. Weights are then built region by region, judged in motion at extremes with numbers and
renders, and every fault is fixed where it originates. Stance: block rigid, diagnose, smooth and
shape, correct what weights cannot, and keep everything regenerable as data. If a sibling skill
named here is missing from your available skills, load it with `skill_get` (Scenario MCP) or ask the
user to install it (https://github.com/scenario-labs/skills#install); unattended, proceed from tool
schemas and flag the gap.

**REQUIRED BACKGROUND:** scenario-maya-expert (execution channel, review loop, 2027 version traps).

Module [`scripts/mx_skin.py`](scripts/mx_skin.py): weights IO, region blocking, masks, mirror,
transfer, ROM generator, deformation metrics, correctives, Skin Tools wrappers. **Status
(2026-09-24):** its pure-Python half ran offline (`test_mx_skin_offline.py`, all pass); every Maya
call is **not yet run in Maya** (tests: `tests/code/maya-deformation/run_all.sh`, via `mx_run.py`).
`import sys; sys.path.insert(0, "<skills>/scenario-maya-deformation/scripts"); import mx_skin as S`

## Stance (the expert delta)

The rest: https://github.com/scenario-labs/skills/blob/HEAD/skills/dcc/maya/scenario-maya-deformation/SKILL.md