> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://malbersanimations.gitbook.io/animal-controller/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://malbersanimations.gitbook.io/animal-controller/utilities/blend-shapes.md).

# Blend Shapes

## Overview

The Blend Shapes Component  controls the blend shapes of a skinned mesh..just like the [SkinnedMeshRenderer ](https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/class-SkinnedMeshRenderer.html)component does. but you don't have to search for the mesh deep in the hierarchy.

![Sample of the BlendShapes component](/files/-M7TqpgaC2rje9sfCroj)

![Blend Shapes inside the SkinnedMeshRenderer Component.](/files/-M7TrxIbSqUhotx5UPs9)

![Blend Shapes inside the SkinnedMeshRenderer Component.](/files/-M7TrxIbSqUhotx5UPs9)

Also you can load/save[ **Blend Shape Presets**](/animal-controller/utilities/blend-shapes/blend-shape-preset.md) to have different variations.

## Parameters

### Mesh

Reference to the skinned mesh renderer.

### LODs

Extra meshes that share the same Blendshapes, like LODs meshes or the Magic Tattoos on the Poly Art Animals:

![The "magic" mesh also changes with the mesh of the wolf](/files/-M7TwgqirotM2Ieo3njL)

### Pin Blend Shape 

![](/files/-M7U55u4CMmzILbyjk-5)

The Pin blendshape is the value stored to be used with Unity Events, since this unity Events cannot have more than one value on its listeners.

![](/files/-M7TzOkRJFVQG5Vnv-Wr)

E.g. : In the first Listener we Store/Pin Blend Shape (the first one, with index=0) and on the second Listener we change the value of tha stored/pinned blend shape with the Slider value of the UI component.

***You can check how to use the Pin Shape on the Callback Sample scenes of each Animal.***

### Blend Shape Weight List

![](/files/-M7U5WntkNn4FmI1Ruke)

List of all the Blend shapes weights of the skinned mesh renderer. Each Blendshape have a label for its Index. E.g.: (00) is the **Index** for the Blend Shape Big Eyes on the Wolf.

### Preset

The[ **Blend Shape Preset**](/animal-controller/utilities/blend-shapes/blend-shape-preset.md) is simply an array of float values to save/load the Blend shapes you have modified.

### Load Preset

If the **Preset** parameter has a preset set, then At start the component this preset will be loaded.

### Random

At Start this component will generate random blend shape weights. 

## Editor Buttons

![](/files/-M7U6C414Aet-8Ym9X3r)

### Reset

Reset all the weights of the blendshapes to zero.

### Randomize

Randomize all the weights of the blendshapes 

### Save

Save the current blend shapes to a preset.

### Load

Load a blend preset.

## Public Methods

### `float[] GetBlendShapeValues()`

> Gets an array of all the blendshape weights on the skinned mesh renderer.

### `void LoadSmoothPreset(BlendShapePreset preset)`

> Blends from the current blend shapes weights to the weights of the preset.

### `void LoadPreset()`

> Load the weights from the preset stored on the [**Preset** ](/animal-controller/utilities/blend-shapes.md#preset)parameter.

### `LoadPreset(BlendShapePreset preset)`

> Load the weights from the preset.

### `void SavePreset()`

> Save the current blendshape weights to the preset on the [**Preset** ](/animal-controller/utilities/blend-shapes.md#preset)parameter.

### `void Randomize()`

> Randomize the weights on the skinned mesh and its LODs

### `void SetWeight(string name, float value)`

> Set a new weight on a blendshape using its name

### `void SetWeight(int index, float value)`

> Set a new weight on a blendshape using its index

### `void _PinShape(string name)`

> Store/Pin a blend shape by its name

### `void _PinShape(int index)`

> Store/Pin a blend shape by its Index

### `_PinnedShapeSetValue(float value)`

> Set a new weight on the Stored/Pinned blend shape

### `void UpdateBlendShapes()`

> Updates all the weights of the component to the Skinned mesh renderer